Michael Bostwick was yesterday named in the League Two Team of the Year, rather odd timing with over a month of proceedings left but nonetheless an earned and just accolade for our player.

I remember where I was the minute I heard we’d signed Michael Bostwick. Normally, I get a bit of a heads up on a new player, or I’ve been hearing whispers of a deal for some time. with Bozzie, there was none of that. As expected, Harry Anderson was joining, but one afternoon in the summer, my phone started going mad.

I’d suggested he’d be a good signing earlier on in the summer, but never thinking he’d actually join us. Blackburn, top of League One now, were after him and the fee mentioned had been as much as £750,000. When it was suggested he was coming to Lincoln, I almost choked on my brew.

Of course, he did sign and for a short time it all seemed very surreal Peterborough’s captain, a League One quality player was rocking up on our doorstep wanting to be part of the Cowley revolution. It nudged us from top ten to top seven in my aspirations and, as the season has gone on, that has proven to be correct.

Sometimes, no-nonsense is a term given to a player lacking certain qualities. Centre-halves who couldn’t hit a central reservation in a Ford Capri would be classed as ‘no nonsense’, or perhaps more aptly ‘no sense’ as they stuck their face into boots and their boots into players. Bozzie is no nonsense, but not in the way I’ve just alluded to.

He’s hard. Let’s be frank. I wouldn’t fight him, he’s surly, he’s big and he doesn’t appear to feel pain. He’ll throw himself in front of anybody at any time. I’m not sure he’d be too phased at tackling an ambulance if the situation arose, in fact I think he’d relish it. For me, part of our success against Chelsea U21s was him giving the kids a lesson that you can only get out in the field. However, he showed his true talents when he was poised on nine bookings, just one away from a suspension. He didn’t lose his edge, but he curtailed his game to ensure he wasn’t missing for crucial games. That showed to me he is far from just a midfield menace, much more than a hatchet man in the centre of the park.

He’s effortlessly slipped into the defence too, he was always going to after all, it was his position at Posh. The fact he slides effortlessly between the two, showing more restraint in defence than in his midfield role, is another indication of his intelligence as a footballer.

He’s an all-rounder too, anywhere in the centre of the park is his domain. We’ve seen him hit free kicks and 25-yard efforts, we’ve seen him heading towards goal from corners and away from goal at the back. I’d imagine he’s a manager’s dream because he offers such variety and versatility, but not in a ‘average all over’ way like James Milner, but in an ‘equally as effective’ way wherever he’s needed.

Putting aside his Exeter performance, arguably his worst for City, he’s been almost faultless all season. He’ll never go on a fifty yard run or beat six players, but he doesn’t need to as it isn’t his game. He’s a player other player’s love too, if they make a slip he’s on hand to get them out of the sticky stuff. early in the season, him and Alex Woodyard looked wonderful in midfield and although we lacked bite going forward, we never looked shaky at the back. Personally, I prefer him in that holding midfield role, protecting the back four and defending from 25-yards, rather than in the eighteen.

I’m delighted he got the award, I’m not surprised. I am surprised one of his team mates, the lad on the right, wasn’t in the side but I’m not a fan who will hand-wring at what we didn’t get. Michael Bostwick has been incredible this season and whether we go up or not, he’ll be a driving force behind everything we do next time out as well. He’s a big game player, he’s a sure-fire bet to be the first name written on the team sheet and however it happened, we’re lucky to have him.

I’m going to bet that although he’s in the Team of the Year, he doesn’t win Player of the Year here. That isn’t to his detriment though, more to the scintillating form of another experienced head we picked up in the summer. When you look back, our recruitment policy was excellent, was it not?

Congratulation Bozzie, you deserve the award. Now, go and kick a lump out of Jon Nolan on Sunday, show him what a proper midfielder is all about.

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