Stevenage FC v Charlton Athletic

B RO

MATCH SPONSOR

v CHARLTON ATHLETIC

Saturday, September 16 2023

Kick-Off: 3.00pm

MANAGER STEVE EVANS

CHAIRMAN PHIL WALLACE

Good afternoon and welcome to the players and officials of Charlton Athletic for today’s Sky Bet League One fixture at The Lamex Stadium.

Our opponents today have had a recent change of ownership and manager. They will be coming to The Lamex keen to get something from this first game under new management. Equally, we’re enjoying sitting at the top of League One and are determined to stay there! We should have been comfortable winners last Saturday and even further in front of the rest of the field, but their goalkeeper kept them in the game. That’s what happens at this level - the chances created have to be taken, or you pay for it at the final whistle.

Steve still has a number of lads unavailable, but they are getting closer. October should see TVC, Aaron and Kane Smith all close to a return and then team selections will become difficult for Steve. But that also means the lads with the shirts now aren’t going to give them up easily,

which is great for overall team performances. We have a magnificent camaraderie in our changing room, and that’s part of the reason for our success.

Off the pitch, we’re making good progress with an almost entirely new backroom team. It takes a while to bed everyone in, but we’re doing great and will continue to get slicker and quicker at everything we do.

Back to the game - it will be a busy day and a big crowd. We all look forward to these games and moments, so let’s hear you get behind the lads today!

Enjoy the game

AHEAD OF THE GAME

MATCHDAY TIMINGS

CLUB SHOP: Midday-3pm & 15 minutes after FT

TICKET OFFICE: Midday – 3.15pm

THE BROADHALL SUITE: Midday-Kick-Off

(Home & Away supporters). CLOSED at Full-Time Bar Food Available.

THE 76 LOUNGE: Midday-Kick-Off (Home & Away Supporters). 3.15pm-80 minutes (North Stand Ticket Holders). Full-Time – 8pm (Home & Away supporters). Bar Snacks Available.

TURNSTILES: 1:30pm

TICKET INFO

MATCH TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE FOR STEVENAGE VS CHARLTON ATHLETIC All tickets must be purchased before reaching the turnstiles either online or from the North Stand Ticket Office.

East North West

TICKETS & TRAVEL CHELTENHAM TOWN (SAT 23 SEP, 3PM)

Match tickets are available online at www. borotickets.co.uk , from the Stevenage FC Club Shop (open Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays 10am5pm) and from the ground on the day of the game (price increase).

Advance/Matchday

Adult: £26/£28 65+: £18/£20 Student: £18/£20 Under 18: £10/£12 Under 14: £1/£12

Adult £20 £24

Concession

Under 18 £14

Under 12 £5

LOVE FOOTBALL. PROTECT THE GAME.

• No smoking or vaping anywhere within the stadium perimeter.

• Glass, cans, flasks and umbrellas are prohibited - a full list of prohibited items can be found here.

• Anti-social or disorderly behaviour of any sort will not be tolerated.

• Entering the field of play is a criminal offence. The Club will act swiftly and to its full powers to ban and prosecute individuals who break ground regulations.

Click HERE to book your Stevenage FC Supporters’ Association Coach Travel now.

fan FOCUS

happy birthday!

Katie Thomas is celebrating her 40th birthday on the 27th September.

Happy Birthday from all of us at The Boro!

OWEN MYLES, 17

FIRST GAME? YEAR, SEASON?

Stevenage vs Sheffield United, December 21, 2013, I remember on the East Terrace near Christmas was cold and wasn’t a great game but watching my local team play a massive team that I’ve read about in my book I had about football was unbelievable in my 7-year-old mind.

FAVOURITE BORO MEMORY?

Has to be Aston Villa with my twin brother and my dad in disbelief of what my team did!

FAVOURITE ALL TIME PLAYER?

For me it’s Ilias Chair for me the most gifted player to play for Stevenage, also got a picture with him on the last game he played here.

FAVOURITE CURRENT PLAYER?

For me it’s Carl Piergianni, his passion for the club and what he has done in the community is great and what a defender he is.

WHY I LOVE THE BORO

It’s my local club, the passion of the fans and the reason I look forward to the weekend.

FAVOURITE SHIRT?

For me 2022-23 home, I love the red and black and the memories of promotion.

Happy Birthday from everyone at the club to one of our biggest supporters, Duncan Ling, who celebrated his birthday yesterday. 21 (again!). Hope you had a great day Dunc!

Boro supporters who say they are ’Stevenage fans forever’ made the long trip across from the US recently to back their team. Bridget and Kaz Bilinski from Laguna Beach California US and Paul and Jeanie Grunau - living in London but from St Paul Minnesota had a brilliant time watching the Carlisle match and we know they’ll be back for more some day! Thanks for the support across the Pond!

Offices in UK, USA, Ireland, Holland, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Poland, Germany, Canada, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, China. For

2023 2023/24 /24

whose BADGE?

Can you work out the badge of a another club from League One?

MATCHDAY MASCOT

Abig Boro welcome goes to our mascot this afternoon, Cooper Day, 7, from Stevenage.

Cooper attends Roebuck School and he lists his hobbies as football, Beavers and swimming.

Jordan Roberts is Cooper’s favourite Boro player, and we hope his hero grabs a goal or two as Boro cement their place at the top of the table.

Our interactive quiz is back, five teasers on our opponents today Charlton - can you get a Boro fifer?

ANSWER: Fleetwood Town F.C.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

So, Boro started the 1998/99 campaign in reasonable spirits and by September their start was pretty strong.

Of course what was to come on the horizon in December was to be a seismic shock which many still haven’t recovered from, the bizarre ‘sacking’ of talisman boss Paul Fairclough followed by the effort to send him ‘upstairs’ in a football director role. Whatever the reason behind this, Boro were very competitive at the season’s start and after four wins, four draws and a defeat it was a crowd of 2,483 which saw this one against one of the Conference’s other big names.

Monday 14 September 1998 Football Conference

STEVENAGE

YEOVIL

STARTING XI

1 Chris Taylor

2 James Dillnutt (15)

3 Dominic Naylor

4 Mark Smith

5 Lee Howarth

6 Stuart Beevor

7 Paul Brooker (14)

8 Rodney McAree

9 Carl Alford (12)

10 Dean Samuels

11 Jamie Barnwell

SUBSTITUTES

12 Chris Pearson (9)

14 Paul Thompson (7)

15 Michael Love (2)

the bizarre 'sacking' of talisman boss Paul Fairclough followed by the effort to send him 'upstairs'

Boasting players such as Smith, Beevor and Carl Alford, Boro did net when sub Chris Pearson scored but Yeovil were to match the hosts and the itch was created which chairman Green was to scratch later in the year.

DARREN ISTED

Stats courtesy of Boroguide

BORO HISTORY

ON THIS DAY: 16 SEPTEMBER

Oh no – can we get permission to switch this match to another day? In the club’s entire existence as a senior club, we have played eight times on 16 September. We’ve won one of them. Boro’ did technically register a win on this date in 1978 – but that was an Eastern Junior Cup tie against Letchworth Garden City’s youth counterparts.

So, what of the various attempts we’ve managed since entering senior competition?

Well, the first occasion came in 1989; Boro’ welcoming Cambridge City for a FA Cup Round One Qualifying tie. It was our reward for defeating Great Yarmouth Town in the Preliminary Round. And we gave a decent account of ourselves when faced with strong Southern League Premier Division opposition. Alas, three goals simply weren’t enough…

In the mid-1990s, we played on this date in three consecutive years. A 1-1 draw at Bromsgrove Rovers in 1995 was as good as it got. A year later, our drive to keep hold of the Conference title took an early dent when Kidderminster Harriers took full advantage of Des Gallagher’s red card; winning 3-0 and establishing their own title credentials.

A quick crowbar mention for our 1997 defeat at Welling United, by the way. There’s nothing special (obviously) about the end result that day. But it was a game officiated by Wendy Toms; a first Boro’ match officiated by a female official. More recently, another red card – this time for substitute Ryan Johnson – didn’t help things on this day in 2014; Boro’ falling to defeat against Bury at Gigg Lane. Actually, it’s worth noting we’ve played all but two matches on the road on 16 September before. Mind you, it doesn’t change the whole “not winning” aspect we must overcome in 2023.

IT’S CHARLTON ATHLETIC AGAIN…

Not a wildly unfamiliar face, but equally not a team we’re all that well-acquainted with; Boro’ playing Charlton Athletic on just four previous occasions. To be fair, things got off to a very

1989 Stevenage Borough 3-5 Cambridge City, FA Cup R1Q (Cox 2, O’Keefe)

1995 Bromsgrove Rovers 1-1 Stevenage Borough, GM Vauxhall Conference (Barrowcliff)

1996 Kidderminster Harriers 3-0 Stevenage Borough, GM Vauxhall Conference (Gallagher s/o)

1997 Welling United 1-0 Stevenage Borough, GM Vauxhall Conference

2000 Stevenage Borough 0-0 Yeovil Town, Nationwide Conference

2006 Cambridge United 1-0 Stevenage Borough, Nationwide Conference

2014 Bury 2-1 Stevenage, Sky Bet League Two (Marriott, Johnson s/o)

2017 Swindon Town 3-2 Stevenage, Sky Bet League Two (Newton, Martin)

good start for us. In our debut League One campaign, Stacy Long struck the decisive goal against his former club to secure an impressive three points for us. We shouldn’t be too downbeat about a 2-0 defeat at The Valley later that season either – the Addicks did go on to win the title, after all. That said, we have to confront the elephant in the room that is our Football League Trophy encounter here almost five years ago. TVC played and Luther James-Wildin was an unused sub as the Addicks inflicted our heaviest ever defeat on us; winning by eight goals to nil. Our most recent meeting was much more equitable, although the Addicks still won it. This time, however, penalties were needed when our Carabao Cup Round Three tie last November ended 1-1.

MAGIC MOMENT:

15 October 2011 – npower League One

As mentioned, the 2011-2 season was a good one for Boro’ – but even better for the Addicks. The south London team would ultimately romp to the League One title that year. Still, there was

still wriggle room for us to land a hefty punch on one of the division’s bigger teams. It wasn’t quite as comprehensive as our demolition of Sheffield Wednesday, but you can’t argue that it was any less impressive given the disparity in resources and reputation.

To be fair, neither side were in glorious form coming into the game. We’d lost our last four in the league (after that 5-1 win over the Owls). Despite being top, our visitors had won one of their previous three. And yet they were still a solid three points clear at the top. This status counted for little at the Lamex on this midOctober afternoon, however. Stacy Long scored what ended up being the decisive goal on just 11 minutes; his deflected effort wrong footing Ben Hamer.

While Charlton weren’t exactly in top nick, they were still unbeaten in the league since 30 April. And you wouldn’t be surprised that it was a record they weren’t going to surrender lightly. Chris Day was called into action with a couple of excellent stops to prevent both Dale Stephens and Leon Cort from equalising. Rhoys Wiggins also saw his effort scrape wide by inches. For Boro’, both Long and Jon Ashton had chances – but were unable to add to the goal tally that day.

BORO’ AT THIS STAGE…

Gameweek 8

By this point, it’s unusual for any team to have a perfect league record. Boro’ have, however, recorded a magnificent seven from seven on two occasions – both the 1984-5 and 1985-6 Isthmian League Division Two North seasons. But where does our current campaign stand? Well, out of 44 previous, we sit joint-11th in terms of points gained with 14 from a possible 21. The other occasion we enjoyed that sort of start was 1990-1 – a truly record-breaking campaign. Carlisle’s late equaliser last time out means that, when it comes to previous League One campaigns, Boro’ are now a point worse off compared to 2012-3. But we have scored the same amount of goals, while our defence has let in half the amount of goals (3 vs 6). Meanwhile, we’re four points better off compared to the 2011-2 season. And there is no contest between now and our last League One campaign; Boro’ on five points at this stage of proceedings in 2013-4.

Just a quick look at our worst starts before we go. And that’s an accolade comfortably taken by our start to the dismal 2019-20 campaign; the only one in which Boro’ were still yet to win a league game by this point.

ON BOTH SIDES…

One man in the Boro’ camp today has relatively good knowledge of what we’re up against; Jake Forster-Caskey being on the books at Charlton Athletic as recently as midway through last season. And, on that note, we may as well bring Alex Gilbey’s name into the frame; the midfielder also joining us – albeit on loan – from the Addicks last season. Go back a little further and there are some standout names to have worn the red and white of both clubs. Some of them would’ve made their way to Boro’ from south London – such as Barry Fuller and Stacy Long. George Boyd and Luke Freeman also count in that regard; wing wizards at the Boro’ who originally started out with Charlton. Some others, however, moved the other way; Lawrie Wilson swapping the Lamex for The Valley. Two Sodje brothers are on that list too – namely Akpo and Sam. We can also put Chuks Aneke into this bracket, even though he was only on loan here. Even so, he’s currently a member of the Addicks’ squad – although injury may keep him out today.

By

Pete Hayman courtesy of boroguide.co.uk

Luke Freeman

Lawrie Wilson

PLAYER SPONSORS FIRST TEAM 2023/24

1 Taye Ashby-Hammond SPONSORED BY BARBARA FOLLETT

2 Luther James-Wildin SPONSORED BY KEN FOLLETT

3 Dan Butler SPONSORED BY

4 Nathan Thompson SPONSORED BY LAST GOALSCORERS SOCIETY

5 Carl Piergianni SPONSORED BY DAVID GRAY

6 Dan Sweeney SPONSORED BY

9 Elliott List SPONSORED BY

12 Krisztian Hegyi SPONSORED BY JOHN MACKENZIE

14 Kane Smith SPONSORED BY

10 Nick Freeman SPONSORED BY

8 Jake Forster-Caskey SPONSORED BY

11 Jordan Roberts SPONSORED BY ALFIE MILES

7 Alex McDonald SPONSORED BY

15 Terence Vancooten SPONSORED BY

16 Harry Anderson SPONSORED BY MIKE HARNIMAN & LAURA TYLER

17 Finley Burns SPONSORED BY

Paul Raynor SPONSORED BY Alex Revell SPONSORED BY Keith Bell

Pledger

Evans SPONSORED BY

19 Jamie Reid SPONSORED BY 20 Aaron Pressley SPONSORED BY

23 Louis Thompson SPONSORED BY

24 Ben Thompson SPONSORED BY

22 Harrison Neal SPONSORED BY

Charlie McNeill SPONSORED BY 29 Kane Hemmings SPONSORED BY

18 Harvey White SPONSORED BY

25 Reece Hannam SPONSORED BY

STEVENAGE FC ACADEMY

Monday 4th September saw us kick off the 2023/24 season of Player Pathway Programme, welcoming over 380 new and returning players to Stevenage FC. After a long summer of change and expansion, my colleague Louis and I were excited and pleased to get the ball rolling and to finally see the boys back enjoying their football with the club (albeit in 30 degree heat) and to see our plans come to fruition.

The club’s Pathway Programme, running out of our Academy site at Shephalbury, is designed to develop, support and improve players from grassroots football by giving them academy level coaching as an extra footballing provision alongside their grassroots clubs. We aspire to be able to progress these players across the tiers of our Pathway and into Academy football with the club.

Sessions consist of one hour or 90 minutes (depending on step within the Pathway) of technical and tactical coaching with an experienced member of our Academy coaching team. Both the session structure and the curriculum are designed to echo our Academy and therefore the boys are all exposed to the same syllabus, demands, expectations and reviews throughout the club. We also take part in the Elite and Development Club fixtures over the course of the season, with the season ahead seeing us play Oxford Utd, Northampton, Brentford and Coventry (among others). UP THE BORO!

The Programme has seen several exciting and necessary changes and developments in the past few months. I myself came into the role of Pathway Manager in February alongside my role as the new Fundamental Phase Lead (Under 7-Under 10) with the Academy, with Louis taking the role of Emerging Talent Lead, along his role as Head of Academy Goalkeeping.

The first change we made was to move from having ‘Development and Advanced Development’ tiers, (which sit behind our Emerging Talent), bringing them together and rebranding them our ‘Stevenage Regional

Centre’. Our newly updated Regional Centres are the entry level for new players coming into the club and will continue to develop and produce players for our Emerging Talent groups, using our own academy-based curriculum to ensure the boys are able to showcase their skills on a weekly basis. By bringing the previous ‘DC’ and ‘ADC’ groups together, we now have a more structured, coherent and intense environment which allows us to progress, challenge and test players across all age groups. The biggest and most exciting development for the programme has come with the opening of our new Enfield Regional Centre in North London. After hosting two trial evenings in July, which saw us welcome 240 players, we were delighted to officially launch the centre last Friday. The centre will allow us to recruit and develop more players, grow our influence in the region and hopefully offer an additional route into the club’s academy for the most talented players in and around the local community. Our aim, for our Stevenage and Enfield Centres are to see us continue to progress the strongest players into the Academy groups and to build on the 3 players who signed for the Academy from the Pathway last season, of whom we are very proud!

We’re looking forward to an exciting season ahead for the club, the pathway and our players and wish all our current crop of boys the best of luck with the season ahead!

More about our Pathway Programme can be found on the club website.

CHRIS BARRELL Fundamental Phase Lead and Pathway Manager

STEVENAGE FC WOMEN

STEVENAGE FCW 2

Ray, Nebbitt, Farmer, Gunn, White, Gooderham, Bodily (c), Baker-Re, Millen, Payne, Hendy

Subs: Greenwood, Schofield, Dempsey, Stubbs, Clarke

Goals: Baker-Re, Greenwood

Booked: Ray, Baker-Re

HARINGEY BOROUGH 6

Hensel-Burg, Mammeri, Shack, Dennis, Leighton, Ions, Pickard, Lowe, Pollendine, Humes, Boabonay

Subs: Wade, Hourigan, Haynes, Manktelow

Goals: Pickard, Lowe x2, Humes, Manktelow x2

Booked: Shack, Haynes

There was yet another eight goal thriller at The County Ground this weekend as Stevenage and Haringey did battle under the scorching heat of The County Ground. With the previous result between these teams finishing up with four goals apiece, the share was somewhat weighted towards the visitors this time. Haringey had effectively put the game to bed within the opening thirty minutes as a mixture of genius and mistakes allowed the visiting Borough to race into a five goal lead. The hosts fought back admirably, winning the second half, but ultimately the damage was already done. The result will have felt hard to take with the way the home side started. Three excellent chances came and went. Kelsey Millen, Sophie Hendy and Sarah Payne all had opportunities in the opening 10 minutes to put Stevenage ahead, with all unable to find the finish. The latter feeling a niggle that ended her game. However, minute 11 arrived and with it the start of a devastating twenty-minute spell, unheard of in recent years for Boro’. Ronell Humes took a shot which cannoned off the bar and the rebound was fired in by Emily Pickard. Stevenage could feel hard done by as it was the first real

chance of note for the visitors. Stevenage rallied though and Nicole Farmer sent an inviting ball goalwards that somehow evaded both a player and the goal.

Less than 4 minutes elapsed before Boro’ found themselves further behind. A free kick was awarded amidst some questioning from the players. Typically, the free kick was exceptionally well placed as Rimini Lowe curled it to the back post and out of the reach of Celine Ray.

Again Boro’ Fought back with Amy Gooderham pushing the team forwards, only to see her effort fly wide. With just 25 minutes of the game ticked off, as Rimini Lowe scored again after some excellent work by Jada Pollendine. Still Boro’ did not lie down. They again came back swinging, this time through Millen who sent a fiendish drive at goal that was well saved by Liamara Hensel-Burg. As the half hour mark arrived, Stevenage were at the foot of an ever growing mountain. A ball over the top was unable to be cleared as bounce bamboozled the defence and Ronell Humes got the goal her play deserved as she approached Ray and slotted the ball past her.

The fifth and final goal of the half saw Ray race out to intercept the ball, but the shot hit her hand, outside of the box before ending up in the empty net. It was a goal for Kylie Manktelow and a yellow card for the young goalkeeper. Hannah Bodily, Gooderham, Kristal Clarke and Hendy all had chances again as Boro’ continued to attempt to find a foothold in the game. At the other end, Ray pulled off a great save to tip the ball onto the bar before the half time whistle blew.

Manager Dave Perry made a quadruple change at the half in a bid to shake things up. Instead, the direct ball beat the defence again and within the first three minutes, Kylie Manktelow was onto it and finding the net.

Stevenage were up against it, but would not give in. Still they pushed forward and Clarke had the moment of the game so far as she saw her initial shot saved down low and the rebound fired hard, but it was always rising as it cleared the bar.

Ray did make another good save and Millen had another opportunity that was well held by the ‘keeper. Time was running away from the team and yet still they kept pushing forward. Anna Baker-Re saw her tempting ball across goal roll all the way out for a throw as nobody could put it in the net. In the end she took matters into her own hands and after a great shot that was tipped away by Hensel-Burg, she had another opportunity as the ball was worked back in and she was not going to miss this one as she scored her first goal for Stevenage. Unfortunately for Boro’ it was too little, too late as the game entered time added on. Chloe Gunn, fresh from her last minute attempt at Clarence Park took the free kick responsibility,

only to see her powerful drive deflected and pushed around the post. Ultimately it was Holly Greenwood, in her first game for the first team this season, who reduced the arrears further. Millen whipped in a tantalising ball that Greenwood backpedalled to get to and headed the ball into the net. Perry was still able to find daylight in the darkness as he said “They didn’t give up. It’s easy to walk in at half time down by five and lose ten and they didn’t. They kept going and got their reward for it with two goals, but the game was over.” It was scant consolation for the team as the final whistle blew and the search for the first win of the season continues to next week.

You can see Stevenage FCW in action in a match with Kings Lynn Town on Sunday 17th September. This will be an away fixture – keep your eyes on the social media platforms for more details - @stevenagefcw

CLICK HERE to visit our YouTube channel for more Stevenage FCW interviews, challenges and content – don’t forget to like and subscribe!

STEVENAGE FC FOUNDATION

MASCOT PACKAGES ARE AVAILABLE TO BE BOOKED NOW!

Fancy being a lucky mascot for a league 1 club? Enjoying the day as a VIP, meeting the players, and playing on the pitch! mascot will also get a unique experience to speak to all their heroes and get a signed autograph book. The day becomes a wonderful lifelong memory, never to be forgotten. Mascot packages are for children aged 4-15* years old can be a mascot for home games.

We have two incredible packages for you to pick from;

PACKAGE 1 PACKAGE 2

· Meet the first team players in the changing room

· Signed autograph book

· Kickabout on The Lamex Stadium pitch before the game and at half-time

· Your picture & mascot interview featured in the matchday programme

· Pre-match shout out from our stadium announcer

· Walkout with your choice of first team player in front of The Lamex crowd

· Matchday pack including certificate and activity packs

· 4 x North Stand Tickets (Includes mascot) 76 Lounge Access. Lunch.

*INCLUDES A BORROWED KIT.

COST: £125

Package 1 plus Replica Home kit (subject to availability).

To enquire about booking a mascot experience, click here to download our mascot registration form (attached). Then please return the form, completed, to our Football Development Officer, Melissa Edwards via melissa.edwards@ stevenagefcf.com who will then confirm your booking details with you. If you’d like to discuss our mascot package in more detail, please contact the Foundation on 01438 222222

COST: £175

SUMMER RECAP

Stevenage FC Foundation faced their busiest yet most successful Summer yet. Throughout the 6 weeks, we saw 12 different locations help deliver 6 different types of camps to help keep children engaged and active throughout the holiday season.

The Foundation saw a phenomenal 3,953 engagements throughout the six weeks, providing well over 1,000 hours of delivery to our Local community. Take a look at the breakdown of our camps below. Within that number, 1,400 hot meals were provided courtesy of our friends at George and Dragon, Graveley !

A massive thank you to all the Stevenage FC Women players, who came down to our Girls

Only Camp for some player visits and went and said hello to our Letchworth Mixed camp too. Another big thank you to Kane Smith & Luther James-Wildin for attending one of our Soccer Camps. They took part in a Q&A and a few games with the children who really enjoyed the visit & had plenty of smiles on show! Lastly, the success of the above programmes could not have been possible without the incredible hard work of the staff, to ensuring the positive, safe, and fun environments were created and participants left with smiles on their faces.

Our October booking links for Soccer Camps, Fit Fed & Read, Girls Only & Youth hub will be out shortly. Keep an eye on our website / socials to book!

2023/2024 STAT PACK

The only previous Football League season in which Stevenage and Charlton met was 2011-12 in League One, when Stevenage won 1-0 at home and lost 2-0 away.

The last competitive meeting between Stevenage and Charlton was in the League Cup third round in November 2022, a 1-1 draw which Charlton went on to win 5-4 on penalties.

GOAL TIMES

www.charltonafc.com

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE SQUAD LIST

One to watch

Alfie May joined Charlton in July 2023, arriving from Cheltenham Town for an undisclosed fee. Born in Gravesend, May began his senior career in non-League with Corinthian, Billericay Town, Chatham Town, Bromley, VCD Athletic, Erith & Belvedere, Farnborough and Hythe Town, who he bagged 43 goals for in two seasons to earn a move to Doncaster Rovers in January 2017.

Following three years in south Yorkshire, which included promotion to the third tier, the forward

joined Cheltenham. He fired the Robins to the League Two title in his second season at the Completely-Suzuki Stadium.

May arrives at The Valley having scored 67 goals in 165 appearances for the Robins, 43 of which have come in League One over the past two seasons as he became the club’s record EFL scorer. That sensational form saw him scoop Cheltenham’s Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year, Supporters’ Player of the Year and Norwegian Robins Player of the Year two years running.

He was also named the Sky Bet League One Player of the Month for March 2023 after bagging five goals – including a spectacular strike from inside his own half at Peterborough United – and an assist in an unbeaten month for the Gloucestershire side.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Alfie May

SEASONS

Last FIVE

Meet the boss

Michael Appleton was appointed as Head Coach of the men’s first-team last week. Appleton, who has taken control of 420 games across each of English football’s top-four divisions during a successful coaching career to date, signed a two-year contract with the club. Born in Salford, the former midfielder came through Manchester United’s academy and had spells with AFC Wimbledon, Lincoln City, Grimsby, Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion during his playing days, making 168 career appearances and scoring 15 goals. He cut his teeth in coaching with former club West Brom, initially working within the club’s academy. Managerial spells with Portsmouth, Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers followed before he was named as Oxford United’s Head Coach in the summer of 2014.

While with the U’s, he steered his youthful side to automatic promotion to League One and reached back-to-back Wembley finals in the EFL Trophy. The Oxfordshire side just missed out on a top-six finish in their first season back in the third tier. Following a successful three years at the Kassam Stadium, Appleton joined Premier League side Leicester City as Craig Shakespeare’s Assistant Manager. He managed the Foxes on a temporary

basis in October 2017 and won both of his games at the helm - including a 2-1 triumph at Swansea City in the top-flight.

He re-joined West Brom in April 2019 to act as a First-Team Coach under Caretaker Manager James Shan before being appointed as the club’s U23s Manager four months later.

In September 2019, he accepted an offer to return to management with Lincoln City. He managed almost 150 competitive games for the Imps and led the side to the Sky Bet League One play-off final in 2020/21, narrowly losing out to Blackpool.

Appleton most recently worked in the Championship as Blackpool’s Head Coach.

Michael Appleton

STEVENAGE FC COMMERCIAL

MATCH SPONSOR

Stevenage Community Trust is an independent charity that provides funding and support to local charitable organisations, community groups and individuals who find themselves in crisis. The Trust was first established in 1990 is entirely funded by corporate members and donors from local businesses, private donors and individual members from

within the community. Together they have enabled us to distribute in excess of £2m in grants since our inception. We give heating grants to families who are struggling to pay their energy bills, and hardship grants to people who have no food, furniture or everyday items. Grants are also given to a wide range of community projects, helping to bring people together and improve wellbeing. We also provide Christmas gift cards each year to benefit the children most in need within our community. If you are interested in supporting the charity, becoming a member or finding out more, please email verity@stevenagecommunitytrust.org

Anyone interested in MATCH AND MATCH BALL SPONSORSHIP this season please contact: Dave Hoskins on davidhoskins@stevenagefc.com

Proudly supporting the local community

They can take their place from:

1st September (Autumn Term)

1st January (Spring Term)

1st April (Summer Term)

LATEST NEWS

WELCOME

One of my passions in life is visiting museums –particularly football museums. Just three months ago I was in Munich where I spent an entire afternoon in the FC Bayern museum at their amazing Allianz stadium. Without doubt it is one of the best footy museums in the world – and I’ve seen quite a few. Our guests this afternoon, Charlton, have a museum too. It’s situated under The Valley’s north stand and is open on match days or by appointment. Opened in 2014, Charlton’s museum is routinely operated by one of its seven trustees. Stevenage visit The Valley next April, and they can count on me being a visitor to view their club’s treasured artifacts. Lots of Premier and EFL clubs have their own museums now, celebrating their respective club histories. I’m currently compiling a directory of such destinations which I will share (to those interested) when complete. Always pleased when Charlton come visit Stevenage. I rate the Addicks fans and supporters as amongst the friendliest.

JOHN WOOLLEY

The accompanying photograph is that of John Woolley and his beautiful blushing bride Sonia, on their wedding day in December 1957. Sadly, on June 5th this year, John passed away. John’s daughter (Jo) was good enough to contact the club to inform us and wondered if anyone had any memories of John’s time with “The Stripes”. John used to play for Stevenage FC during the 1958-59 season when Arthur Hammond was

the club manager. John appeared in teams that included such noted players as Neville Overman, Mick Ward, and Pal (Paul) Kies – who, some may recall, was a refugee from the Hungarian uprising. John featured in a number of games for Stevenage, particularly in the Delphian Reserves League where he wore the No.10 shirt. John’s first goal for the club was against Rainham in November, which resulted in John’s promotion to 1st XI status against Brentwood & Warley on December 6th.

I realise that this is some sixty-five years ago now, but if anyone can recall John Woolley’s time with the old Stevenage side, then please do get in touch with me at: Lloyd@sfcsa.co.uk

INTER-CITY BORO

This coming Saturday (Sep 23rd), our travels take us to Cheltenham.

The modest cost is just £25 for members and £30 for non-members. Departure time from The Lamex is 10:30am.

Who of you will come to Cheltenham – the ‘Festival’ town?

It just so happens that our visit coincides with the celebrated Cheltenham Food + Drink Week. Another reason to come :-) Get thee there with Boro the Bear. Check out the SA’s website for details of how to book.

FSA

Last week the Government published its response to the consultation on the Football Governance white paper.

The Government has made it clear that it is sticking by its commitment to an independent regulator in the game. The document, titled “A Sustainable Future – Reforming Club Football Governance” endeavours to explain why statutory regulatory intervention is required.

Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Football Supporters – Ian Mearns MP – says that he “looks forward to seeing its inclusion in November’s King’s Speech”.

LLOYD BRISCOE Chair - Stevenage FC Supporters’ Association

FIXTURES & RESULTS

HERE’S A I BET YOU DIDN’T KN