OK, we took a look at this in late February – and now we’re back to see what’s changed now we’re at the end of March. Still we find ourselves stuck in the middle of the table; purgatory for smaller sides like us without the budgets of the bigger boys. Or the haplessness of them lot heading into League Two. So, what of the club markers and milestones that were still up for grabs in the 2024-5 League One campaign? Are they still a goer – or is it all now done for?
(For all of the below, we do not include our aborted 2019-20 campaign for obvious reasons).
Team Records
Points in a league season – current: 49, total achievable: 73
- 107 is our indisputable best points haul; set during the 1990-1 campaign. We can’t, unsurprisingly, beat that in 2024-5.
- 85 is our highest Football League tally, so that’s now off the table
- 73 is our highest League One tally, which is doable – if we win all remaining games(!)
- 42 is our worst-ever Football League points haul, which we recorded in 2013-4. We’ve now safely avoided that, so consider it a tick.
- 42 is also the amount of points we ended up on at the end of the 1987-8 season. Boro’ were relegated in both years we finished on 42 points, coincidentally.
League wins – current: 13, total achievable: 21
- We knew we couldn’t overtake the record of 34 victories in the 1990-1 season.
- 24 wins is the best we’ve managed in a Football League season (2022-3). So, we’re now no longer able to attain that.
- 11 is our lowest win count (2013-4, 2015-6, and 2021-2) in the Football League. That had already been equalled last time we looked, so we’re now clear of that.
League defeats – current: 15, total achievable: 23
- 26 times we were on the wrong end of the result during the 2013-4 campaign. We can’t do as badly as that this season. Hooray!
- 22 is the next highest number of losses recorded in a single season; coming in both the 1987-8 and 2012-3 campaigns. It won’t be a record per se, but it’s still doable this term.
Goals for – current: 35
- Our current average has improved a MASSIVE 0.02 goals per game; now standing at 0.92 from 0.90. Bottom line – our best-ever return of 122 (1990-1) won’t be happening.
- Next was the 69 goals for scored during the 2011-2 campaign; a Football League high for Boro’. We still need 34 to equal that – which means upping our rate to 4.25 gpg. Oh.
- Our 2020-1 haul of 41 goals is our Football League low. Now, it gets a little nervy here if you ask us. Six goals are needed to equal that; only 0.75 goals per game. If we go on at 0.92 goals per game between now and the summer, it’ll see us get seven goals (7.36).
- This is a 46-match season and those before 2006 saw fewer matches played. As such, a further like-for-like comparison is pretty useless. But we scored a total of 36 during the 1987-8 campaign (0.86) if we want to pull one out; a tally we’re still yet to overtake.
Goals against – current: 39
- Still possible to set a new record for fewest goals conceded in the Football League. We only let in 39 goals during the 2022-3 campaign. Eight games left, none conceded? Er…
- Most goals conceded – the 72 we gave up to opposition attacks in 2013-4. Good news is that we’d have to concede 4.13 goals per game from now on in to equal that.
Anything else?
Well, there is always the chance that we might claim a record victory or defeat between now and the end of the current campaign. The chances of us bagging more than eight in a match are, frankly, laughable. So, please don’t expect us to be scratching out the moniker of British Timken Athletic any time soon.
Player Records
Appearances
Milestones, not records, are still to be reached over the coming eight fixtures. Luther James-Wildin is back from injury but is still some way off drawing level with Graham Cox (318) in our all-time list. He pretty much needs a whole campaign to even break 300.
For other appearance-makers, Elliott List (193) will move up to 17th in the club’s all-time list if he features just six more times; above Shaun Marshall (198). He could also go past 200 by the end of the season. Jamie Reid (189) cannot.
Goals
BGR has found it hard going this season, but has moved on since our last check-in; reaching 53 goals and now level with Trevor Metcalfe in joint seventh all-time. Four more now needed in the last eight games if he’s to pull level with Anthony Elding, then Graham Cox (five more), and Carl Alford (six more). Totally doable.
In joint 20th at the moment, Listy could become only the 16th Boro’ player to score 40 goals or more if he can find another five. We haven’t changed that sentence since we wrote it
Anything else?
There’s always the chance we might see a new youngest debutant or goalscorer.
Club Records
Most played team
Our upcoming home fixture with Crawley Town will take us to 37 meetings over the years. It’ll draw them level with Forest Green Rovers, who are our third-most played opposition.
Goals scored by team
If we’re able to grab a(nother) goal against the Red Devils, we’ll have only scored more times against Forest Green or Morecambe.
At the other end of the spectrum, one goal in five previous encounters with Blackpool means they sit joint second in our list of fewest goals scored against an opponent; level with the ol’ Irthlingborough Diamonds. We need to score twice against them if we’re to raise them up the extra notch to the three goals we’ve managed to score against Preston NE in six fixtures.
Goals conceded by team
The sheer number of times we’ve played Crawley Town means it’s no surprise we’ve let in a grand total of 43 goals against them (1.19pg). That puts them fifth in a not-too-vaunted list – although they need to score seven at the Lamex to pull level with Morecambe on 50 (1.16pg).
What about attendances?