Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd by Hashtag Digital Media

INTERACTIVE DIGITAL PROGRAMME 2020/21

RE K HIFE CLBUIC OLLOW Y YOUR TO ASS! MATCH P

vv CAMBRIDGE XXXXXXXXXXX UTD Tuesday, December 29 2020 | Kick-Off: 5.00pm

ALEX REVELL

lex Revell gives Boro fans an insight into the first team with his digital programme notes.

“A POINT AWAY FROM CHELTENHAM WILL LOOK MUCH BETTER WITH A WIN AT HOME AGAINST CAMBRIDGE.”

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All photos by Jim Steele unless otherwise stated

THE MANAGER

INTERACTIVE DIGITAL PROGRAMME

UNITED

V Barrow AFC

SAT NOV 14 2020 | Kick-Off: 3.00pm

SATURDAY 22 AUGUST 2020

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THE CHAIRMAN

PHIL WALLACE

ood afternoon and welcome to the players, and officials of Cambridge United. I didn’t expect to be closing out my 2020 notes with our team in 24th place in League Two. That we have to dig deep to do something about that is obvious, but that work has already started with the signature of Dean Wilkins as assistant manager on a full time basis. Dean’s reputation and experience as a top coach and his years working as a manager and assistant manager are something we’ve been missing on a full time basis. Last Saturday was his first game and a creditable draw at Cheltenham is a good start for him and for all of us. We will strengthen our squad in January and work has been ongoing for some weeks on that score. Revs has identified what we need to be stronger and we have a wish list of 4 or 5 players that we would like to sign in January, either on loan or permanently. This is not a simple task, especially when you’re at the bottom of

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the league as players don’t kick your door down to come. However, we believe we can select the right lads to join us and, of course, we’ll be making some of our lads available for loan or transfer so they can play football. There’s not been that many memorable moments from 2020 in terms of football. Actually there’s not been many memorable moments off the pitch either, but we’ve battled through a forced relegation and won, we’ve battled against a virus that threatened to decimate our community and those alone and at risk and won, we’re now battling against a run of ‘what might have been’ games to turn our fortunes. We’re still here, still standing and still willing to fight to climb the table. If we can be united and not divisive, if we can show support and not anger, if we can really be together then we’ll not only emerge from this still in the EFL, but we’ll emerge with a structure that can bring back the excitement and success we all crave for. Keep the faith and enjoy the game!

STEVENAGE FC

LATEST NEWS WATCH THE GAME LIVE FROM HOME Tuesday’s game against Cambridge United is behind closed doors following Hertfordshire’s recently installed Tier 4 status. iFollow Match Passes cost just £10 and are available to buy now. To do so, click here and select the Cambridge fixture. If you already have an iFollow account, sign in using your email address and password. If not, create a free account by clicking ‘Register Now’, completing the form and clicking ‘Create Account’ at the bottom. Click here for more information.

CUMMING WINS PLAYER OF THE MONTH Jamie Cumming has been voted as the GCIS (UK) Ltd Player of the Month for November. The goalkeeper’s standout performance in the Emirates FA Cup Second Round tie against Hull City was his crowning moment, as his two saves in the penalty shoot-out helped Boro to the Third Round.

After being nominated for Player of the Month every month so far this season, Cumming is happy to finally take home the award. “I am delighted,” Cumming said. “I am pleased to help contribute to the team and I would like to thank everyone that voted for me. I hope to continue performing well and helping us to more victories over the course of the season.” Player of the Month is sponsored by GCIS (UK) Ltd, Stevenage Football Club’s IT support and service partner.

Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd

ESPORTS ARENA TO HOST ROCKET LEAGUE & FIFA 21 NEW YEAR TOURNAMENTS In November, Stevenage FC teamed up with Rival Games to launch the UK’s first eSports platform hosted by a professional sports team. The Stevenage FC eSports Arena is an online destination for gamers around the world to communicate, cooperate and compete against each other to win points and earn real-life prizes. After the success of last month’s first-ever cash prize tournament in the Stevenage FC eSports Arena - where gamers won a total of $1,000 and two signed shirts by playing FIFA 21 - the Club are introducing Rocket League to its collection in the New Year. The New Year’s Kick-Off will see gamers compete against each other in two separate online gaming tournaments, with the winner earning a personalised signed Stevenage FC jersey: • Rocket League - Saturday 2nd January 2020 @ 7pm GMT • FIFA 21 - Sunday 3rd January 2020 @ 7pm GMT For more information on the upcoming tournaments and how to sign up, please click here.

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DELIVER A MORE SECURE TOMORROW. www.mbdacareers.co.uk

MATCH

ACTION 1 CHELTENHAM

STEVENAGE

SERCOMBE 28’

AITCHISON 80’

Boro battled back from a goal behind to earn a creditable point on Boxing Day in their clash at high flyers Cheltenham.

58% 42%

POSSESSION

SHOTS

16 3 CORNERS

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FOULS

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WHO’S THE PLAYER? Can you guess which player has dressed up as Father Christmas?

GUESS THE BADGE Can you work out the club badge of another team in League 2?

GUESS THE BADGE Grimsby Town

ANSWERS:

WHO’S THE PLAYER Elliot List

INTERACTIVE BORO QUIZ! Five questions to test your knowledge. General knowledge this week with five tough tests. What happened in the world of football since we last met.

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FROM THE

SPONSORED BY

4 Romain Vincelot SPONSORED BY

9 Inih Effiong SPONSORED BY

5 Scott Cuthbert

6 Luke Prosser

7 Charlie Carter

8 Elliot Osborne

SPONSORED BY

10 Tyrone Marsh

11 Daniel Newton

12 Remeao Hutton

13 Billy Johnson

SPONSORED BY

Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd

SPONSOR YOUR FAVOURITE PLAYER... With just one opportunity left, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t delay and lock down your sponsorship by emailing alfied@stevenagefc.com now

14 Jamie Fielding SPONSORED BY

20 Femi Akinwande SPONSORED BY

15 Terence Vancooten SPONSORED BY

22 Marcus Dinanga SPONSORED BY

16 Arthur Iontton

17 Elliot List

19 Arthur Read

SPONSORED BY

23 Jack Smith SPONSORED BY

27 Jack Aitchison

28 Aramide Oteh

SPONSORED BY

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24 Ross Marshall SPONSORED BY

29 Liam Smyth

26 Tom Pett SPONSORED BY

30 Luis Fernandez SPONSORED BY

CHRISTMAS

PLAYER Q&A SCOTT CUTHBERT:

BILLY JOHNSON:

Favourite Christmas Song: Mariah Carey – All I Want for Christmas Is You Mince Pies or Christmas Pudding: Mince Pies Favourite Christmas Film: Elf Open Presents before or after Dinner: Before Favourite Christmas Tradition: Christmas Stockings

Favourite Christmas Song: The Pogues – Fairytale of New York Mince Pies or Christmas Pudding: Mince Pies Favourite Christmas Film: The Santa Claus Open Presents before or after Dinner: Before

MARCUS DINANGA:

Favourite Christmas Song: Wizzard – I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday Mince Pies or Christmas Pudding: Christmas Pudding Favourite Christmas Film: Home Alone Open Presents before or after Dinner: After Favourite Christmas Tradition: Having a Dance Off

FEMI AKINWANDE:

Favourite Christmas Song: Mariah Carey – All I Want for Christmas Is You Mince Pies or Christmas Pudding: Mince Pies Favourite Christmas Film: Home Alone Open Presents before or after Dinner: Before Favourite Christmas Tradition: Playing Monopoly

TERENCE VANCOOTEN:

LUTHER JAMES-WILDIN:

Favourite Christmas Song: Chris Rea – Driving Home For Christmas Mince Pies or Christmas Pudding: Mince Pies Favourite Christmas Film: Home Alone Open Presents before or after Dinner: Before Favourite Christmas Tradition: Christmas Day Family Walk

LUKE PROSSER:

Favourite Christmas Song: Chris Rea – Driving Home For Christmas Mince Pies or Christmas Pudding: Christmas Pudding Favourite Christmas Film: Elf Open Presents before or after Dinner: Before Favourite Christmas Tradition: Morning Family Walk

REMEAO HUTTON:

Favourite Christmas Song: Mariah Carey – All I Want for Christmas Is You Mince Pies or Christmas Pudding: Christmas Pudding Favourite Christmas Film: This Christmas Open Presents before or after Dinner: Before Favourite Christmas Tradition: Card Games

ROMAIN VINCELOT:

Favourite Christmas Song: Wham – Last Christmas Mince Pies or Christmas Pudding: Bûche au Grand Marnier Favourite Christmas Film: Home Alone Open Presents before or after Dinner: Before Favourite Christmas Tradition: Having foie gras with sweet white wine

JACK SMITH:

Favourite Christmas Song: Chris Rea – Driving Home For Christmas Mince Pies or Christmas Pudding: Christmas Pudding Favourite Christmas Film: Home Alone 2 Open Presents before or after Dinner: Before Favourite Christmas Tradition: Pigs in Blankets

Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd

BEN COKER:

Favourite Christmas Song: The Pogues – Fairlytale of New York Mince Pies or Christmas Pudding: Neither Favourite Christmas Film: Elf Open Presents before or after Dinner: Before Favourite Christmas Tradition: Playing under the Mistletoe

ARTHUR IONTTON:

Favourite Christmas Song: Wizzard – I Wish it Could Be Christmas Everyday Mince Pies or Christmas Pudding: Mince Pies Favourite Christmas Film: Elf Open Presents before or after Dinner: Before Favourite Christmas Tradition: Playing Monopoly

ELLIOTT LIST:

Favourite Christmas Song: Chris Rea – Driving Home for Christmas Mince Pies or Christmas Pudding: Christmas Pudding Favourite Christmas Film: The Grinch Open Presents before or after Dinner: One on Christmas Eve and the rest in the morning before Dinner Favourite Christmas Tradition: Games with the Family

TYRONE MARSH:

Favourite Christmas Song: The Pogues – Fairytale of New York Mince Pies or Christmas Pudding: Mince Pies Favourite Christmas Film: Friday after Next Open Presents before or after Dinner: Before Favourite Christmas Tradition: Games & Karaoke

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STEVENAGE FC

FOUNDATION

ike most, 2020 has been a unique year for the Foundation which started with plans to deliver some of our largest projects to date. As March and the first lockdown approached, it was clear things were going to be very different to our initial plans. The majority of our work in 2020 has been linked to responding to the pandemic, particularly working alongside the football club to turn the conceptual idea of the Community Careline, not only into a reality, but also into something we could never have imagined. Those following months (through until August), with 15,000 sandwiches and 300+ prescriptions delivered plus hundreds of hours worth of phone calls to vulnerable residents, gave the team a much needed sense of purpose, as our “normal” activity was suspended. Alongside the Careline, we continued to deliver a summer NCS programme to local young people who joined forces with our Careline project to deliver afternoon teas to those at risk of loneliness.

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Tackling Loneliness has become a key objective for the Foundation, with funding support from the EFL Trust and DCMS, we’ve engaged with over 1,000 people in the winter months to make sure no one feels alone during these really tough times. The Donation DropZone received over 2,200 items thanks to the amazing generosity of our fanbase and local community, that resulted in 17 carloads to the Food Shed before Christmas to support local food banks. We delivered hundreds of toys and treats to the children’s ward at Lister Hospital to round off the year, made even more special thanks to a donation from both the men’s & women’s players to allow a £400 Smyth Toys voucher for the staff to buy new toys for the ward next year. 2020 has been a challenge, as a charity it has hit us hard but the Foundation staff have adapted amazingly and been so positive throughout, moving delivery online to still engage with people, developing new projects, creating new partnerships and showing that we truly are more than just a football club.

STEVENAGE FC

WOMEN

t has been a challenging year for football clubs and fans with games played behind closed doors, matches postponed and disruption to training. At Stevenage FCW, whilst we have encountered difficulties we have also made significant strides on and off the pitch. This season was the first time that the women’s team had a full squad photo against the backdrop of The Lamex Stadium and individual player headshots for use across social media. We have celebrated significant events within the women’s football calendar such as Women’s Football Weekend back in November and, more recently, Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign. As a club, Stevenage FCW are incredibly proud to support these important initiatives and we are committed to being an inclusive and diverse club for all. We have also pledged our support to the Kick It Out campaign. Within our squad, we have looked to equally promote the First and Development Teams on our social media platforms through graphics and match day photography. We have introduced, also new for this season, a digital match day programme for home matches. The women’s team were also on hand before

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Christmas to help the Stevenage FC Foundation in delivering donations to the local food bank and donated in support of the Toy Vouchers, which were delivered to Lister Hospital’s Children’s Ward. Within the past couple of weeks, Stevenage FCW received a huge boost with the announcement that our front of shirt sponsors would be Burger King. Not only would the sponsorship be on the same terms as the Stevenage men’s team but in an unprecedented move, the women’s team sponsorship was rebranded to Burger Queen. The surprises didn’t stop there! The Stevenage branch of Burger King had its signage changed to Burger Queen and every squad member was issued with their own full kit, complete with their names and numbers on the back. For many, this was the culmination of hard work and sacrifices to have this level of equality and parity. This is something that we are constantly striving for as a football club. Whilst the results haven’t quite been what we’d hoped for, we are confident that in the second half of the season we will be kicking on and moving up the table. Unfortunately due to the upgrade to Tier 4 restrictions, what would have been our last game of 2020 against Billericay Town was postponed. Everyone at Stevenage FCW would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and all the best for 2021. Up the ‘Boro!

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STEVENAGE FC

ACADEMY

ooking back on 2020 despite the obvious challenge the Academy can reflect on yet another successful calendar year. Pro contracts for Luis Fernandez, Liam Smyth and Mackye Townsend West - increasing 1st team appearances for Arthur Iontton and Jack Smith, a pre season appearance for U16 Sam Tinubu and a record number of U16s receiving scholar offers. This coupled with some excellent additions to the academy staff in Matteo Brunelli who heads up our Academy Medical department and Jamal Campbell Ryce who leads our Foundation Phase shows that the Academy is still pushing boundaries and developing quickly. The highlight for me has been two-fold. The unwavering support parents have given their sons throughout lockdown encouraging them to engage with us on our many virtual programmes and the players themselves putting everything

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they have into getting better. And the staff and their undoubted commitment not only to the academy but the wider community - always on the end of the phone to do a last minute prescription run, sandwich delivery or gardening duty. They have been outstanding throughout the year and really deserve a public thanks and well done for being so focused throughout the year in doing their best for the Club. ROBBIE Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;KEEFE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Academy Manager

WELCOME

CLUB MATTERS Founded in 1912, the club were originally known as Abbey United and only changed name in 1951 to the team we know today. Playing in the Amateur game, United have been familiar visitors to these parts playing our own forerunners Town and Athletic. Indeed it was in the Southern League where Cambridge excelled and titles in that division in 1968-69 and 1969-70 helped to propel them to election to the Football League a year later, in place of Bradford Park Avenue. Early promotion out of Division Four eventually saw United into the second tier where they stayed for six campaigns.

LAST 5 GAMES

Orient

W2-1 HOME

Bradford

L1-0 AWAY

Colchester

Forest Green

HOME

AWAY

W2-1

L2-0

Gillingham

W2-0 HOME

Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd

The nineties was another decade of success, John Beck leading the side back to the second tier and cup glory before the eventual slide back down the leagues and the ignominy of relegation to the Conference in 2005. Three times at this level United finished as runners-up but only made it back to the Football League with a play-off success in 2014 with a 2-1 win over Gateshead. The intervening years have seen Cambridge attempting to hold onto their place in League Two, although there has been more promise this campaign under new boss Mark Bonner. The 35-year-old steered them to seven wins and a draw from their first 10 league games, and although form has dropped off since, they still sit handily placed to mount a challenge for the summit into the New Year.

THE BOSS Mark Bonner is a manager who truly has Cambridge United in his DNA. Raised in the city, he has been connected with the club off the field for some nine

years, working in the academy section before taking on roles as first team coach and assistant head coach, while also being caretaker on a previous occasion. Although he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t play the game professionally, at 35 he is currently the second youngest boss in the league setup, behind 34-year-old Russell Martin of MK Dons. Bonner took the reins on a temporary basis in January of this year. His run of four wins saw him get the job on a full time basis although ironically due to the coronavirus outbreak, he had to wait some six months until his first full game in charge, a victory over Championship Birmingham in the EFL Cup. He signed a two-year deal to 2022.

WATCH OUT FOR

Kyle Knoyle - A former West Ham United trainee, he spent five years with the Hammers before penning a first professional deal in 2015. Kyle then made his debut in a Europa League tie away to Romanian outfit FC Astra Giurgiu, before playing eleven matches in the Scottish Premiership whilst on loan to Dundee United. A dislocated elbow cut short his temporary spell with Wigan Athletic during the 2016/17 campaign, with Kyle then opting for a fresh challenge when Swindon came calling in June 2017. A forwardthinking, energetic right-back, he racked up 69 appearances for the Robins, also claiming Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Player of the Season award for 2018/19 but, turned down a new deal at the County Ground, shortly before agreeing his two-year contract with United.

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STEVENAGE FC

COMMERCIAL As with every Club in the land, we’ve been starved of a vital income stream, after all, who wants to sponsor a match they can’t attend, hire an executive box they can’t access or sponsor a match ball that nobody will see? But we are ready for business. As soon as we’re allowed to reopen we will be there for you. Hopefully this current set of restrictions will have the desired effect and infection numbers will fall significantly

enough for us to be allowed to restart, most likely with a limited service similar to what was offered for the recent game against Grimsby Town with around 100 people being admitted to the North Stand, before a more general opening of the stadium as time goes on. For the very latest information, or to make a booking please log on to www.stevenagefc.com In the meantime, keep well, we hope to see you soon.

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