ANNIVERSARY
Boro' At 50
Celebrating Stevenage Football Club, 1976–2026
50 years. Thousands of matches. More than 1,000 players. Promotions, relegations, trophies, near misses, great escapes and more than a few moments that still don’t quite make sense.
Stevenage (Borough) Football Club has come a long way since 1976. From starting again at King George V Playing Fields to finally reaching the Football League — and everything that has happened since — this is the story of Boro’ so far.
Welcome to Boro’ At 50.
50 Years in Numbers
Match records are counted from 1976, although the BoroGuide archive is incomplete for fixtures played before 1980.
Timeline
Boro’ are Born…
Stevenage Athletic became the town’s second team within a decade to go out of business. Out of its ashes came Stevenage Football Club – though it wasn’t an event that went down well with Athletic owner Javier Revuelta.
The Name’s Borough. Stevenage Borough.
The new club received strong backing from Stevenage Development Corporation and the local authority. In recognition of that support, “Borough” was added to the club’s name in January 1977.
Welcome Home
Boro’ initially played at King George V Playing Fields while Javier Revuelta retained the lease to Broadhall Way. In 1980 everything changed as the council regained control of the ground and welcomed Boro’ home.
It All Starts Here
The aim had been to begin senior football in 1979, but the lack of a suitable stadium delayed those ambitions. Back at Broadhall Way, the United Counties League finally said “yes”… and we were up and running.
Into the Isthmian
Four successful years in the United Counties League proved enough. An expanded Isthmian League offered Boro’ the chance to take the next step, joining Division Two North for the 1984–85 season.
Building Momentum
Just two seasons into the Isthmian adventure, Boro’ celebrated another league title. Pipping Kingsbury Town by a single point saw us crowned Division Two North champions and promoted to Division One.
What Goes Up…
Boro’ survived one difficult campaign, but weren’t so fortunate a year later. Seven consecutive league defeats and a six-match goal drought in April ended with relegation back to Division Two North.
The House of Cloughie
Paul Fairclough transformed the club. A record-breaking championship season returned Boro’ to Division One and launched the most successful period in the club’s history.
The Cream Always Rises…
Enfield, St Albans and Sutton were among the non-league heavyweights Boro’ finished above as a third title in four seasons secured promotion to the GM Vauxhall Conference.
Kings of the Conference
Just two seasons after promotion, Stevenage became Conference champions. Football League ground regulations, however, denied Boro’ the promotion they had earned on the pitch.
It Never Crossed the Line
League form faded, but the 1997–98 FA Cup run remains legendary. Newcastle United needed a replay and a highly controversial goal to finally end Boro’s remarkable adventure.
Wallace to the Rescue
With the club on the brink of extinction, Phil Wallace stepped in. He didn’t just save Stevenage — he laid the foundations for the modern club supporters know today.
All Change
Wayne Turner led Boro’ to a first FA Trophy Final, but a difficult year ended with his Boxing Day dismissal — paving the way for Graham Westley’s return.
Is This the Way to the Britannia?
Westley rebuilt Boro’ into promotion contenders. A place in the Conference Play-off Final brought the Football League within touching distance, but Carlisle United ended the dream.
Wembley Winners!
Trailing 2–0 at half-time, Boro’ produced an unforgettable comeback to win the FA Trophy in the first competitive match played at the new Wembley Stadium.
We Are Going Up, Say We Are Going Up!
Finally! Charlie Griffin and Joel Byrom scored the goals at Kidderminster Harriers that secured promotion to the Football League after years of heartbreak.
Promotions Are Like Buses
Back-to-back promotions took Boro’ into League One. A third almost followed, while an unforgettable FA Cup run pushed Tottenham Hotspur all the way in Round Five.
The Bubble Bursts
As the promotion-winning squad gradually broke apart, rebuilding proved difficult. Boro’ suffered only the second relegation in the club’s history.
More Managers Than Wins
Covid wasn’t even the biggest concern. Four managers, three league wins and survival ultimately secured only because of Macclesfield Town’s financial collapse.
Putting on a Show
Steve Evans inspired promotion back to League One, while a famous FA Cup victory at Aston Villa reminded the football world exactly what Stevenage were capable of.
1976–2026
The Story Continues…
50 years down, and Boro’ are still writing the next chapter. The names, competitions and surroundings may have changed along the way, but the story has always belonged to the people who played, managed, watched and cared about this football club. BoroGuide has been recording that story since 2002 — and our archive lets you dig much deeper into the matches, seasons, players and managers behind Stevenage FC’s first half-century.
Explore 50 Years of Boro’
The timeline only scratches the surface. Dig deeper into the seasons, players, managers, records and stories that make up Stevenage FC’s first half-century.
Season Archive
Browse every recorded Boro’ season, from the early non-league years to the present day.
Explore seasons → The NumbersRecords
Explore the biggest wins, longest runs, landmark totals and statistical highs and lows.
Explore records → In The DugoutManagers
From the early days to the Football League, revisit the managers who have shaped Boro’s story.
Meet the managers → The ShirtPlayers
Explore the players who have represented Stevenage across five decades of senior football.
Explore players → Blast From The PastFrom The Archives
Revisit reproduced articles, cuttings and stories from Boro’s earlier years.
Step back in time → BoroGuideWhy We Bother
A little more about this site, why it exists and why keeping Boro’s history matters to us.
Read the story →