If this isn’t one of our biggest wins in recent times, we don’t know what is; Boro’ thrashing Sheffield Wednesday at the Lamex. We first wrote this piece in 2016 – five(!) years after the quite astonishing Tuesday evening that showed we meant business in League One. So, you can imagine how pained we are to now work out that it’s nearly 12 (twelve) years since this played out – Stevenage 5-1 Sheffield Wednesday. Even now it seems mad.
In the time since, some things have changed – while others not so much. One thing that made this result all the more incredible is how badly we were written off by pundits; Greg Burns from the Wycombe beat stating we had “no money, no experience and no chance”. Sadly, that verdict is no longer saved for posterity here. We won’t be forgetting that Greg.
Yes, it was Sheffield Wednesday’s second season on the bounce in League One after falling out of the Championship. But it was still Sheffield Wednesday. The prestige of their name, surely, enough to be getting on with. But that didn’t faze Graham Westley’s Boro’, who were well out of distance before the half time break. Four goals, four different scorers; featuring the obligatory peach from the man Bostwick. Darius added a fifth in the second half, before the Owls bagged a consolation. And they also found the time to have a man sent off. Nice.
Much has changed in those five years, however. So, let’s see what happened to the Boro’ squad from that memorable night…
Stevenage 5-1 Sheffield Wednesday: Where Are They Now?
16. Chris Day
Daysey’s career was entering its Indian summer by the time he arrived at the Lamex in the first place. So, it’ll come as no shock to learn that he’s no longer playing; at least, not what you’d call a high level. He remained on the books with us and making appearances into the 2017-8 campaign. After that, he moved into coaching and is still looking mighty fine.
25. Ronnie Henry
Ronnie left the club in 2012 and turned out for Luton Town for a time. He came back to the Boro’, however; writing himself firmly into our record books (if we have such things) after a prolonged career took him past 500 appearances for us. He’s still going at Royston Town as we speak – combined with a role in charge of our Under 18s.
05. Jon Ashton
After six years and 220+ outings for us, Jon Ashton moved onto pastures new in 2015. At first, he moved to Crawley Town on a one-year deal, before Braintree came calling in 2016. After a few years back in non-league action, Ashton called time on his playing career. He remains in the game, however; last seen at Ipswich Town as one of their fitness coaches.
14. Mark Roberts
Captain, leader, legend; If anyone personifies the meteoric rise of Stevenage FC, it’s skipper and two-time manager Robbo. He added his name to the list of our all-time greats – before moving to Fleetwood Town (2013) and Cambridge United (2015). He saw out his playing days at Warrington Town in 2022; moving into a role as a mentor at League Football Education.
03. Scott Laird
We don’t begrudge GW wanting Lairdy at Preston. So, in summer 2012, off went the left back. And we didn’t really find a worthy replacement for him for some time. The Somerset lad has gone onto enjoy a solid Football League career, before moving closer to home with Weston-super-Mare in 2019. In summer 2023, Lairdy called time on his career to go back to school.
02. Lawrie Wilson
In summer 2012, Lawrie went back to the club where it all started for him: Charlton Athletic. After three years and a spell at Rotherham on loan, he joined Bolton in 2015. Since then, he dropped down the divisions; grabbing some non-league action at Ebbsfleet United – as well as Maidstone United on loan. He ended the 2022-3 campaign at Billericay Town.
21. John Mousinho
It was a delight to see Moose in the Championship with Burton Albion after his struggle with injuries. He joined the Brewers in 2014 from Preston, having also played for Gills on loan. Oh, and he came back here for a bit too. In 2017, he left the Brewers for Oxford United; spending six years at the Kassam Stadium before taking up the managerial reins at Portsmouth.
24. Michael Bostwick
Last seen at Boston United, Bossie left Boro’ for Peterborough United in 2012; the midfielder turning out at London Road for five years. He also enjoyed spells at Lincoln City and Burton Albion, before returning to the Lamex in 2022 – initially on loan. After helping Boro’ again to secure promotion to League One, Bossie departed for the Pilgrims.
08. Stacy Long
Stacy is one of the first of this cohort (we think) to call time on his playing career; quitting in November 2015 while at Leatherhead. Long’s first port of call after leaving us in summer 2012 was AFC Wimbledon; a club at which he’d spend one season. He then returned to non-league action at Ebbsfleet United and Eastbourne Borough, before winding up at Leatherhead.
04. Darius Charles
Big D was one of the last (if not the last) of the gang to depart the Lamex; swapping us for a spell at Burton Albion in 2015. With no appearances forthcoming, however, he found a home at AFC Wimbledon. Charles also had three years at Wycombe Wanderers, before returning to the Dons once more in 2021. At the end of the 2021-2 campaign, he confirmed his retirement.
10. Craig Reid
Reidy swapped us for Aldershot Town in July 2012 and went on to play for several other sides since. That includes his return to the Lamex in 2014. The forward dropped down into the non-league scene with spells at Lincoln City, Kidderminster Harriers, and Gainsborough Trinity. In 2017, he made a short-lived return to the EFL with Newport County.
Subs:
01. Alan Julian
This was Jules’ second spell at Boro’. Newport County, Dartford and Sutton United gave him a home between 2012 and 2015, before the stopper settled at Bromley. He’s still going now too; leaving the Lilywhites in 2017 and making his way to Hampton & Richmond Borough in 2020 – the interim three years being played out at Billericay Town.
06. Phil Edwards (77)
Phil never really seemed to get a fair crack of the whip at Boro’. He soon ended up moving to Rochdale, where a loan spell became permanent. He’s since gone on, like a couple of others, to Burton Albion – a time that included a loan spell at Oxford United. Edwards then returned to former club Accrington Stanley, before seemingly ending his career at Warrington Town.
11. Jennison Myrie-Williams (66)
The winger got round a bit after leaving Boro’ in summer 2012: Port Vale, Scunthorpe United and Tranmere Rovers to name but three places you’d find him. He even made his way across the water to Ireland to play for Sligo Rovers, before returning – as far as Wales – to Newport in 2016. Six clubs later, the winger turned out for Chippenham Town in 2021.
20. Chris Beardsley
Beardo went up to Deepdale to link up with G-Wezzle at Preston, but it didn’t quite work out. After a loan spell at Bristol Rovers, he came home – following, not for the first time, Westley. His efforts helped us to the League Two playoffs in 2015, but was cut loose that summer. The next move was to Mansfield Town, where he technically ended his playing career.
In summer 2016, Beardo moved to Burton Albion in a coaching capacity. There was still to be one last playing swansong, however; registering again as a player in 2018.
28. Josh Walker (55)
As a loanee, Walker soon returned to parent club Watford – before heading back out on loan to Scunthorpe United. He made his stay at The Iron permanent, then moved to Gateshead in 2013. The following year, Walker’s career took him out to India with Bengaluru FC. On coming back to the UK in 2017, the midfielder joined League Two side Edinburgh City.
He retired from the game in 2019 – but has since been seen playing semi-pro in Scotland.
Match stats: Stevenage 5-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Stevenage 5 (4) – Reid 6′, Mousinho 10′, Bostwick 17′, Wilson 38′, Charles 67′
Sheffield Wednesday 1 (0) – Madine 74′, J Johnson s/o 87′
- Possession: 62% vs 38%
- On Target: 13 vs 4
- Off Target: 2 vs 7
- Corners: 8 vs 5
- Fouls: 8 vs 14
Images: Alan Millard/The Comet
