Now that March 2026 has bitten the dust, it’s time to check in and see how our performance is tracking against previous seasons at this stage. Honestly, it feels like the month came and went in no time at all. Yet, we packed a fair few fixtures into the diary AND still found time to have a weekend off for a dull-as-always international break. It’s fair to say we’re nicely set as we march into April too – so shall we see if history has any signs of encouragement to offer?
League One comparison at this stage
In pure points terms, 2023-24 leads the way at this stage. But there’s a very important caveat. By the end of March 2024, we’d accumulated 63 points from 40 fixtures; 17 wins being the key driver of that tally. On the face of it, it’s three more points than we currently have. But that is ignoring the fact we’ve played two fewer fixtures at the end of March 2026 – and have already reached 17 victories. It means we are level in terms of Points Per Game (1.58).
It’s also worth saying that March 2024 was not a good month. Four draws and two losses had all but killed off our fading playoff prospects as the Steve Evans era went into its final weeks. Meanwhile, Boro’ went through March 2012 unbeaten under Gary Smith; the peculiar haul of one win and seven draws(!) keeping our playoff ambitions just about on course at the most important time of the season.
And, yet, Smiffy was out of a job a year later; March 2013 bringing an end to his tenure.
FACT:
It feels as if March has lots of hot gossip to share when it comes to League One. The 2013-14 is one to forget, no doubt about it. But we actually had a fairly good March 2014. There were two wins (including one at Bradford) and three draws made it seem as if survival might well be possible. Being two goals up at home to MK Dons on 22 March 2014 also supported that – until a late collapse led to defeat and potentially sealed our fate there and then.
| Season | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GD |
| 2023-4 | 40 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 51 | 40 | 63 | 11 |
| 2025-6 | 38 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 41 | 38 | 60 | 3 |
| 2011-2 | 39 | 14 | 17 | 8 | 54 | 37 | 59 | 17 |
| 2012-3 | 41 | 14 | 8 | 19 | 46 | 57 | 50 | -11 |
| 2024-5 | 38 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 35 | 39 | 49 | -4 |
| 2013-4 | 39 | 10 | 8 | 21 | 40 | 60 | 38 | -20 |
Are there any lookalike seasons?
We’ve had a bit of add
| Season | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GD |
| 2022-3 | 38 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 51 | 37 | 66 | 14 |
| 2006-7 | 38 | 18 | 6 | 14 | 63 | 54 | 60 | 9 |
| 2020-1 | 38 | 11 | 16 | 11 | 33 | 33 | 49 | 0 |
| 2021-2 | 38 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 34 | 60 | 34 | -26 |
In addition to the 2024-25 League One campaign, there are four others where we came out of March with the same number of games played. The ‘first’ is our promotion-winning one three years ago (2022-23), in which we only had six more points than we currently have. Which is an interesting point, don’t you think. Elsewhere, the 2020-21 season was back up to pace after a delayed start due to Covid; March 2021 even delivering four wins and two draws.
The best and worst at the end of March
| Season | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GD |
| 1990-1 | 35 | 29 | 4 | 2 | 88 | 27 | 91 | 61 |
| 2009-10 | 39 | 26 | 9 | 4 | 72 | 23 | 87 | 49 |
| 1991-2 | 34 | 25 | 5 | 4 | 74 | 31 | 80 | 43 |
Let’s just gloss over the 1990-91 campaign here because it’s an absolute freak of a season (in a good way, of course). There’s literally nothing more we can say about it. Instead, let’s revisit the title charge of 2010; Boro’ having a spectacular March by registering seven straight wins – scoring 19 and conceding just one. If anything, it’s a prime example of timing a title charge to perfection. Even if there was still a hiccup or two still to come before the finish line.
| Season | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GD |
| 1982-3 | 26 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 37 | 45 | 34* | -8 |
| 2015-6 | 34 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 45 | 64 | 34 | -19 |
| 1981-2 | 26 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 31 | 33 | 30* | -2 |
| 2019-20 | 36 | 3 | 13 | 20 | 24 | 50 | 22 | -26 |
As Covid bit hard, March 2020 only got one more game out the door before the curtain came down on proceedings. So, we no longer have to talk about it. Hooray!
Two of our United Counties League Premier Division campaigns can be seen propping up the list here now, albeit somewhat unfairly. On a PPG basis, they’re a bit more favourable than it may seem. One season that isn’t in this ‘worst’ snapshot, however, is 2002-03. As GW Mk I got his feet under the table, Boro’ concluded March 2003 with three straight wins – and four wins in five – to storm out of relegation trouble and into the warm embrace of mid-table.
March 2026 vs. Averages
It’s a look at average numbers at the end of March over the years: games played, goals scored, points won. That kind of thing. Boro’s +/- for 2025-6 is seen in brackets and all values are rounded up/down.
Games Played: 38 (+2)
Games Won: 17 (+2)
Goals Scored: 41 (-13)
Goals Against: 38 (-5)
Points Won: 60 (+5)
Main photo: X/Stevenage FC