Most people will know that Boro’ aren’t the first football team to represent the town of Stevenage. The club we know today formed in 1976 after the collapse of Stevenage Athletic left a void that needed filling. Even Athletic came to life in similar circumstances; only starting out in 1968 to take over the mantle of Stevenage Town. In age terms, Boro’ will turn 50 years old in 2026; a tidy and fulfilling half century. It far outdoes the lifespan of Athletic; springing to life and falling apart before even reaching a decade. Town, however, made it 74 years until its demise. So, there is plenty of footballing history in our town. And you could argue that Boro’ are responsible for making most of it…
Who were Stevenage Town FC…?
At the end of the 19th century, the young Stevenage Town FC joined the Herts County League; all the while undergoing several changes in identity. First, they switched to Stevenage Wanderers a mere one year into existence. Then came a merger with Rovers, which saw the club revert to Town. And in the league? Mixed fortunes.
Second in 1904-5 would be the best finish secured by Town in the county league competition. Looking at the records, they were in and out of it too. They left in 1909, reappeared in 1920, and left when it disbanded in 1925. After this point, the club played in the South Midlands League (until 1932) and the Spartan League (until 1951).
Mind you, there was also some success in the North Herts League; the Division Two title won in 1919-20 and 1920-1. Two years later, a first of two Division One crowns was secured. The second followed in 1932.
In the 1950s, Town entered the Delphian League. Again, it wouldn’t be the most successful venture. But it was solid. There was even a dabble with dropping Town from the name between 1956 and 1960. The biggest step change for the club, however, came in 1963. It was two years after moving to Broadhall Way and the club fancied the prospect of Southern League action.
In only their fourth season as a Division One club, they finished in third position; securing promotion to the Premier Division and the chance to take on the top non-league dogs. Town just about held their own in that first Premier Division campaign; avoiding the drop by a point. But things off the pitch took their toll.
Stevenage Town collapsed that summer. And maybe they were left wondering what might’ve been after that 1967-8 season?
Stevenage Town results: Coming soon
… and who were Stevenage Athletic?
In no time at all, Stevenage Athletic were created to take over where Stevenage Town had left off. They weren’t hanging around either. At first, Athletic signed up to the Metropolitan League; an excellent way to find their feet. Their second campaign saw them finish as runners-up and that saw the club to take the next step; (re)joining the Southern League.
Athletic started in Division One – before being placed in Division One North upon a restructuring of the competition. They couldn’t reclaim Town’s past glories, however. Their best finishing position came in 1974, when they ended the campaign in seventh. But that was the exception to the norm. They tended to finish in the lower half of the table, despite throwing money and professionalism at the cause.
It was that desire to establish themselves in the Southern League and become a force that ultimately cost them. Just eight years in, Athletic went bust chasing the dream. Not only that, but it kicked up an almighty hoo-hah when it came to Broadhall Way. With the new Boro’ in town, the plan was to return ‘home’. The chairman of Athletic, however, had other ideas and ended up digging trenches down the pitch to prevent any football being played on it.
