Stevenage FC v Colchester United FC

BORO

v COLCHESTER UNITED FC

Friday, April 07 2023

Kick-Off: 3.00pm

ONLINE DISCOUNT FOR ADVANCE MATCH TICKETS CLICK HERE

TODDS GREEN, SG1 2JE, HERTFORDSHIRE

3 DAYS 6 STAGES 80+ ACTS

FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

ROCKET MAN

ELTON JOHN TRIBUTE

ULTIMATE COLDPLAY SUPERSONIC QUEEN

rick parfitt Jnr & Rpj band spice a tribute to the spice girls

hometown glory adele trIbUte

abba lush KAZABIAN badness

arctic monkeyz

Definitely could be oasis greendays

beach boyz billy idol uk tribute ELVIS live

CHASING MUMFORD the sound of springsteen

the jam’d ska britannia furnace & the fundamentals

the carpenters songbook Daisy & The Dukes

Meanstreak desert penguins

benidorm tom saboteurs Scallywags DIRTY HALF HUNDRED

STEVE YOUNG & BAND Andrea Wilde and the Whisky Chasers

magenta slipperz plus loads more the myndset

afterparty in the woods

FRIDAY SATURDAY

judge jules pat sharp plus special guests

free shuttle service to train station free parking KIDS ARENA

promoting local talent vintage funfair NEW! WELLNESS IN THE WOODS

world street food

bottomless prossecco vip breakfast CAMPING & glamping

tickets available at www.toddinthehole.co.uk

THE MANAGER STEVE EVANS

All photos by Jim Steele unless otherwise stated

“Easter isn’t for eggs - it’s for points!”

CEO MIKE PINK

Good afternoon and welcome to the players and officials of Colchester United for today’s fixture at The Lamex Stadium. I’d also like to say a big welcome to both sets of supporters for this Good Friday Bank Holiday clash. Easter seems to have come around quickly, and I hope you will enjoy some time with your families and friends over the break.

The Club is a hive of activity at present. With only eight games of the season to go, we are starting to make plans around the end of the season and looking ahead to 2023/24. Tickets for our matches this season have been selling well, and we’ve seen encouraging growth in average attendance, up nearly 30%. We’re keen to keep increasing the gates and atmosphere at The Lamex.

Our retail has been looking relatively light since I arrived, and we have now placed new clothing orders to bring in t-shirts, hoodies, track tops and some classic retro shirts. I want to build our merchandise business and improve the shop and online offerings.

The new kits for next season are on order

and will be expected in around June, while we will also be starting work on season ticket plans over the next month. Both will be announced via our media outlets in the future.

You may have seen last week that after 30 years of working for Stevenage Football Club, our Commercial Manager Clive Abrey has decided to retire from the role. I cannot understate the job Clive has done for this Club and the incredible loyalty he has shown us in his time here. Whilst I have only had the privilege to work with him for a few short months, I really appreciate the time he has spent with me and Clive’s knowledge of this Club. I’m pleased to say that the Chairman has honoured Clive with a Vice Life Presidency, and I’m sure we will still see him regularly on match days.

Your support this season has been fantastic at home and away. It was great to see nearly 1,000 of our fans at Northampton last week, and the noise you made supporting the team was immense, especially when Jamie Reid grabbed our equaliser.

I hope you enjoy today’s game and get behind the team for the run-in.

MATCHDAY TIMINGS

CLUB SHOP: Midday – Kick-Off + 15 minutes after full-time

TICKET OFFICE: Midday – 3.15pm (Pay on the day)

THE BROADHALL SUITE: Midday – KickOff (Home & Away supporters)

THE 76 LOUNGE: Midday – Kick-Off (Home & Away supporters), Half-Time (North Stand Ticket Holders), Full-Time –8pm (Home & Away supporters)

TURNSTILES: 1.30pm

AHEAD OF THE GAME

Key: OIA = ‘Online/In-Advance’. MIP = ‘Matchday/In-Person’. For Age Category information, click here

TICKETS & TRAVEL: HARTLEPOOL UNITED

Kicking off at 3pm on Easter Monday in Sky Bet League Two, Steve Evans’ men make the 448-mile round trip to The Suit Direct Stadium to take on Hartlepool United.

Match tickets are available from the Stevenage FC Club Shop today (Friday 12pm-3pm) and from The Suit Direct Stadium Ticket Office on the day of the game (£1 increase).

• Adult: £20

• Concession* £14

• U18 £10

• U14 £5

• U5 Free

TICKET INFO

FILL THE LAMEX VS COLCHESTER

UNITED ON GOOD FRIDAY

Match tickets must be purchased before reaching the turnstiles either online or from the North Stand Ticket Office (Home) or West Stand Ticket Office (Away) on the day of the game.

The

Association coach will be departing The Lamex Stadium at 8.30am on the day of the game, with tickets costing £35 for SA members and £40 for non-members. To book a seat, visit www.sfcsa.co.uk/ home/travel

Stevenage FC Supporters

STEVENAGE FC SOCIAL

WHAT A GOAL

Good morning, Boro fans. ❤️��

stevenagefcofficial

Big thanks to @dannyrose_32 for stopping by our Easter Holidays Soccer Camps this afternoon! ��

stevenagefcofficial

We keep pushing. ��

stevenagefcofficial

A day out for the whole family. �� U12s tickets from just £5 at borotickets.co.uk. ��❤

@StevenageFC Official Twitter Account for Stevenage Football Club. Joined June 2011 77.8k Followers

StevenagefcOfficial Stevenage FC. Official Instagram Page for Stevenage Football Club. 47.3k Followers

@StevenageFCOfficial Stevenage Football Club. Official Facebook Page of Stevenage Football Club. 79k Followers

@StevenageFC just gonna leave this here

@StevenageFC

JAMIE REID! ��

@StevenageFC

A second half Jamie Reid stunner earns Stevenage a point on the road at Sixfields…

It’s another big afternoon at The Lamex and we have a top team of four mascots hoping to cheer Boro on to the three points.

First up we say hello to Dylan Roach who lives in Welwyn and attends Welwyn St Mary’s School. Dylan is seven years of age and he is football mad, citing football, football and football as his hobbies! His favourite Boro player is skipper Carl Piergianni.

Next up we welcome Harry Little our mascot team for today. Harry, 7 last month, attends Letchmore Infants and lives in Stevenage. His hobbies are football and he’s a fan of all our Boro stars.

Last, but by no means least, we have brothers

12, attends John Henry Newman School, and lives in Stevenage. His hobbies are football and Xbox and his favourite Boro player is Jamie Reid.

U are you? It’s our latest interactive quiz of the season and five things you may, or may not know, about our visitors.

Tommy Rex is our final mascot of the day. He is 10 years of age and attends St Vincent de Paul School. Football is Tommy’s hobby and his favourite player is CLICK

Dylan Roach Harry Little

Harry Rex

Tommy Rex

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

League One was the battleground as the season entered its final phase 10 years ago with Boro in the hunt for a play-off place. In their way was a stubborn Colchester side who eventually held out for a goalless draw in a game which was dominated by a red card for Boro’s Jordan Slew. Ironically it was Slew who had the best chance of the game in the first period when he saw a rasping shot saved by Ben Williams in the visitors’ goal.

And his match was to last less than 45 minutes as he saw red just before the break, penalised after lashing

Tuesday 20th March 2013 npower League One

STEVENAGE

out following a foul by Anthony Wordsworth.

After the break Steven Gillespie tried to make the advantage tell for the Us but there was to be no breakthrough.

Boro boss Gary Smith said: “I saw some extremely encouraging signs in the opening exchanges; the pressure to try and pin teams in, techniques and quality to switch play.

“There was a real nice feel about the group, lots of energy and I think one or two of the guys that have been brought in are really starting to warm to the group, and the group to them.

STARTING XI

16 Chris Day

25 Ronnie Henry

5 Jon Ashton

14 Mark Roberts

3 Scott Laird

2 Lawrie Wilson

13 Joel Byrom

24 Michael Bostwick

4 Darius Charles

27 Jordan Slew

29 Patrick Agyemang (53)

SUBSTITUTES

1 Alan Julian

10 Craig Reid (70)

11 Jennison Myrie-Williams

15 Luke Freeman

Stats courtesy of Boroguide

ON THIS DAY: 07 APRIL Ach, would you believe it. If it wasn’t for Easter, this game would likely be taking place tomorrow; Saturday 8 April and a date on which we’ve done some big things – a 9-0 win over Royston Town in 1985 and a 4-0 triumph over Woking on Easter Monday 1996. Alas, we’re stuck with the 7th; a date on which we’ve not scaled such notable heights. In 10 past outings on this particular date, however, we do have a pretty decent record – returning six wins, two draws, and two defeats. Here at the Lamex, we’re unbeaten on this date (four wins and two draws). More please today.

So what of past seasons? Well, a big three points were earned in 2009 when we overcame Cambridge United; Junior Mendes and Lee Boylan scoring the goals that got us past the Us. We did, however, lose Robbo to two yellow cards.

In 2003, Boro’ travelled to New Bucks Head; resurgent under Graham Westley and drawing further from a relegation that seemed inevitable three months beforehand. In 2007, meanwhile, a high-scoring affair saw us share six goals at home to Morecambe. Two days later, we’d go to Forest Green Rovers and go one better with an epic 4-4 draw!

Lastly, today in 1986 brought Boro’ up against Vauxhall Motors (Luton). This

1984 Stevenage Borough 3-1

Eynesbury Rovers , United Counties League Premier Division (Metcalfe, OG, Jacobs)

1986 Stevenage Borough 3-0

Vauxhall Motors (Luton), Vauxhall Opel League Division 2 North (Dance, OG, Myers)

1987 Kingsbury Town 2-1 Stevenage Borough, Vauxhall Opel League Division 1 (Marshall)

1990 Stevenage Borough 2-1 Hemel Hempstead Town, Vauxhall Opel League Division 2 North (Gravitate, McComb)

1998 Slough Town 3-1 Stevenage Borough, Football Conference (Soloman)

2001 Stevenage Borough 1-1

Nuneaton Borough, Nationwide Conference (McMahon)

2003 Telford United 1-3 Stevenage Borough, Nationwide Conference (Battersby, Cook, Ending)

2007 Stevenage Borough 3-3

Morecambe, Conference National (Nurse, Morison, Hakim)

2009 Stevenage Borough 2-1

Cambridge United , Blue Square Premier (Mendes, Boylan; Roberts s/o)

2018 Newport County 0-1

Stevenage, Sky Bet League Two (Whelpdale)

fixture was rearranged from November 1985; the original date tragically cut short when opposition forward Colin Mathurin collapsed after a clash of heads with Dave Watkins. The best efforts of all concerned were ultimately in vain as Colin sadly passed away.

IT’S COLCHESTER UNITED AGAIN…

It’s meeting number 21 between ourselves and the Us; the balance of power just a bit lopsided in their favour at the mo-ment. Boro’ have six wins to their name, while our guests from Essex are chasing a 10th victory at our expense. A few hefty victories over the years mean not doing so well on the goal difference front either (-7). Mind you, Boro’ seem to be over the worst of our relations; losing just two of our previous 10 meetings.

MAGIC MOMENT:

06 October 2018 – Sky Bet League Two

Steve Seddon was fouled with just eight minutes remaining. Sonupe then wrapped the points up two minutes later after being put in by former Colchester striker Guthrie.

ON BOTH SIDES…

There are just a few familiar names (and then some) to appear on the list of players who have crossed the Herts/Essex border. Our 3-1 home win against the Us in October 2018 had Kurtis Guthrie playing against his former club, while Luke Norris was turning out against his future employers. And with the Us right now is ex-Boro’ midfielder Arthur Read. Alex Gilbey is another one today who has played for both sides; starting his professional career with the Us in 2012. Some of the other chaps to feature for both us and them in times past include Geoff Pitcher, Ben Coker, Luke Prosser, Efetobore Sodje, Lawrie Wilson, Ian Allison, and Rudi Hedman.

Out of all our past dates with the Us on home turf, only two have gone in our favour. And it’s this one now four-and-ahalf years ago that is the biggest of the pair; Boro’ moving up into 5th place after coming from behind to grab the win. Our guests were ahead after barely a minute-and-a-half when Sammie Szmodics had an easy finish at the far post. The game could have easily escaped our clutches too; Szmodics and a certain Luke Norris squandering opportunities to put the Us further clear. But we did manage to get ourselves on terms just before the break thanks to Kurtis Guthrie.

Emmanuel Sonupe’s acrobatic effort shortly into the second half was met with a decent save to keep things level, while Nozza also went close again for them. It’d be us who got the all-important next goal, however. Ben Kennedy put us into the lead from the penalty spot after

Arthur Read

By Pete Hayman courtesy of boroguide.co.uk

Alex Gilbey

Ben Coker

Lawrie Wilson

PLAYER SPONSORS FIRST TEAM 2022/23

3 Max Clark SPONSORED BY

4 Jake Reeves SPONSORED BY

9 Luke Norris SPONSORED BY

8 Jake Taylor SPONSORED BY

6 Dan Sweeney SPONSORED BY

14 Kane Smith SPONSORED BY

2 Luther James-Wildin SPONSORED BY KEN FOLLETT

5 Carl Piergianni SPONSORED BY DAVID GRAY

7 Elliott List SPONSORED BY

10 Dean Campbell SPONSORED BY JOHN MACKENZIE

11 Jordan Roberts SPONSORED BY DAMIAN ANDERSON

12 Taye Ashby-Hammond SPONSORED BY

15 Terence Vancooten SPONSORED BY BOB UKIAH

17 Alex Gilbey SPONSORED BY WESLEY LIM

16 Daryl Horgan SPONSORED BY WESLEY LIM

SPONSOR YOUR FAVOURITE PLAYER... For sponsorship enquiries email clivea@stevenagefc.com

Keith Bell SPONSORED BY

Alex Revell SPONSORED BY Ian Pledger SPONSORED BY Matt Rogers SPONSORED BY

19 Jamie Reid SPONSORED BY

18 Michael Bostwick SPONSORED BY MICK GORHAM

32 Danny Rose SPONSORED BY FINLEY KETTEL

Paul Raynor SPONSORED BY

Steve Evans SPONSORED BY

20 Josh Reid SPONSORED BY

23 Jake Forster-Caskey SPONSORED BY LAST GOALSCORERS SOCIETY

28 Josh March SPONSORED BY

25 Adam Przybek SPONSORED BY

29 Thimothée Lo-Tutala SPONSORED BY

22 Jonathan Tomkinson SPONSORED BY Shortlands

Good afternoon, as always good luck to the gaffer and his team in today’s fixture. I thought I would share some of the positive work our staff here at the academy are doing.

Tom Farr and Paul Dale have organised a really busy games programme for our 9-14 players during the half term schedule. They have created a variety of fixtures to test and challenge our players. Matt Barnaby our Lead physio has had a busy job ensuring all games are covered but as always, has come up trumps.

Josh Coldicot Stevens, Ashley Taylor and Gary Christie have been busy recruiting for next season’s Elite Development Programme. Trials are ongoing and can be found on the club’s website or our social media accounts.

Myself and Ieuan Lewis have been working together to come up with new fresh ideas for the new season. I have been really impressed with how our staff all work across multi disciplines.

Tom, Paul and Ieuan have all led sessions on our EDP to bring it closer to the academy and the players/staff have certainly seen the benefits.

Chris Barrell and Louis Hrebeniak have also worked alongside the academy to ensure our pathway games programme is stronger than before for this coming week’s half term fixtures.

Robyn Reardon has done a fantastic job in supporting our players. We currently have a number of players fasting for Ramadan and she has provided them with food packs to enable them when the time is right to break the fast after evening training. We also had Riz Rehman visit the staff from the PFA to provide our staff with an insight into Ramadan and how we can further our support for our players.

Robyn is always thinking outside the box and there’s no doubt she has brought in a new dimension to player care. This week has seen the football club unfortunately give some tough decisions on players’ futures, we informed a number of players they would not be offered a junior professional contract. There is no hiding place for us as staff, they have given us their all, we have built strong rapports and are always thankful for their efforts. However, we will continue to support them in their next steps. I will of course announce in due course the junior contract but for now I would like to thank those who were not offered and wish them every success post contract.

Back to this afternoon, let’s get behind the lads and cheer us on for hopefully another 3 points.

Up the boro!

JORDEN GIBSON Academy Manager

WOMEN

STEVENAGE FCW DEVS 5

Ray, Brooks (c), Halliday, Reeves, Pita, Wodhams, Thomas-O’Keefe, Lightning, Hendy, Purdue, Fidler

Subs: Carter, Clarke, Hunter, Mercer, Southam

Goal: Brooks (2), Thomas-O’Keefe, Purdue, Clarke

HASHTAG UNITED RESERVES 0

Hale, Bowness, Cornwall, Everett, Grist, Grochowska, Kilden, Rothon, Thorogood, Winters, Wright

Subs: Carvell, Galea, Probets, Taylor

Sub not used: Downing

With the Stevenage first team match against Wroxham being postponed due to weather, all eyes were turned to the challenge of Hashtag United in the WNL Reserve South East & Central Division. Both sides had struggled for consistency throughout the season, but there was recent history between the clubs. Last season, which turned out to be a relegation season for Boro, Hashtag’s senior side put 18 goals past Borough without reply. This season, the reverse fixture had seen a 4-1 victory for the inspirational side from Essex, with Matilda Thomas-O’Keefe the only Borough player to notch a goal with Isabelle Thorogood netting twice and Bethany Brogan and Ruby Kilden scoring one each.

Astonishingly, Stevenage had not won a game since that result in January, with a draw against QPR their best result, although three other games had

been called off for a variety of reasons. Hashtag meanwhile had won three of their ten games played since then, with two of those coming in the cup. The stage was set for a great game and the players did not disappoint. The ball was in the net after seven minutes, but Jessica Wright was deemed to have strayed offside and the goal was disallowed. For Hashtag, that was where the excitement ended as Borough began to assert their dominance. First Sophie Hendy, back after recent first team duties, tested Christie Hale, which the goalkeeper was equal to. However, from her roll out the ball was sent to Grace Brooks who struck the ball sweetly with her left foot from just inside the Hashtag half. The ball flew high and faded right, bamboozling Hale and landing in the back of the net. “We were under a lot of pressure, so it was actually a clearance,” Brooks said afterwards, “Everyone said not to say that, but I have to be honest. I tried to get rid of it and somehow it has gone in, I’ve tried that before and it goes out for a throw in!”

Borough thrived in the ascendancy and Rosy Wodhams and Ciara Purdue both had great chances that were off target before Thomas-O’Keefe extended the lead. A nice cross from Hendy on the right was poked home by the youngster who was also celebrating her 17th

“I’ve tried that before and it goes out for a throw in!”

birthday for her 3rd league goal in just 6 appearances. She is in imperious form and is the development sides top goalscorer in all competitions this season with six from eleven games.

Hashtag had their best chance in the dying embers of the first half as they finally broke free of the defence, but Celine Ray narrowed the angle and made the target smaller before saving the ball at feet.

There were substitutions galore as Hashtag changed their goalkeeper and Boro introduced Kristal Clarke and Lauren Carter. It took less than three minutes for Stevenage to breach the Hashtag defence again. Clarke was unable to find space on the edge of the box to shoot and Purdue took charge of the situation with a strong right footed shot that sailed past the ‘keeper with a bit of a deflection. The game settled down for most of the half with Boro’ not pushing too hard and keeping Hashtag to half chances at best. Ray was in no mood to allow a goal and made some important stops, with the most heart stopping moment coming with twenty minutes remaining. A scramble in the box seemed to have Ray lost in the shuffle, but with the defence at hand the ball stopped bouncing around and finally ended up in the safe hands of the goalie.

Minutes later, Clarke sent a warning to Hashtag with a shot that flew just past the post. Then, following a foul on Ella Mercer, Brooks stepped up to take the free kick. If there was a slice of luck for her first goal, there was no doubt about this one as she curled the ball deliciously goalward. The goalkeeper could only palm the ball into the net as Brooks celebrated again. It was one minute between that goal and the final goal. This time Clarke was set free down the right, and she made no mistake as she fired a rocket across goal that no goalkeeper was stopping. Clarke, Mercer and Brooks all had chances before the end of the game that were not converted, as Boro’ finished with ten players as Natalie Halliday had to come off with a knock. Ultimately, Stevenage will be delighted with the performance of the players and their first victory over a previously dominant Hashtag side. Manager Rishi Sodha was elated, “We don’t play for the result, we play for the betterment of the players, but we have played so well since January and all that was missing was us putting the ball in the net. Today was finally the day that we did that. Every one of those sixteen players has worked their socks off, the attitude was phenomenal and the performance was great.”

FIXTURES

STEVENAGE FC FOUNDATION

STEVENAGE FC FOUNDATION ARE DELIGHTED TO BE LAUNCHING TWO NEW SESSIONS AFTER EASTER HOLIDAYS!

To further enhance our Community Engagement & Football Development offer, we are delighted to be launching Boro Ballers and an additional Active Tots session after the Easter Holidays!

BORO BALLERS

Boro Ballers Sessions offer children aged 5-7 years old, the chance to develop their footballing skills as well as learning new skills that they can use both on and off the pitch. Each session is delivered by an FA qualified coach and teaches players new skills through fun games and activities.

Principles such as passing, dribbling, ball manipulation, shooting as well as matches are taught throughout the block. This is an additional training session that complements the work grassroots clubs do, as well as being an introduction to football for new starters. Children continue to develop their social and fundamental movement skills as well.

STEVENAGE

Venue: Barnwell Leisure Centre, Barnwell School, Stevenage, SG2 9SW

Day: Thursday (starting 20th April 2023)

Time: 5-6pm

Cost: £4.50 a session

To book: CLICK HERE

ACTIVE TOTS

We are excited to be expanding our Toddler offer and launch a brand-new Active Tots session. Active Tots is a weekly session for toddlers and preschools to get moving, enjoy fun games and be active. It provides both boys

and girls aged 18 Months – 3 years with an introduction to physical activity, using fun games and activities to teach fundamental movement skills. Coaches pay particular focus on developing children’s coordination, balance, ball movement, and self-confidence.

STEVENAGE, THE OVAL COMMUNITY CENTRE*

Venue: The Oval Community Centre (SG1 5RD)

Day: Tuesday

Time: 10am-10:45am

Cost: £4.50 per session

To book: CLICK HERE

Our current session runs on Thursday mornings:

STEVENAGE, BEDWELL COMMUNITY CENTRE*

Venue: Bedwell Community Centre (SG1 1NA)

Day: Thursday

Time: 9:30am – 10.15am

Cost: £4.50 per session

To book: CLICK HERE

For more information on any of our sessions, please visit our website: Stevenage FC Foundation – Official Independent Charity of Stevenage Football Club Or email: community@ stevenagefcf.com for more information.

MASCOT & MATCHDAY PACKAGES

From leading the team out of the tunnel to a pre-match penalty shootout with your teammates, Stevenage FC Foundation provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences at the home of Stevenage Football Club.

MASCOT PACKAGES:

Become a VIP on matchday with our unforgettable Mascot Packages. Meet the First Team players ahead of kickoff and have your photo featured in our Matchday Programme, before walking out with your favourite Stevenage player in front of The Lamex Stadium crowd (& so much more!)

For children aged 4-15, Mascot Packages are priced at just £99 and include four match tickets for the chosen fixture. Please email our Football Development Officer melissa.edwards@stevenagefcf. com to register your interest in becoming a mascot.

MATCHDAY PACKAGES:

All local grassroots clubs and community organisations are invited to book themselves onto Stevenage Football Club’s Matchday Experience Packages for an upcoming home match this season.

The package offers all associated players, participants, coaches, and leaders the opportunity to watch a match at The Lamex Stadium for just £1 each!

In addition, clubs and organisations can also upgrade their Matchday Experience packages and gain additional experiences including Pre-Match Training Sessions, a Penalty Shoot Out and the chance to form the Matchday Guard of Honour.

To book, email mollyb@stevenagefc. com complete with the 2022/23 Matchday Package Application Form or call 01438 223223 for any home EFL League Two match this season.”

FORM GUIDE

Colchester come to The Lamex this Good Friday in poor shape and in the thick of a relegation dogfight. The Us haven’t had the best of seasons, and are currently in 22nd place in the form table as they have gained just three points from the past five games, with a goal

difference of 3:6. That mirrors their actual league placing of 21st, just three points clear of Hartlepool in 23rd. Crawley sit directly below them on 37 points and with Harrogate on 39, it looks to be four teams battling to avoid the final relegation spot, with Rochdale seemingly dead and buried eight points adrift on the bottom with just 29 points.

Colchester’s last points have come from their last three which have all been draws, including a creditable 2-2 thriller at Orient. However prior to that game on March 18, United had lost their previous four and their last win actually came on February 11 with a 1-0 success away to Grimsby.

All this poor form is in sharp contrast to the turn of the year when they appeared to pull away from the relegation dogfight with some ease, securing four wins and a draw from six with three away successes (1-2 at Hartlepool, 1-2 at Rochdale and 1-3 at Harrogate).

LAST 5 SEASONS

MEET THE BOSS:

Ben Garner was appointed Colchester United First Team Head Coach on 2nd March 2023.

Garner came in to replace Matt Bloomfield who departed the U’s for Wycombe Wanderers in late February. Bringing plenty of experience to North Essex, Garner has coached at Crystal Palace and West Brom, while also holding the Head Coach positions at Bristol Rovers, Swindon Town and Charlton Athletic.

ONE TO WATCH:

Noah Chilvers was taken into the Colchester United academy at the age of nine.

He progressed through to make his debut in the first team. That came in a 3-0 home win against Newport in 2019, when he replaced Sammie Szmodics late on.

Noah made his full debut in the Leasing. Com Trophy against Gillingham in September 2019, but had already made headlines in the football world by scoring the winning penalty against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park to knock the Premier League side out of the Carabao Cup.

proud to Be prIncIpal sponsors of steVenaGe fc

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

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Proud sponsors of youth football in Stevenage

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COMMERCIAL

MATCH SPONSOR

MATCH BALL SPONSOR

The match is sponsored by HG Construction Limited. They are a local construction company working particularly in the designand-build market for many high profile successful clients.

From their base in Hitchin, they carry out newbuild and refurbishment works in all sectors, across London and the Home Counties. They are proud of their reputation for delivering high quality buildings to time and budget. For more news and information on HG Construction and to see examples of their recent work, please visit their website at www.hgconstruct.co.uk

Today’s match ball is kindly sponsored by Premier Drainage Services Ltd. Based in Stevenage but covering the whole of the Home Counties and London areas, Premier Drainage Services is a family run business with over 20 years’ experience of solving all types of drainage and sewerage problems. They operate a fleet of specialist vehicles that are all fitted with the most up to date equipment. Such is the quality of their workmanship that most of their business is gained by third party recommendations.

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DON’T MISS OUT ON OUR HOSPITALITY PACKAGES FOR THE 2022/23 SEASON... CLICK BELOW FOR MORE INFO

SUPPORTERS’ ASSOCIATION

LATEST NEWS

WELCOME

Well, hellooo Colchester and welcome to Stevenage – the home of the recently much vaunted “Stevenage Woman”. Jon Burns is the chair of the Colchester United Supporters Association (CUSA), whose committee comprises Malcolm Cole (vice-chair), Liam Buffey (sec.), Ian Edmonds (treas.) plus six other specialists in their own right. I bid a warm welcome to you all.

INTER-CITY BORO

On Monday April 10th, we go on a long, straight drive up the A1 – to Hartlepool. Yep, once again, Boro Bear will go ‘head-to-head’ with H’Angus the Monkey at their Suit Direct Stadium. What’s 224 miles amongst friends, eh? Necessarily, it’s an early start from The Lamex (8:30am) but the cost is just £35 per member, door-to-door, safe and sound.

Go to the SA’s website page to book your tickets now CLICK HERE

FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS’ ASSOCIATION (FSA)

Every few years the FSA conducts a national fans survey to assess the state of the game and the views of football supporters.

It is time to take the temperature of football fans again.

Despite being a comprehensive survey covering a range of topics, it should take the average user only around ten minutes to complete. The results of the survey will be published at the end of season.

Fans and supporters of Stevenage FC are encouraged to take part CLICK HERE

THIS IS NOT ANFIELD

The other week I saw a photograph of the famous “This Is Anfield” sign adorning the players’ tunnel at Liverpool, being ‘touched’ by Jurgen Klopp. That prompted me to dig out an old photo of the Stevenage players’ tunnel sign which Paul Fairclough had installed on the day we played Newcastle United in January 1998. Intentionally installed as a poignant reminder to Alan Shearer & co., it remained in situ for the rest of the season!

SFCSA COMMITTEE MEETING

Just a brief note to advise that the SA’s committee convened yesterday to attend to outstanding business. Outcomes of the ensuing deliberations will be published as soon as practicable.

FINALLY

Stevenage Town’s greatest goal-keeper, Ray Peacock was at our home game the other week against Salford. He has asked me to convey his thanks to all the ‘old’ fans he managed to catch up with during his brief visit, and that he looks forward to seeing us again in the near future.

My appreciative thanks to the supporter who forwarded me a match-day programme from the 1950’s recently. A valuable component to the club’s growing archive.

If you have anything worthy of appearing in the club’s archive, then do contact me here at Lloyd@SFCSA.co.uk

LLOYD BRISCOE Chair - Stevenage FC Supporters’ Association

HERE’S A I BET YOU DIDN’T KN

FIXTURES & RESULTS 2022/23

LEAGUE TABLE

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Championing small businesses

At eBay we’re proud to champion the small businesses in the communities of the teams we love. That’s why every match day we’re donating our advertising spaces around EFL grounds up and down the country to local businesses.

So join us in championing the builders, bakers and booksellers that lie at the heart of our communities, all over the UK, because today they need us more than ever.

Start championing local businesses. Visit eBay today.

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‘LOVE FOOTBALL. PROTECT THE GAME’

A message about anti-social and criminal behaviour

To mark the new season, we want to make you aware of new measures being taken across all of football to ensure everyone can have a safe and enjoyable experience. We are supporting strong action from the FA, Premier League and EFL to tackle anti-social and criminal behaviours that put all of us at risk.

This reflects the seriousness of the risks to fans and staff – pyros can burn at 2000 degrees Celsius and cause lifechanging injuries, while entering the pitch endangers players, managers and match officials.

We know those who commit these illegal acts do not represent the majority of supporters.

#LoveFootball #ProtectTheGame

ANYONE WHO ENTERS THE PITCH WITHOUT PERMISSION AND THOSE CARRYING OR USING SMOKE BOMBS OR PYROS WILL NOW RECEIVE AN AUTOMATIC CLUB BAN.