In the build-up to Retro Day against Tranmere this Good Friday, we'll be looking back at some of the most high profile Stevenage games over the past 20 years with the help of photos from Action Images which we've been given permission to use. Next up it's our first FA Trophy Final back in 2002...
Wayne Turner’s Stevenage Borough reached their first ever FA Trophy Final in 2002 after negotiating the first five rounds with relative ease, including a two-legged semi-final against a decent Morecambe side.
Oooh ahhh! Super Sam McMahon puts Boro 1-0 up at Morecambe
Matt Fisher and Simon Wormull celebrate reaching the FA Trophy Final
Jude Stirling celebrates with Boro fans
Stevenage’s run to the FA Trophy Final
Round 3 – Stevenage 5, Dover 1 (Clarke 2, Jackson 2, Sigere)
Round 4 – Stevenage 1, Bashley 0 (Jackson)
Round 5 – Stevenage 3, Forest Green 2 (OG, Wormull, Clarke)
Quarter Final – Stevenage 1, Stalybridge 0 (DJ Campbell)
Semi-Final – Morecambe 1, Stevenage 2 (McMahon, Hamsher)
Semi Final – Stevenage 2, Morecambe 0 (McMahon, DJ Campbell) - Boro won 4-1 on aggregate
Stevenage fans travelled in their numbers to Villa Park
Kirk Jackson, Jean-Michel Sigere and Simon Wormull line-up for Boro at Villa Park
Stevenage fans travelled in their thousands to Villa Park for the final against a talented Yeovil Town side who finished third that season but would later romp to the Conference title the following year.
Boro’s first and probably best chance of the game came with just over a minute on the clock. Jean-Michel Sigere delivered a ball from the right, Kirk Jackson rose highest and saw his powerful header turned over the bar by Chris Weale.
Kirk Jackson went close in the opening minutes
It was an early let-off for the Glovers, who then went 1-0 up thanks to an overhead kick from former Boro hotshot Carl Alford.
Carl Alford puts Yeovil 1-0 up with an overhead kick
Yeovil celebrate big Carl's goal
Simon Wormull in action for Boro
Stevenage Borough manager Wayne Turner watches on from the sidelines
Stevenage continued to plug away and created a few half chances but failed to trouble Weale. In the second half Adam Stansfield ran clear to score Yeovil’s second and take the FA Trophy back to Somerset amid celebratory scenes from Glovers fans, who made up two-thirds of the crowd.
Yeovil celebrate winning the 2002 FA Trophy Final
Stevenage: Wilkerson, Hamsher, Trott, Goodliffe, Fraser, Evers (Williams 56), Wormull (Stirling 71), Fisher, Clarke, Jackson, Sigere (J.Campbell 74)
Subs not used: Greygoose, DJ Campbell
Yeovil: Weale, Lockwood, Pluck (White 51), Skiverton, Tonkin, Crittendon (Lindegaard 83), Johnson, Way, McIndoe, Stansfield, Alford (Giles 86)
Subs not used: O’Brien, Sheffield
Referee: Neale Barry
Attendance: 18,809
Full details of Retro Day activities this Good Friday against Tranmere Rovers can be found here. In advance tickets are available at www.borotickets.co.uk for this game, ranging from £3-£20. Family tickets are also available in advance only, priced at £30 for a family of three (1 adult, 2 U16s) and £40 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 U16s).