1996-7

GM Vauxhall Conference

Most Appearances: Mark Smith - 60

Top Goalscorer: Barry Hayles - 25

Last Updated: 22 June 2022

1996-7

For missed opportunities, the 1996-7 campaign could well be seen as ‘the one’ for reigning GM Vauxhall Conference champions Stevenage Borough. After the off-field distraction that was the unsuccessful court case against the Football League, Boro’ had to win the title all over again to gain promotion. But it didn’t happen.

Long runs in the FA Cup and FA Trophy were enjoyable enough at the time. Games in hand, however, were piling up for Cloughie’s side as we went into the home straight. It was us, Macclesfield and Kidderminster vying for top spot. It was also a unique group; three sides each denied promotion. So, all were looking to right some archaic League wrongs.

Boro’ and Kiddy, as it goes, had already set a new Conference record. At that time, you couldn’t imagine 6,500 cramming in for a league match. Yet, that’s how it was. A home howler against Macclesfield, however, was the fatal blow to Boro’s title challenge. Two goals up and a man to the good, the Silkmen stormed back to win 3-2.

We had to settle for third. To add insult to injury too, Woking dumped us out of the FA Trophy after the two-legged semi-final inexplicably had to go to a replay. At Watford.

Did we not like that…

Full 1996-7 Details:

Saturday 10 August 1996

Saturday 17 August 1996

Monday 19 August 1996

Saturday 24 August 1996

Monday 26 August 1996

Saturday 31 August 1996

Monday 02 September 1996

Saturday 07 September 1996

Monday 09 September 1996

Saturday 14 September 1996

Monday 16 September 1996

Saturday 21 September 1996

Tuesday 24 September 1996

Saturday 28 September 1996

Wednesday 02 October 1996

Saturday 05 October 1996

Monday 07 October 1996

Saturday 12 October 1996

Tuesday 15 October 1996

Saturday 19 October 1996

Saturday 26 October 1996

Saturday 02 November 1996

Saturday 09 November 1996

Saturday 16 November 1996

Tuesday 19 November 1996

Saturday 23 November 1996

Tuesday 26 November 1996

Saturday 30 November 1996

Saturday 07 December 1996

Saturday 14 December 1996

Saturday 21 December 1996

Thursday 26 December 1996

Wednesday 01 January 1997

Saturday 04 January 1997

Saturday 11 January 1997

Saturday 18 January 1997

Monday 20 January 1997

Saturday 25 January 1997

Saturday 01 February 1997

Saturday 08 February 1997

Saturday 15 February 1997

Monday 17 February 1997

Saturday 22 February 1997

Saturday 01 March 1997

Saturday 08 March 1997

Saturday 15 March 1997

Monday 17 March 1997

Saturday 22 March 1997

Tuesday 25 March 1997

Saturday 29 March 1997

Monday 31 March 1997

Saturday 05 April 1997

Tuesday 08 April 1997

Saturday 12 April 1997

Monday 14 April 1997

Wednesday 16 April 1997

Saturday 19 April 1997

Monday 21 April 1997

Wednesday 23 April 1997

Saturday 26 April 1997

Tuesday 29 April 1997

Saturday 03 May 1997

1996-7 Boro' Rollcall

Name Pld Gls YC RC US
Carl Adams 12 (8) 4 0 0 9
Malcolm Allen 0 (0) 0 0 0 2
Paul Barrowcliff 53 (2) 4 0 0 0
Marvin Bates 1 (0) 1 0 0 0
Stuart Beevor 45 (5) 4 1 0 3
Mike Bignall 10 (4) 4 0 0 0
Corey Browne 40 (14) 19 0 0 2
Steve Butler 1 (0) 0 0 0 0
Neil Catlin 35 (3) 11 1 0 5
Gary Crawshaw 32 (12) 17 0 0 4
Scott Cretton 9 (2) 0 0 0 8
Lee Endersby 3 (0) 0 0 0 0
Des Gallagher 46 (0) 0 0 1 2
Dominic Gentle 8 (2) 0 0 0 0
Dominic Grime 4 (0) 0 0 0 0
Barry Hayles 36 (7) 25 0 0 0
Dean Hooper 29 (0) 1 0 0 0
Noel Imber 0 (0) 0 0 0 7
Ryan Kirby 38 (0) 1 0 0 0
Michael Mison 9 (0) 5 0 0 0
Robbie Mutchell 50 (3) 0 0 0 2
Alan Paris 14 (3) 0 0 0 1
Mark Smith 60 (0) 0 0 0 0
Efetobore Sodje 55 (1) 7 1 0 0
Jason Soloman 13 (0) 3 0 0 0
Shaun Stevens 0 (2) 0 0 0 2
Neil Trebble 13 (19) 8 0 0 6
John Ugbah 10 (10) 3 0 0 0
Dave Venables 15 (7) 2 0 0 0
Matt Vier 1 (0) 0 0 0 1
Kenny Webster 24 (0) 4 0 0 1
Richard Wilmot 16 (1) 0 0 0 23

 

Key:

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

1996-7 GM Vauxhall Conference Table

Pl W D L F A GD Pts
Macclesfield Town
2Kidderminster Harriers42267984424285
3Stevenage Borough422410887533482
4Morecambe421991469561366
5Woking421810147163864
6Northwich Victoria421712136154763
7Farnborough421613135853561
8Hednesford Town421612145250260
9Telford United421610164656-1058
10Gateshead421511165963-456
11Southport421510175161-1055
12Rushden & Diamonds421411176163-253
13Stalybridge Celtic421410185358-552
14Kettering Town42149195362-951
15Hayes421214166265-350
16Slough Town421214165768-1150
17Dover Athletic421311185573-1850
18Welling United421213175355-249
19Halifax Town42139205060-1048
20Bath City421211195380-2747
21Bromsgrove Rovers42125254167-2641
22Altrincham42912214973-2439