Oof. This was a bad ‘un alright; 2013-4 perhaps going down as the most forgettable campaign in the club’s recent (and glittering) history. For the first time in a conventional generation, Boro’ were relegated. We even had to look the word up; Stevenage looking up at everyone else in League One by the end of the season.
How different it could have been after a mini-revival in February and March raised hopes; an encouraging run that came to a juddering halt when Boro’ let go a two-goal head-start against MK Dons on 22 March. It was to be the first time we’d ever finished bottom of a league as it goes; eight points adrift of safety by the end.
There was some consolation in the cups; wins over higher opposition coming in the League Cup (Ipswich Town) and FA Cup (Doncaster Rovers). Both cup runs came to an end against Everton, however. In the FA Cup, it was a straightforward affair for the bigger boys; in the League Cup, extra time was called upon at Goodison Park.