Michael Bostwick

Michael Paul Trevor Bostwick (born 17 May 1988) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League North club Boston United.

Bostwick started his career at Millwall, and played regularly for the club's under-18 team and reserve team.

At the age of 17, he joined Conference National club Crawley Town on a work experience loan during the latter stages of 2005–06 season.

During the latter stages of the 2005–06 season, Bostwick joined Conference National club Crawley Town on work experience.

The move counted as work experience, as opposed to a loan, because of Bostwick's age; subsequently he could not appear for the first team of another Football League club, but was eligible to play for the first team of a non-League club.

He was told he was surplus to requirements at the club and subsequently signed for Rushden & Diamonds on an 18-month contract, where he played eight matches before being released by Rushden at the end of the 2006–07 season.

He made his debut for Crawley a week after joining the club, coming on as an 89th-minute substitute in a 1–0 victory against Forest Green Rovers on 18 March 2006.

He made his first match on 15 April 2006, playing the whole match in a 2–0 victory against Aldershot Town, scoring Crawley's second goal.

He played eight times for Crawley during his two-month work experience, scoring three goals.

On his return to his parent club in May 2006, Bostwick signed a one-year contract with Millwall.

Shortly before the start of the 2006–07 season, Bostwick was loaned out to Crawley Town for a second spell at the club.

He played in the club's first five matches of the season, scoring twice from midfield in a 3–2 away win at Stevenage Borough on 18 August 2006.

Crawley Town extended the loan deal until the end of the season on 31 August 2006, although Millwall were able to recall him in the January transfer window if they deemed it necessary.

He was released by the club at the end of the 2006–07 season.

Bostwick played regularly for Crawley until he was recalled by Millwall in January 2007.

He joined Ebbsfleet United in August 2007 ahead of the 2007–08 season, helping Ebbsfleet win the FA Trophy at Wembley Stadium in May 2008.

Bostwick rejected a contract offer from Ebbsfleet, and signed for Stevenage Borough shortly after the FA Trophy success.

Bostwick played 25 times during the first half of the season, scoring twice, before Millwall recalled him in January 2007.

Having made no first-team appearances for Millwall, Bostwick was allowed to leave the club on a free transfer to sign for Rushden & Diamonds on an 18-month contract.

Rushden were managed by Graham Westley, who had previously written about Bostwick's credentials in his weekly column in The Non-League Paper when Westley was out of work.

Bostwick debuted for Rushden in the club's 2–1 away victory at league leaders Dagenham & Redbridge on 10 February 2007.

He was sent-off for the first time in his career in Rushden's 2–2 draw with Aldershot Town on 24 March 2007, receiving a red card for two bookable offences.

Bostwick played eight matches for Rushden, although fell out of favour at the club in March 2007 after Westley was sacked.

At the start of the 2007–08 season, Bostwick signed for Conference Premier club Ebbsfleet United on an initial three-month contract, with a view to a contract extension after the three-month period.

He was signed to add "depth to the squad", as well as to "provide cover at the back and midfield areas".

He made his Ebbsfleet debut on 18 August 2007, starting the match at centre back in a 1–0 victory at Nene Park against his former employers, Rushden.

He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw against Exeter City on 22 September 2007.

Bostwick signed a new contract at Ebbsfleet on 23 November 2007, keeping him signed to the club until the end of the 2007–08 season.

Bostwick played regularly in the club's FA Trophy run during the season, making seven appearances in the club's FA Trophy matches, and scoring in a 1–1 draw against Aldershot Town in the semi-final second leg on 15 March 2008.

He also played the full match in the final as Ebbsfleet won 1–0 against Torquay United at Wembley Stadium on 10 May 2008.

He made 51 appearances for Ebbsfleet in all competitions during the season, scoring five times.

Bostwick was offered a new contract by Ebbsfleet ahead of the 2008–09 season, but rejected the offer and instead opted to join fellow Conference Premier club Stevenage Borough on a two-year deal, playing under the management of Graham Westley for the second time.

He played regularly in the club's defence and midfield throughout his time at Stevenage, winning the FA Trophy once again in May 2009 and helping the club earn back-to-back promotions from the Conference Premier into League One.

After making 206 appearances during his four years at Stevenage, Bostwick signed for Championship club Peterborough United in July 2012, where he spent five seasons; playing 228 times and helping the club win the Football League Trophy in 2014.

He then joined Lincoln City ahead of the 2017–18 season, winning the EFL Trophy in 2018 before being named the club's Player of the Year as they finished the 2018–19 season as League Two champions.

Bostwick signed for fellow League One club Burton Albion in August 2020, before rejoining former club Stevenage, initially on loan in January 2022, and then on a permanent basis in May 2022.

After helping Stevenage earn promotion into League One during the 2022–23 season, Bostwick joined Boston United of the National League North in June 2023.

Bostwick was born in Eltham, Greater London and grew up in South East London.

Bostwick supports West Ham United, and his footballing hero when growing up was Rio Ferdinand.

Bostwick began his career as a trainee with Millwall, and was a regular in the club's under-18 team, as well as playing several times for the reserve team.