You're not singing... well, at all as it happens Blue Square Premier outfit Histon have entered the
record books for unwanted reasons by becoming the first club ever in the top five tiers of English
football to take no supporters to an away match. The visitors seats (the blue block in the photo
above) for [.
You're not singing... well, at all as it happens Blue Square Premier outfit Histon have entered the
record books for unwanted reasons by becoming the first club ever in the top five tiers of English
football to take no supporters to an away match. The visitors seats (the blue block in the photo
above) for [.
We've all been there. It's the last minute and your team is clinging on to a vital, undeserved
win away from home. You stand and bellow support for your lads with their backs against the walls,
frantically throwing themselves in front of every ball headed toward the goal to break your
heart.
A David Bridges goal in the first half was enough to see off York and finish Boro's last season
in the Conference on a winning note. The goal came courtesy of a mix up between Josh Mimms and
Danny Parslow and Bridges was there to head the ball in the empty goal. There was a party
atmosphere in and around the ground and that seemed to get to the players on the pitch as the game
lacked any real intensity or competitiveness.
It's nearly 14 years to the day when a late Corey Browne header earned Boro the point they
needed against Morecambe to win the Vauxhall Conference title. As everyone knows back then
promotion was denied, so the title party at the next home game against Dagenham was a little muted.
However, tomorrow we will not only be celebrating ending a fantastic season with the Conference
title, but we'll also be looking forward to league football for the first time in the club's short,
but successful history.
With Stevenage securing promotion to the football league for the first time last Saturday I
thought I would have a look and see how I think we will do in League 2.
There is no doubt that it is a tough division and will be a step up, but promoted clubs rarely
find themselves fighting for relegation and usually end up sitting comfortably in mid-table.
Stevenage would have been forgiven for taking their foot off the pedal after sealing the title
on Saturday and maybe in some ways they did against Gateshead, but they still won the game thanks
to Scott Laird's 21st minute penalty. I didn't actually travel to Gateshead, so can't comment on
the performance, but it's the sort of win that sums up what this season's team is all about.
I still can't believe it. It hasn't really sunk in yet, but Stevenage Borough have won the Blue
Square Premier and been promoted to the football league. In some ways I'm still waiting for someone
to wake me up or for our promotion to be denied because we have a seat missing in the away end or
something!
April 17th 2010 may be a date that Boro supporters will remember for a very long time. It could
be the day that Stevenage Borough finally seal promotion to the football league, 14 long years
after being denied the first time. Kidderminster Harriers are the opposition and Boro travel to
Aggborough knowing that 3 points will be enough for them to win the Blue Square Premier title and
clinch promotion to League 2 for next season.
It's been a season that no Stevenage fan will ever forget and it seems that destiny is finally
taking over as we only require 3 more points to win the league. 14 years ago when I was 6, I
remember the last day of the season when Steve Berry, Smudger and co lifted the title. 14 years on
and my desire has grown and after years of mid table obscurity it has made me feel proud to finally
see my hometown club so close to being promoted into the football league.
Saturday's win against Forest Green, plus Luton's failure to beat Tamworth means that Stevenage
will clinch promotion from the BSP if they collect maximum points from their next two games. It's
fitting that those games are against two sides that have been in and around the Conference for as
long as we have.
Two wins from the next four games is all that is needed to win Stevenage promotion to the
football league. Boro's 2-0 win against Forest Green, plus Luton's failure to beat Tamworth means
that if Graham Westley's side beat both Altrincham and Kidderminster away from home this week, they
will be confirmed as Blue Square Premier Champions for 2009/2010 with 2 games still left to
play.
If Luton thought that their win at Broadhall Way on Saturday was enough to knock Boro's
confidence and secure the Hatters promotion back to the football league then they can think again.
Stevenage showed exactly why they are top of the Blue Square Premier as they bounced back in style
yesterday afternoon with a professional, efficient performance that was too much for AFC Wimbledon
to cope with in front of nearly 4,000 fans at Kingsmeadow.
After the disappointment of Saturday's defeat to Luton Town, Boro return to action with a tricky
looking away trip to AFC Wimbledon on Easter Monday. With the Hatters now breathing down our necks,
the Wimbledon game is now all the more important. Boro need to bounce back after being beaten at
the weekend and show that they have the mental strength to go on and win the title.
Luton beat Stevenage at a packed Broadhall Way for the first time in 18 months yesterday
afternoon as they kept their title hopes alive. Matthew Barnes-Homer's fortunate strike a minute
after coming on decided the game and left Boro knowing there is still a lot of work to do to clinch
promotion.
So, here it is. Boro vs Luton. It's a game that has been talked about for months now and it
finally kick's off at 1pm tomorrow afternoon. Both sides go into the game full of confidence after
recent results. Boro are on a 8 match winning run which has propelled them to the top of the Blue
Square Premier.
Scott Laird was the hero again last night as Stevenage beat Oxford 1-0Â at Broadhall Way. Laird,
who scored Boro's only goal in their victory at Luton back in September, stepped up and scoredÂ
the second half penalty that was enough to win the game. That result puts Graham Westley's
side 8 points clear of the U's and keeps the gap between ourselves and Luton to 5 points.
Oxford United make the trip to Hertfordshire tomorrow evening to face Stevenage in a top of
the table clash, which could go a long way into deciding the destination of the Conference title.
Boro go into the game 5 points clear of Oxford at the summit and are in fine form having won 7
games on the bounce, the latest being the 3-0 victory away at Crawley.
Sorry it's a bit late, but it's a story that is definately worth mentioning. New Year's Day saw
Stevenage go top of the Blue Square Premier after they beat Cambridge United 4-1 at Broadhall Way.
Boro took the place of Oxford United who didn't play because their game against Rushden wasÂ
postponed due to the recent poor weather.
As usual, it has been a busy festive period for Stevenage Borough. Graham Westley's side had not
played a league game since the 5th December before they visited Cambridge United on Boxing Day and
then hosted AFC Wimbledon 2 days later at Broadhall Way. It's not over yet either with Cambridge
visiting again on New Years Day.
It was a year ago yesterday that Stevenage were last beat at Broadhall Way in the league. That
2-1 defeat by Wrexham now feels like a very long time ago and the team has come a long way since
then.
Boro could find themselves top of the Blue Square Premier tomorrow night if they win away at
Ebbsfleet and Oxford lose against Crawley at the Broadfield Stadium.
Stevenage carried on their unbeaten run in the Blue Square Premier as they recorded a 1-0 win
away at Salisbury City thanks to a Charlie Griffin strike just before half-time. Boro are now just
2 points away from Oxford United, who were held at home against Barrow today in the FA Cup 2nd
round.
Boro travel down to Salisbury this weekend as they continue their pursuit of top spot in the
Blue Square Premier. With leaders Oxford playing in the FA Cup against Barrow tomorrow afternoon,
Stevenage have the perfect opportunity to close the gap ahead of the midweek fixtures in the Blue
Square Premier.
Tomorrow night see's the league's bottom club, Chester City visit Broadhall Way for the first
time since the opening day of the 2003/2004 season. Chester won the Conference that season after
finishing 1 point clear of Hereford United, who were arguably the better side. Stevenage, with
Westley at the helm, finished in 8th position, but took 4 points off the eventual champions which
included a 2-1 win at the Deva Stadium.
Big Story
Alright, so some of us might not pay very much to watch Mansfield Town, but here
is an interesting promotion by the club for their game this weekend against Gateshead, as they let
supporters set their own ticket price:
Blue Square Premier side Mansfield Town are offering fans the chance to pay whatever they want
to see their home game against Gateshead on Saturday.
I may as well get this out in the open straight away: I'm a York City fan. One who is aiming to
get to every single one of our Conference league matches next season, starting on Saturday. Those
two sickening revelations out of the way, it's only fair to tell you that I'm planning to do the
whole thing on my pushbike.
Pennant playing for struggling Zaragoza...Smith injured with Real Union...Ex-Chelsea man Simmonds
continues exodus from Hoddle's Academy...Ex-Hammers legend Tommy Taylor joins Torry Army... Spain
has been a favourite haunt of English footballers and coaches over the years but those present this
season have experienced some indifferent fortunes over the course of the first half of the season.
by Joseph Millar It's great to have the EPL back. The famous names and great teams have returned -
Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool - as have the not-so-great and not-so-famous -...
Yesterdays giant killers Crawley Town, of the Blue Square Premier, humbled Championship
side Derby 2-1 at their home ground just outside London. Crawley itself is retentively a new club,
the town was only created after the second World War...anyway, here is a fact.
The FA cup can be important for small clubs: On their run there home gate has doubled to 1,200
and continues to increase while the club has made current total revenue of £273,000.
Well, no-one saw this coming: Ebbsfleet United, the "world's first web community owned club",
has lost most of its community in its second year of operation and the club is spiralling towards
disaster on and off the field.