As 2020 comes to an end, we reflect on the highlights of an unpredictable year…
It has been a challenging period for everyone inside and out of football, and we are truly thankful for your support over the last 12 months. Despite the difficulties, we hope the Football Club brought some respite from reality to our community, whether it be a sandwich delivery or a win (or two) over our rivals.
- Mind Matchday vs Port Vale – Saturday 11th January
We welcome Mind in Mid Herts to our game against Port Vale at The Lamex Stadium to raise awareness of mental health and raise funds to support their vital work. Funds are raised through bucket collections and sales of the bespoke Stevenage FC Mind pin badge.
- Cambridge United 0-4 Stevenage – Saturday 18th January
Goals from Elliott List, Jake Cassidy, Charlie Carter and Charlie Lakin earn Graham Westley’s side an unforgettable win at the Abbey Stadium, taking struggling Stevenage off the bottom of Sky Bet League Two and sending the away faithful home happy.
- Community Trust game vs Leyton Orient – Saturday 1st February
Stevenage Football Club partner with Stevenage Community Trust over the course of the 2019/20 season, commemorated by the First Team wearing a one-off Third Shirt against Leyton Orient. All match-worn shirts are then signed and auctioned off, raising over £8,000 for the local charity.
- Bondholder North Stand Launch Party – Saturday 15th February
The new 1,400 seater North Stand opens its doors to Bondholders for the first time since completion against Salford City, in a celebration party in The 76 Lounge. The Club show its appreciation to the supporting Bondholders with complimentary food and drink, live music and opening speeches.
- Community Careline launched – Monday 23rd March
Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Stevenage Football Club transform its services into a Community Careline, providing help to vulnerable local residents who faced months of self-isolation. Players, staff and fans volunteer to a wide range of services, from dog walking to prescription pick-ups.
- Support & Appreciation to NHS Staff – Tuesday 24th March
As the Careline continues, the Sandwich Service oversees hundreds of meals delivered to the doors of the most vulnerable, as well as to the incredible staff of Lister Hospital. Fans are asked to provide messages of appreciation to the NHS staff, as well as provide a donation to the #HereForEachOther appeal.
- Careline Fundraising Goal Met – Wednesday 1st April
Although a target of £6,000 was originally set to help sustain the Club’s Community Kitchen Sandwich Service, over £8,000 is raised in addition to the Club's own contribution – with the additional money going towards other Community Careline services.
- Club partners with Stevenage Community Trust & Food Bank – Monday 4th May
The Club partner with both Stevenage Community Trust and Stevenage Community Food Bank to provide fresh fruit, vegetables and a bespoke shopping service for families suffering in the midst of the pandemic. Funded by the Trust, volunteers from the Club expand its service to help families and individuals across the town with a shopping and delivery service.
- Players reveal new Shirts via Community Careline delivery – Friday 5th June
In keeping with the work of the Club over the few months previous, the home and away jerseys for the succeeding season are revealed by Terence Vancooten and Arthur Iontton on Community Careline duty.
- Yasin Arai named as League Football Education winner – Tuesday 9th June
First year scholar Yasin Arai is named one of the country’s stand-out Academy players by the LFE, for his achievements both on and off the pitch. The award acknowledges the football and academic progress of Under 18 players on apprenticeships at EFL clubs.
- Community Sandwich Service hits 10,000 landmark – Thursday 11th June
After three months of Sandwich Service action, Del Ingle was the lucky recipient of the 10,000th sandwich – and rewarded with a brand-new Stevenage FC Away Shirt. 142 local residents are receiving a minimum of a free sandwich every day at this point in time, as a way of helping them have one less thing to think about during the pandemic.
- Scott Cuthbert signs new contract – Monday 15th June
The Skipper had made 73 appearances for Boro since joining in the summer of 2018 and was keen to sign a new deal to keep him at the Club - irrespective of which league Alex Revell’s men were to play in the following season.
- Club wins Neighbourhood Watch award for Community Work – Thursday 26th June
Stevenage Football Club and Foundation receive an award from the Stevenage Neighbourhood Watch Association in partnership with the Hertfordshire Constabulary, for the work of the Community Careline over the summer.
- Club remain in Sky Bet League Two – Tuesday 11th August
Following the outcome of the EFL’s appeal with regards to misconduct charges against Macclesfield Town, Stevenage Football Club remain in Sky Bet League Two for the 2020/21, despite being placed 23rd when the League stopped due to the pandemic.
- Community Careline concludes – Friday 14th August
The Club’s Coronavirus Community Careline comes to a conclusion following 21 weeks of dedicated service to the vulnerable individuals and families of the town. Since its launch, the service supplied over 15,000 sandwiches, delivered over 400 prescriptions and made over 500 calls to local residents over the age of 70 who needed support during the pandemic.
- Keir Starmer visits to praise Community Work – Friday 4th September
Labour Leader Keir Starmer visits The Lamex Stadium to recognise Stevenage Football Club’s efforts in helping the local community during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is joined by Leader of Stevenage Council Sharon Taylor and meets the Club’s Chief Executive Officer Alex Tunbridge to discuss the Community work.
- Most Played Club in the World on FIFA 20 - Monday 14th September
In the summer of 2019, Stevenage Football Club announced Burger King as the Club’s main sponsor. Fast-forward a year, and the campaign generated over $2.5 million earned media, 25,000 goals shared online, became the most used team of FIFA 20’s Career Mode, and sold out of Club jerseys for the first time in its history.
- Stevenage 3-0 Oldham – Saturday 19th September
Goals from Elliot Osborne, Luther James-Wildin and Luke Prosser ensure Stevenage and Manager Alex Revell secured a first home win in 329 days after a relentless second half display overcame Oldham Athletic to record a 3-0 win.
- Scott Cuthbert wins PFA Community Player of the Year – Wednesday 7th October
Club captain Scott Cuthbert is awarded the PFA Community Player of the Year Award for 2019/20, after leading the way in player community engagement over the past year. As part of Mind’s ‘Do One Thing’ campaign to help mark World Mental Health Day, the Club invited Get Set to Go champion Duncan to The Lamex Stadium to present the award to Scott.
- Phil Wallace awarded BEM in Queen’s Honours List – Monday 12th October
Stevenage Football Club Chairman Phil Wallace is honoured with a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Honours List for services to Association Football and to the community of Hertfordshire. Wallace was responsible for the founding of the Stevenage FC Foundation in 2010, which has helped countless lives in the community, including the Club’s Coronavirus Community Careline in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
- Mackye Townsend-West earns Professional Contract – Thursday 15th October
Stevenage Football Club sign Mackye Townsend-West to his first professional contract after impressing Manager Alex Revell with increased exposure to the First Team, including a debut against MK Dons in the EFL Cup.
- 21 Gold Lager announced – Thursday 29th October
Stevenage Football Club announce the launch of a new Club lager brewed by Greene King. ’21 Gold’ is named in memory of former Boro midfielder Mitchell Cole. In partnership with Cardiomyopathy UK, the Club are donating £0.10 from every pint of 21 Gold to support their services.
- Stevenage FC and Foundation announce Winter COVID Community Commitment – Friday 6th November
Following the Government’s news of a November lockdown, the Club launch a COVID Community Commitment, alongside the Stevenage FC Foundation. Over the winter period, the Club and Foundation are continuing to roll out a variety of initiatives with key local partners, addressing both short- and long-term winter lockdown issues.
- Stevenage through to FA Cup Second Round – Saturday 7th November
Stevenage secure their passage to the Second Round of the FA Cup after overcoming Concord Rangers on penalties. Ben Coker’s first half goal for Stevenage was cancelled out by the visitors in the second half, before the tie went to extra time where Boro took the lead time through Danny Newton. The game levelled again before Jamie Cumming’s saves sent Stevenage into the Second Round.
- Stevenage FC launch eSports Arena – Wednesday 11th November
Stevenage Football Club announce the launch of its very own eSports platform of the eSports Arena, becoming the first English Club to launch a live platform of its kind. The platform inaugurated with a $1,000 cash prize FIFA 21 at the end of the month, as the eSports Arena continues to attract gamers from around the world to win games and earn prizes.
- Stevenage beat League One Hull City to reach FA Cup Third Round – Sunday 29th November
Elliott List’s strike cancels out Tom Eaves penalty opener with ten minutes to go, to send the tie into extra-time. Jamie Cumming was yet again the penalty shoot-out hero, as Stevenage overcome the challenge of the League One leaders to advance into the next round.
- Fans return to The Lamex Stadium – Saturday 5th December
Stevenage Football Club welcome supporters back to The Lamex Stadium for the first time in 10 months due to the pandemic, to watch their team take on Southend United. Fans were instructed to many Government guidelines upon entry to the Stadium to ensure a safe experience for all and, despite the 0-0 result, the day was a success in terms of teamwork.
- Burger Queen x Stevenage FC Women launched – Tuesday 8th December
As part of the ongoing partnership with Stevenage FC, Burger King create the Burger Queen logo – symbolising the sponsorship of Stevenage FC Women. The new logo is proudly displayed on the team’s kit through the 20/21 season, as well as the Stevenage Burger King restaurant being rebranded to ‘Burger Queen’.
- SFC Supporters’ Association Lister Hospital Gift Donation – Tuesday 15th December
Stevenage Football Club and the Stevenage FC Supporters’ Association are able to team up in order to make a festive delivery of gifts and Stevenage FC goods from the Club Shop, thanks to the SA’s Jacky Berners and Jenny Dowden.
- SFC Foundation deliver toys & vouchers to Lister Hospital Children’s Ward – Friday 18th December
Stevenage Football Club and Foundation’s Winter Drop Zone collects toys from generous members of the community, as over £500 worth was delivered to the Children’s Ward at Lister Hospital. In addition, the Men’s and Women’s teams team up to donate £400 worth of Smyths Toy Store vouchers.
- Stevenage 1-0 Cambridge United – Tuesday 29th December
It had to be... Stevenage record a 1-0 win over rivals Cambridge United in the last game of 2020 at The Lamex Stadium. Thanks to Charlie Carter’s winner, Alex Revell’s men end the year with a win over the team who we recorded our first of the year over.
Bring on 2021!