If there is one thing to be said for being a Stevenage fan over the past few years, it is that it has been quite a ride. And the calendar year that was 2012 has been no different. Although it was the first in three years that there wasn’t a promotion to celebrate, Boro’s stock never seemed so high as the previous 12 months delivered so much to remember and has offered the promise of more to come.
JANUARY
Within a week, however, the manager had gone. Graham Westley opted to move north and take the reins of Preston North End. There were fears for what the post-Westley future had in store, but they were quickly dissipated with a crushing 5-1 win at Rochdale under Mark Roberts’ temporary management. Robbo’s tenure lasted three games, with seven points his tally – another win and one draw.
In came Gary Smith, and as January ended, Boro’ were through to the FA Cup Fifth Round for the first time ever after defeating Notts County at the Lamex. Tottenham Hotspur were up next.
Off the pitch, or sort of related to on the pitch, there was a huge statement of intent as Phil Wallace paid out for Arsenal’s Luke Freeman, who had been on loan from the Gunners along with Chuks Aneke. However, there was no such fortune for James Wallace. Brought in on loan from Everton by Graham Westley, he went back to Goodison Park without so much as kicking a ball in anger after Wezzle moved on.
FEBRUARY
The next task was to somehow engineer a massive upset against a Tottenham Hotspur side on the hunt for a Champions League place. Live on ITV, Boro’ welcomed Spurs to a packed Lamex side and stifled their illustrious guests. OK, so Kyle Walker ought to have scored for Harry Redknapp’s team, but Joel Byrom wasn’t far away with one long-range effort. In the end, we had to settle for a 0-0 draw and a replay(!)
Returning to league action, Boro’ crammed three games into six days and only secured one point from it; a last-gasp defeat at Notts County was followed up by a loss on a ridiculously warm day in front of 26,000 fans at Charlton Athletic, before the first of a few evening late, late shows saw Stevenage rescue a point against Huddersfield Town. The month ended and Boro’ were still clinging onto sixth position.
MARCH
It didn’t last. Jermain Defoe is far too potent a striker to give chances to, and Bale worked his “magic” to conjure up a questionable spotkick for the hosts. But we were no more than the width of a crossbar from bagging an equaliser. On another day, it would have been 2-2 but we eventually ran out of steam – 3-1 the final score, but perhaps slightly flattering with regards to the Premier League giants?
The league was now the main focus and maintaining that last playoff place. Boro’ only had one win to report that month – at home to Oldham Athletic – but, crucially, went unbeaten with six draws. Those results included yet more Lazarus-style comebacks at home to both Chesterfield and Bournemouth. Boro’ fell to eighth by the end of the month and were five points behind Carlisle. How were your nerves?
APRIL
In need of some inspiration, Boro’ made the trip down to Yeovil Town and came alive with a huge 6-0 win; Patrick Agyemang scoring his first for the club among others! But if it was to count for anything in the playoff race, nothing less than home wins against Carlisle and Brentford would do for Stevenage at this stage. It’s just as well the two fixtures delivered a maximum quota of points then.
In the former, John Mousinho returned from injury and off the bench to sink Carlisle. And no doubt the latter was helped by Brentford’s inability to convert penalties; failing twice in a 2-1 defeat at the Lamex. It left Stevenage back in sixth position and two points ahead of Notts County, but facing the prospect of having to get something from Sheffield United – in front of 30,000 fans – to maintain that push.
Not only was Bramall Lane full to the rafters, but the Sky cameras were in town. This was a serious advertisement for third tier football. Kicking off in the evening, we knew that Notts County had scraped a late win against Wycombe, but we were undaunted. We raced into a two-goal lead and despite being pegged back to share the spoils, our goal difference meant matters were in our own hands.
MAY
The “reward” for securing the last playoff place (on goal difference) was two more matches against Sheffield United. Both televised, the first and home leg was a drab affair and a 0-0 scoreline was justified, even if Craig Reid did strike the crossbar. The second and away leg was heading the same way, until Sheffield United broke Boro’ hearts with an 84th minute winner. No third straight promotion then.
Not that it warranted the pitch invasion that greeted the final whistle. Last time we looked, United were still in League One. Premature is perhaps a word best suited to that particular occasion, no?
JUNE/JULY
The close season was dominated by comings and goings, of which there were a lot. Some of the incumbent squad members followed Graham Westley to Preston North End, and other individuals earned their opportunity at a higher level. And some just didn’t feature in Gary Smith’s plans. However, Smith himself has admitted that there was a higher turnover than initially planned. It truly was a new era for Boro’.
Out went: Chris Beardsley, Michael Bostwick, Joel Byrom, Ronnie Henry, Alan Julian, Scott Laird, Jamaal Lascelles, Stacy Long, Ben May, John Mousinho, Darren Murphy, Jennison Myrie-Williams, Craig Reid, Robbie Sinclair, Jordan Slew, Lawrie Wilson, Peter Winn (17)
In came: Lucas Akins, Steve Arnold, Matt Ball, Miguel Comminges, James Dunne, Anthony Furlonge, Anthony Grant, David Gray, Marcus Haber, Lee Hills, Andy Iro, Dani Lopez, Filipe Morais, Bondz N’Gala, Oliver Risser, Robbie Rogers, Robbie Sinclair (eh!?), Greg Tansey (18)
AUGUST
August was a relatively quiet month and ended with Boro’ in fourth, level on points with three others as the early-season pacesetters. But there had only been three league games to speak of at that point.
SEPTEMBER
For a brief moment on the 22nd (OK, so it was more like 20 minutes), Boro’ led Doncaster away and Tranmere had fallen behind to send the Hertfordshire side top of the division. It didn’t last, but it was yet another high for Stevenage FC and one that has, to date, yet to be replicated. But we now know what it’s like.
Boro’ drew that game at Doncaster and drew yet again at home to Bury to end the month in fifth place and without defeat. September was also the month that saw A Load Of Old Toffee – the independent Stevenage FC podcast – launch. More boundaries broken…
OCTOBER
The unbeaten record finally went in mid-October with defeat at Colchester – the scene of a rampant 6-1 win the season before. But as disappointing as that was, Boro’ bounced back to record impressive victories at MK Dons and against Portsmouth at home. Just another large old club put in their place by used-to-be-non-league, making-history-not-living-in-it Stevenage. It’s just how we roll these days.
But then things went slightly awry as October came to an end. Did you hear about the one where Boro’ conceded four in a match? At home? We hadn’t – at least, not since Hayes did it back in the late 1990s. So we were a little taken aback when Swindon Town handed it to us and scored four without reply. And yet we still ended the month in fourth and just two points off the pace. Wowzer.
NOVEMBER
We also feel inclined to gloss over the FA Cup exit at the hands of League Two Rotherham United and our old adversary, Steve Evans. It’s been a long time since we failed to win one FA Cup game in a season; the last, we think, was a Fourth Qualifying Round exit a decade ago at the hands of Kettering Town. And that was after a replay! After two years of epic FA Cup runs, this year wasn’t to be ours. You can’t have it all!
After the defeat at Sheffield United, Boro’ sought to get back on track. It was tentative. We were held to a 1-1 draw by a rejuvenated Bournemouth under new management, while the mercurial Greg Tansey was needed yet again as Stevenage rescued a point against leaders Tranmere Rovers in the final match November had to offer. And yes, Ronnie Moore, Greg knew exactly what he was doing…
DECEMBER
Cole was brought to the club by Mark Stimson but he stayed on when Stimmo moved to Gillingham to form part of the Conference winning side under Graham Westley, having already helped etch Stevenage’s name into history with the 2007 FA Trophy triumph. But, as we have written before, there are many more memorable moments Mitchell provided us with during his years at the Lamex.
Crawley Town came to the Lamex on 15 December; the first time Boro’ had congregated at home since Cole’s passing. It enabled fans, staff and players alike to pay their tributes to a Boro’ great. Unfortunately, Boro’ couldn’t mark the day with a victory and slid to a 2-1 loss after Robin Shroot had given the hosts the lead. It was the first time since December 2009 we’d lost after scoring the first goal.
A busy and challenging Christmas period was on the cards for Boro’ – away to Brentford, at home to Coventry and then home again to Notts County. Persistent wet weather, however, had ideas of its own and forced the postponement of both the Brentford and Notts County games, which meant that the 3-1 home defeat against Coventry City was the only outcome to emerge from the festive period.
Those two most recent defeats, coupled with the results of other teams who fulfilled games on days that Boro’ couldn’t, sees us end the year 2012 in 10th position and 10 points off the top; but a mere two from the playoff places. As we enter 2013, we’d be right to pursue hope of a promotion challenge. In September, Smith said he wanted to be at least 10th by now – well, here we are. Now watch us go on.