Stevenage Football Club is an English association football club based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The team competes in EFL League One, the third tier of English football. The club was formed in 1976 as Stevenage Borough F.C. following the bankruptcy of the town's former team, Stevenage Athletic.[1] They took on senior status and played their first competitive match in the United Counties Football League in August 1980.[2] They have played their home games at Broadhall Way since the club's formation.

This list details the club's achievements in first-team competitions, and the top goalscorer for each season. Top goalscorers highlighted in yellow were also the top scorers in the division Stevenage were competing in that season.

History

In their first season as a senior club, the team won the United Counties League Division One championship, as well as the United Counties League Cup.[1] In 1984, the club joined Division Two North of the Isthmian League, and the following season earned promotion to Division One. Two years later, the club was relegated,[3] before winning the Division Two North title during the 1990–91 season after amassing 107 points.[3] During the 1993–94 season the club won the Isthmian Premier Division, and were promoted to the Football Conference.[1] Two seasons later, they won the Conference,[4] but were denied promotion to the Football League due to insufficient ground facilities.[2] The 1996–97 season saw the club progress to the third round of the FA Cup for the first time.[5] The following season, Stevenage reached the fourth round, where they drew Premier League club Newcastle United, drawing 1–1 at Broadhall Way,[6] before losing the replay 2–1 at St James' Park.[7]

During the 2001–02 season, Stevenage reached the FA Trophy final for the first time, losing 2–0 to Yeovil Town at Villa Park.[8] Two years later, during the 2004–05 season, the club made the play-offs after finishing fifth under the guidance of manager Graham Westley,[9] losing in the final 1–0 to Carlisle United at the Britannia Stadium.[10] The club reached the FA Trophy final again during the 2006–07 season,[11] where they came back from 2–0 down to defeat Kidderminster Harriers 3–2 in front of a record FA Trophy crowd of 53,262 at the new Wembley Stadium.[12] The team reached the final again two years later, and beat York City 2–0.[13] Stevenage won promotion to the Football League after winning the Conference Premier during the 2009–10 season.[14] The team amassed 99 points for the season; finishing 11 points clear at the top of the table. Had the club's two victories against Chester City counted, Stevenage would have broken the record for the number of points any club has accumulated over any Conference Premier season, recording 105 points.[15] The club's promotion during the 2009–10 season meant that Stevenage would be competing in League Two for the first time in their history.[14]

Stevenage finished sixth in their first season in the Football League,[16] reaching the play-offs,[17][18] where they defeated Torquay United 1–0 in the Final at Old Trafford in May 2011, meaning the club had earned back-to-back promotions into League One.[19] During the same season, Stevenage reached the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, defeating Newcastle United 3–1 at Broadhall Way, before eventually losing to Reading in the following round.[20][21][22] In the club's first season in League One during the 2011–12 season, the team achieved their highest league finish to date, reaching the play-offs after finishing in sixth place. They went on to lose in the play-off semi-final.[23][24] Stevenage also reached the Fifth Round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history that season, eventually losing 3–1 to Tottenham Hotspur in a replay at White Hart Lane,[25] after the two teams drew at Broadhall Way.[26] The club suffered relegation back to League Two during the 2013–14 season. It was almost an immediate return to League One the following year as the club reached the play-offs courtesy of a sixth-placed finish, although lost at the semi-final stage.[27][28]

The club were in last place in League Two during the 2019–20 season when the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.[29] Stevenage were initially relegated following an independent disciplinary panel's decision to deduct Macclesfield Town, who had not paid their players on six separate occasions during the campaign, two points.[30][31] The English Football League successfully appealed the sanctions meaning Stevenage retained their League Two status.[32]

Seasons

Season League FA Cup FA Trophy Other competitions Top scorer[A]
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos
1980–81 UCL-1[B] (↑) 32 23 7 2 106 35 53 1st N/A[C] N/A[C] United Counties League Cup W Trevor Metcalfe 29
1981–82 UCL-P 36 12 9 15 50 49 33 12th N/A N/A Danny Dance 13
1982–83 UCL-P 34 10 10 14 51 56 30 12th N/A N/A FA Vase PRER Ronnie Lear 13
1983–84 UCL-P 36 16 9 11 52 46 41 6th QR1 N/A FA Vase R2 Paddy Butcher 14
1984–85 Isth-2N[D] 38 23 6 9 79 49 75[E] 4th QR2 N/A FA Vase R2 Steve Armsby 30
1985–86 Isth-2N (↑) 38 26 6 6 71 24 84 1st QR1 N/A FA Vase QF Martin Gittings 33
1986–87 Isth-1 42 12 11 19 61 67 47 16th QR3 QR2 Ricky Marshall 17
1987–88 Isth-1 (↓) 42 11 9 22 36 64 42 21st QR1 QR3 Adrian Taylor 9
1988–89 Isth-2N 42 20 13 9 84 55 73 4th QR2 N/A FA Vase PRER Martin Gittings 24
1989–90 Isth-2N 42 21 16 5 70 31 79 4th QR1 N/A FA Vase R3 Rob McComb 23
1990–91 Isth-2N (↑) 42 34 5 3 122 29 107 1st QR1 N/A FA Vase R1 Jimmy Hughes 32
1991–92 Isth-1 (↑) 40 30 6 4 95 37 96 1st QR1 QR1 Martin Gittings 44
1992–93 Isth-P 42 18 8 16 62 60 62 7th QR3 R2 Martin Gittings 34
1993–94 Isth-P (↑) 42 31 4 7 88 39 97 1st QR4 R1 Martin Gittings 40
1994–95 Conf 42 20 7 15 68 49 67 5th QR2 R3 Barry Hayles 15
1995–96 Conf 42 27 10 5 101 44 91 1st[F] R1[G] QF Barry Hayles 34 ♦
1996–97 Conf 42 24 10 8 87 53 82 3rd R3 SF Barry Hayles 25
1997–98 Conf 42 13 12 17 59 63 51 15th R4 QF Gary Crawshaw 16
1998–99 Conf 42 17 17 8 62 45 68 6th R2 R4 Carl Alford 33
1999–2000 Conf 42 16 9 17 60 54 57 10th QR4 R3 Carl Alford 26
2000–01 Conf 42 15 18 9 71 61 63 7th QR4 R5 Neil Illman 17
2001–02 Conf 42 15 10 17 57 60 55 11th QR4 RU Football League Trophy R1S Jean-Michel Sigere 12
2002–03 Conf 42 14 10 18 61 55 52 12th R2 R4 Football League Trophy R2S Kirk Jackson 8
2003–04 Conf 42 18 9 15 58 52 63 8th R2 R4 Football League Trophy R1S Anthony Elding 19
2004–05 Conf 42 22 6 14 65 52 72 5th[H] R2 R3 Conference League Cup SFS Anthony Elding 22
Football League Trophy R1S
2005–06 Conf 42 19 12 11 62 47 69 6th R2 R1 Football League Trophy R1S Darryn Stamp 13
2006–07 Conf 46 20 10 16 76 66 70 8th R1 W Steve Morison 34
2007–08 Conf 46 24 7 15 82 55 79 6th R1 R1 Conference League Cup R1S Steve Morison 23
2008–09 Conf 46 23 12 11 73 54 81 5th[I] R1 W Conference League Cup R4S Steve Morison 32
2009–10 Conf (↑) 44[J] 30 9 5 79 24 99 1st R1 RU Yemi Odubade 16
2010–11 L2 (↑) 46 18 15 13 62 45 69 6th[K] R4 N/A Football League Cup R1 Byron Harrison
John Mousinho 		8
Football League Trophy R1S
2011–12 L1 46 18 19 9 69 44 73 6th[L] R5 N/A Football League Cup R1 Chris Beardsley 10
Football League Trophy R2S
2012–13 L1 46 15 9 22 47 64 54 18th R1 N/A Football League Cup R2 Lucas Akins 10
Football League Trophy R1S
2013–14 L1 (↓) 46 11 9 26 46 72 42 24th R4 N/A Football League Cup R2 François Zoko 16
Football League Trophy SFS
2014–15 L2 46 20 12 14 62 54 72 6th[M] R1 N/A Football League Cup R1 Charlie Lee 9
Football League Trophy R1S
2015–16 L2 46 11 15 20 52 67 48 18th R2 N/A Football League Cup R1 Chris Whelpdale 9
Football League Trophy R2S
2016–17 L2 46 20 7 19 67 63 67 10th R1 N/A EFL Cup R2 Matt Godden 21
EFL Trophy R1S
2017–18 L2 46 14 13 19 60 65 55 16th R3 N/A EFL Cup R1 Danny Newton 16
EFL Trophy R1S
2018–19 L2 46 20 10 16 59 55 70 10th R1 N/A EFL Cup R1 Kurtis Guthrie 14
EFL Trophy R1S
2019–20 L2 36[N] 3 13 20 24 50 22 23rd R1 N/A EFL Cup R1 Charlie Carter 6
EFL Trophy QF
2020–21 L2 46 14 18 14 41 41 60 14th R3 N/A EFL Cup R1 Elliott List 11
EFL Trophy R1S
2021–22 L2 46 11 14 21 45 68 47 21st R2 N/A EFL Cup R2S Luke Norris 16
EFL Trophy R2S
2022–23 L2 (↑) 46 24 13 7 61 39 85 2nd R4 N/A EFL Cup R3 Luke Norris
Jamie Reid 		14
EFL Trophy R16S
2023–24 L1 N/A EFL Cup
EFL Trophy

Key

Key to colours and symbols:

Champions Runners-up Promoted ↑ Relegated ↓ Top league scorer in Stevenage's division ♦

Footnotes

A. ^ : Includes goals scored in the FA Cup, FA Vase, Football League Trophy, Conference National (including playoffs), Football League (including playoffs), Football League Cup, FA Trophy and Conference League Cup.
B. ^ : Stevenage joined the United Counties League Division One league before the start of the 1980–81 season.
C. ^ : Stevenage did not enter the FA Cup until the 1983–84 season. The club were also ineligible to enter the FA Trophy until the club reached the Isthmian Division One in the 1986–87 season. As a result of the club's relegation back to the Isthmian Division 2 North in 1988, Stevenage were again ineligible to enter the FA Trophy until 1991.
D. ^ : Stevenage joined the Isthmian Division 2 North for the 1984–85 season as a result of a re-structuring of the National League System.
E. ^ : The 1984–85 season saw the introduction of three points for a win. Although this rule came into play for the Football League in 1981, it was not introduced in the Isthmian League until 1984.
F. ^ : After winning the Football Conference in the 1995–96 season, Stevenage were denied promotion to the Football League due to insufficient ground facilities.[2]
G. ^ : The first time the club reached the FA Cup first round proper.
H. ^ : Lost in the play-off final to Carlisle United 1–0 at the Britannia Stadium.[10]
I. ^ : Lost in the play-off semi-final to Cambridge United 4–3 on aggregate.[33][34]
J. ^ : Chester City were expelled from the league on 26 February 2010 and their results were expunged on 8 March.[35] Therefore, Stevenage's 1–0 and 2–0 victories over them were removed from the records. Consequently, there were 44 Conference Premier fixtures during the 2009–10 season, as opposed to 46.[36]
K. ^ : Stevenage beat Torquay United 1–0 in the 2010–11 play-off final at Old Trafford, meaning the club were promoted to League One.[19]
L. ^ : Lost in the play-off semi-final to Sheffield United 1–0 on aggregate. Also highest League finish.[37][38]
M. ^ : Lost in the play-off semi-final to Southend United 4–2 on aggregate.[27][28]
N. ^ : The 2019–20 season was ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. EFL clubs voted to end the season with immediate effect on 15 May 2020, with the final league table being determined on a points-per-game basis.[29]

References

General
Specific
  1. ^ a b c "Stevenage Borough – History". Stevenage F.C. Archived from the original on 2 August 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  2. ^ a b c "Ground of the Week: Broadhall Way". London: BBC. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Stevenage Borough". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  4. ^ "Stevenage Borough 1995–1996". Statto.com. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  5. ^ "Leyton Orient 1–2 Stevenage". Soccerbase. 7 December 1996. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  6. ^ "Stevenage face Newcastle in FA Cup". BBC Sport. 4 January 1998. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  7. ^ "Newcastle United 2-1 Stevenage Borough, 1997-8". BoroGuide. 4 February 1998. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Yeovil lift FA Trophy". BBC Sport. 4 May 2002. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  9. ^ "Final 2004/2005 Football Conference Table". Soccerbase. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  10. ^ a b "Carlisle 1–0 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 14 May 2005. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  11. ^ "FA Trophy semi-final second legs". BBC Sport. 17 March 2007. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  12. ^ "Henry the first". The Football Association. 13 May 2007. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  13. ^ "Stevenage 2–0 York". BBC Sport. 9 May 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  14. ^ a b "Stevenage secure Football League spot". BBC Sport. 17 April 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
  15. ^ "Stevenage 1–0 York". BBC Sport. 24 April 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  16. ^ "English League Two 2010–2011 : Table". Statto.com. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  17. ^ "Stevenage 2–0 Accrington". BBC Sport. 15 May 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  18. ^ "Accrington 0–1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  19. ^ a b "Stevenage promoted to League One by beating Torquay". BBC Sport. 28 May 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  20. ^ "Do you remember the first time?". BBC Sport. 7 January 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  21. ^ "Stevenage 3–1 Newcastle". BBC Sport. 8 January 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  22. ^ "Stevenage 1–2 Reading". BBC Sport. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  23. ^ "Stevenage FC 0–0 Sheffield United". Stevenage F.C. 11 May 2012. Archived from the original on 15 May 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  24. ^ "Sheffield United 1–0 Stevenage FC". Stevenage F.C. 14 May 2012. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  25. ^ "Tottenham 3–1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 8 March 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  26. ^ "Stevenage 0–0 Tottenham". BBC Sport. 19 February 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  27. ^ a b "Stevenage 1–1 Southend United". BBC Sport. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  28. ^ a b "Southend United 3–1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 14 May 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  29. ^ a b "League One & League Two clubs vote to end seasons early". BBC Sport. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  30. ^ "Phil Wallace latest on EFL Appeal". Stevenage F.C. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  31. ^ "League Two: Macclesfield deducted points but avoid relegation to National League". BBC Sport. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  32. ^ "Macclesfield Town relegated after EFL wins points appeal, Stevenage reprieved". BBC Sport. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  33. ^ "Stevenage 3–1 Cambridge". BBC Sport. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
  34. ^ "Cambridge Utd 3–0 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
  35. ^ "Chester City expelled from Football Conference". BBC Sport. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  36. ^ "Chester City results erased from Blue Square Premier". BBC Sport. 8 March 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  37. ^ "Stevenage 0–0 Sheffield United". BBC Sport. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  38. ^ "Sheffield United 1–0 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
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