The 1978-9 season saw Stevenage Borough take a difference approach to the previous two; running two sides – an A and a B team. The A team would compete in the Chiltern Premier League as was always the case since formation. But, this time, the B team would compete in the Chiltern Youth League. For the A side, there was another change in gaffer. Sam Beadle took charge of Chiltern Premier League duties. Meanwhile, John Aldrin had the B team’s pleasure.
One notable outgoing during the 1978-9 campaign was that of Derek Montgomery. Of course, it was a short-lived thing. Monty would be back before you knew it. But there was a bit of a to-do, so we understand, about his split loyalties with Pirton. In November 1978, Montgomery picked his side. And it wasn’t Boro’… for now.
Boro’s progress in three short years was obviously enough that people felt confident of taking the next step up. Senior football was on the cusp of returning to the town. It wouldn’t be in the United Counties League to start with though. An application to join the competition at the start of the 1979-80 season got rejected. The reason was because Boro’ still didn’t have an adequate ground. Worse was to follow when the Chiltern Premier League folded in May 1979. It had just five teams left as members and couldn’t be sustained. The question for Boro’… where would they play next?
Info from Lloyd Briscoe/matchday programme (2014-5) via stevenagefootballarchive.com
