1976-7

Chilton Premier League

Most Appearances: Wes Atwell - 2

Top Goalscorer: Martin Gould / Wes Atwell - 2

Last Updated: 13 December 2022

1976-7

The season in which it all began; Boro’s young team taking to the field in the Chiltern Premier League for the 1976-7 season. The fledgling side came together that summer; made up of young lads who were on the books of Stevenage Athletic when that club went under. It wasn’t the most salubrious of starting places. After all, Athletic went straight in with Metropolitan League membership. Boro’, however, started off modestly at youth team level.

Oh, one more thing. At this point, the new club was called Stevenage FC. Nah. It’ll never catch on.

Vic Folbigg had the honour of leading the way at the start of our adventure. One of his first acts was to bring in former Leeds United and Bradford City midfielder Derek Montgomery as player-coach. That’d prove to be a big moment. Just three or four years later, Monty would be in charge himself. In 1976, however, he’d be recruited as the only “old” player who could turn out for the new club.

Due to their being no senior team in the town at this point, young players looked elsewhere. Steve Ketteridge and Steve Ratcliffe went to Derby County aged 16. Three more tottered over to Hitchin Town, while another signed for Hoddesdon Town.

For the new club, things weren’t exactly made easy. On 6 November 1976, Boro’ were looking ahead to a match against Hitchin Town at Broadhall Way. The old chairman of Stevenage Athletic, however, had other ideas; Javier Revuelta of the opinion this couldn’t happen. Why? Because Athletic technically still existed! It just didn’t have a football team. Honestly. As the young Boro’ started to find their feet, the club noted the support of the council by adding “Borough” to their name. Nah. It’ll never catch on…

Info from Lloyd Briscoe/matchday programme (2014-5) via stevenagefootballarchive.com

Our thanks to Mark Dell for the league table and Hoddesdon Town results.

Full 1976-7 Details… to follow.

Saturday 09 October 1976

Saturday 16 October 1976

Sunday 24 October 1976

Sunday 21 November 1976

Saturday 22 January 1977

Saturday 05 February 1977

1976-7 Boro' Rollcall

Name Pld Gls YC RC US
Wes Atwell 2 (0) 2 0 0 0
Martin Gould 1 (0) 2 0 0 0
Mark Vooght 1 (0) 1 0 0 0

 

Key:

  • Apps = Appearances (Substitute Appearances)
  • Gls = Goals Scored
  • YC = Yellow Cards
  • RC = Red Cards
  • US = Unused Subs

1976-7 Chilton Premier League Table

Pl W D L F A GD Pts
1Luton Town19172087157238 *
2Cambridge United20152383255832
3Wealdstone20105556391725
4Hertford Town2011364136525
5Hitchin Town2010285143822
6Harlow Town1972103840-216
7Hoddesdon Town2072114763-1616
8Letchworth Garden City2064102743-1616
9Cambridge City2063112747-2015
10Vauxhall Motors (Luton)2044123766-2912
11Stevenage2011181590-753

* Luton Town awarded two points