The buses packed with players and fans alike had long gone and left the streets of Stevenage. All of Hertfordshire had expressed their delights upon the presentation of the Npower Championship Trophy. For the first time in history Stevenage had made it to the top flight. Yet soon came the world rotating as it does to address the new Barclays Premier League team with difficult questions to be answered and to rejuvenate the powerful flurry of emotions everyone knows.
Despite the odds the pundits had given the Boro, the fans still remained optimistic. Talk of the overall strength of the Stevenage squad was put under microscope, poked and prodded nearly everyday by the football community. Stevenage manager Sam Fisher would be praised with his heroic fight to the Premier League and then the next day scathed. The football worlds eyes overlooked every move the club took only expecting a mass exodus of players from the small club wandering among the giants. Press conference after press conference exerted frustrated feelings for the manager. The questions being the same everytime. “How many players are you going to bring in?” or “Where do you want to strengthen first defense, midfield or attacking?”
A small interview with the manager from the closely following BBC helped direct the managers goals to the fans.
BBC: So whats the next step?
Fisher: Obviously the first step will be evaluating what we need. The team will be scouted and so will potential buys be scouted. The move to the Premier League won’t be easy and as all the experts are saying we will need to reshape the squad. We already have 2 new players coming in who I signed during last years January transfer window, Marco D’Alessandro and Florian Thauvin and that is very handy. Other than that we will train harder and be stronger.
Vance Sikov was the first player to sign with Stevenage in the summer transfer window from SK Rapid Wein. His recent form had surprised many clubs, many of whom were itching to sign the veteran Macedonian. Stevenage stormed in and just the thought of playing in the Premier League became the sole purpose Sikov signed for them. (Free)
Another signing showed up at Shephalbury Park Training Ground (SPTG), Huddersfield Town’s Alex Smithies walked through the doors. Jason Steele had been expected to sign for Stevenage from Middlesborough to take the number 1 shirt in net but a recent change in heart saw the experienced Terrier become the favorite for the Stevenage shirt. (Free)
On the out table Stevenage saw two leaders leave the club as Mark Roberts and Jon Ashton both left to Birmingham City. To the fans dismay. Both players had been key to the Boro’s rise to the Premier League but, both were on the wrong side of 30 and the chances of them being tough defenders for Stevenage was slim. Both agreed they want first team football.
Roderick Miranda was next to join the Boro, from Portuguese side Lisbon Benfica for a steel of only 400K. Excited about the prospect of first team football in the famous English league Miranda couldn’t decline the oppotunity.
Next came the record signing young prospect from Crystal Palace, Jon Williams signed with Stevenage for a estimated price of 5.25M. Not long after the other million dollar another signing followed suit for 5M Lee Hodson signed to play the traditional number 2 spot of right back from the recently promoted Watford side. An interview with the BBC swiftly followed.
BBC: Will you kindly summarize your recent signings for us?
Fisher: Course. Sikov, what an excellent signing. He is an experienced well rounded player comes to the training ground everyday with a smile, just the players we are looking for. I am a little surprised Rapids didn’t renew his contract and try and keep Sikov. Smithies was a surprising bit of business. With a contract agreed with Jason Steele I had one last scan with my scouts of goalies in the same position as him: looking for a new club. Alex Smithies. The boy had played extremely well against us last season and was asking for only a fraction of the wages Steele was looking for. More experienced and a better prospect we quickly snubbed the deal with Steele who went to Southampton and shot a deal to Smithies. Miranda had been in the Benfica reserves for sometime and we have been watching last season. I had been in contact with him and he expressed the chance of first team football is what he wanted and at 24 he deserves it. A center back with power and that Portuguese flair everyone loves to see. Hodson and Williams are both extremely good players and I am surprised not to see them get snapped up by one of the Premier League sides a long time ago. Hodson is solid and his consistency is matched by no other which is what we need in our defense and Williams role as a deep lying playmaker is what we need. With Tansey potentially on the way out on either a loan or a sell, we needed to find a quick replacement and that was the first player on my list.
No fewer than 4 players were brought into the squad on frees. Andre Wisdom, Kolo Toure, Scott Parker and Andre-Pierre Gignac all signed onto the new Premier League side. Wisdom a prospect for the future was to be a back up for the center backs along with Toure who wasn’t expected to see much first team football but, to be a solid backup in case of injury’s. Parker and Gignac were to play a role in the First team both added experience to the young side. Parker was appointed captain.
The preseason started well for Stevenage. Four games against smaller British sides, Southport, Hereford, Bishop Stortford and Bury. The games were for the younger players to prove what role they were to play during the season for Fisher. FC Groningen and Palermo were to practice for the BPL where the more established first team players would learn to work together.
Southport fell 2-1 to Stevenage, Hereford gave the same score line. During the games Wisdom shone he kept the threats from the opposition to low count and pumped the ball forward for the attackers. Stortford was a goal bonanza 8-1 Pedersen getting 4 of them. Watt, Freeman and Alessandro getting the others.
Groningen was a hard match Stevenage would score then the Dutch team would reply the score line eventually finishing at 5-4 to Stevenage. The fight was there for Stevenage and they deserved the win. Thauvin scoring the pick of the goals with an absolute screamer from far.
Next game Palermo. They got a goal quick for the side in the first 10 minutes but the game was back and forth from there on. Shots were taken and chances were missed a close battle but Palermo won 1-0.
So the Preseason had finished and the first match for Stevenage in the Premier League was against last years winners Arsenal at the under construction Broadway Hall. The game went well for Stevenage. Fisher had stated his goal for the match was to show their intent of staying up this season and being a credited a threat to any teams objectives.
Kick off and the first half was solid. Although Arsenal had most of the possession. In the shot department Stevenage had more on goal. Using a solid defense of Hodson, Mendy, Miranda and Wisdom the Boro was able to hit Arsenal on the counter surprising the commentators at the creativity and intelligence of each play. On the 76th minute, Andre Schurrle scored. In the face of defeat Stevenage carried on with the game plan and a number of other attempts from the Boro failed. 1-0 to Arsenal.
Post match conference.
Reporter: That was a spirited defeat, how crucial was that game for your side?
Fisher: It was the deciding game to see how our season ahead will go. The game proved we won’t be brushed aside like many other promoted teams are.
Reporter: Your first game in the Premier league how does it feel?
Fisher: Amazing the atmosphere feels different, everything feels different but in its own better way.
Next fixture away from home saw Stevenage winning 2-0 after Gignac doubled the score line on the 71st minute, which Alessandro had started on the 39th. Both goals nothing wonderful but they did the job. Darren Bent. The striker struck at the Boro’s complacency and inexperience. Final score being a 2-2 draw, Bent scoring in the final extra time minute. The Boro fans left happy with the draw but upset that the squad couldn’t hold onto the scoreline and win the match.
Bristol Rovers were swept away in the COC by the mainly Boro reserves side. 1-0 Stevenage. Fulham were the first to lose to the Boro in the Premier League. 5-3 a cracking game where motivation brought the Boro above the Cottagers. Pedersen, Parker, Williams, Alessandro and Thauvin all scoring.
The end of the Transfer window came and Lorenzo Tassi from Inter came on loan and Thorgan Hazard came on loan from Chelsea both adding depth to the forward. Yunus Malli joined from Mainz for 400K. The Turk was seen as prospect for the future and a good reserve. For departures, Tansey went on loan to Charlton for the season, Nelson and Akins left to Brighton and Sheffield Wednesday for an estimated 3M together. Jake Taylor also left to Wrexham although his form was good he was seen as deadweight and not good enough for the Premier League.
Everton and West Ham next. Everton gave a match to Stevenage at Goodison Park where the scoreline ended 2-1 to Everton, Thauvin scoring the Boro’s only goal. A draw was in the books against West Ham away. 3-3 a fun match to watch where quality between the two sides couldn’t be separated. Pedersen and Freeman scoring with an own goal from Allan McGregor.
Revenge against the Villains came as Stevenage stormed through them 3-0 in the COC. Two from Lingard and one from Gignac.
Into October Stevenage were sitting in a respectable 12th place. Games against Swansea, Manchester City, Wigan, Leicester (COC) and Tottenham. WLDWL the pattern went. Underachieving Swansea continued their poor form at Broadway Hall as the exceptional player Thauvin continued his amazing shows scoring both goals in the 2-1 match.
City was a match to forget as the Boro squad looked too limp with no life in any chances. Pedersen as a sub on the 70th minute scored in injury time the only consolation in the match at home. 2-1 to City.
During October star midfielder Williams was injured with a double Hernia in training and was predicted to be out for 2 months a big loss for Stevenage.
November and December were difficult but successful months for Stevenage. Draws with Newcastle and Liverpool gave confidence to the club even through the loss against Chelsea. Wolves (COC and BPL), Norwich, Forest and Reading didn’t put up a fight all losing to the Boro.
The boxing day special was against Manchester United and at Old Trafford. A pre match press conference was held.
Reporter: Merry Christmas. What is the plan today against the Title contenders?
Fisher: Merry Christmas to all of you! We will stick with the same football we have been playing all year. Working the ball and exploiting chances. The boys live for games like this I am sure all of them have watched the Devils as kids and heave dreamt of these games.
Reporter: Wouldn’t this be a great christmas present to beat the Reds?
Fisher: Yes it would not only for me but, for the fans too!
Wayne Rooney opened up the scoring on the 36th minute to the fans distress. Gignac quickly replied less than ten minutes later. 1-1 at half time and the team went into the dressing room where they heard the passionate speech of their manager. They went back out onto the history riddled stadium. On the 76th the unexpected happened experienced captain Scott Parker got an early bath. And Van Persie quickly capitalized on the 10 man squad scoring 2 minutes later. 2-1 to United. The tactics Fisher had opted to use did not work.
Four days later the same score line was copied as Arsenal won again 2-1 at the Emirates. Into the new year and half way through the season Stevenage were sitting in an unexpected 8th place. More money was freed up to the Stevenage manager as season expectations moved from staying up to a mid table finish.
The first game of the year was against Grimsby in the FA Cup and next against Hull in the COC semi final. Both teams lost, Grimsby (1-0) offering a better fight than Hull who lost 4-0 to the premier league side.
In the Premier League Aston Villa was the first team to play Stevenage in 2016. 2-1 goals from Freeman and Mendy. The came Fulham who redeemed themselves with 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage. Gignac the scorer.
Second round against Hull led Stevenage onto the first Final in COC in history on an aggregation of 6-3 where they would play City for the cup.
On transfer news Amedeo Gambardella (regen) a young Italian midfielder from Juventus U18 joined for 1.5M and Declan Quick (regen) from MK Dons joined for 2.7M. Both players were bought for more depth in the squad and brighter future.
After January the Boro’s form continued beating Everton, West Ham and Swansea. Miranda’s good form had been the building blocks for the squads confidence. His confident tackles and ability in set pieces became the talking point of many pundits. Gesturing him to be the signing of the season for less than half a million he was seen as a complete bargain, competing against Michu’s signing to Swansea only a few years ago.
Other players on good form were Mendy and the formidable Thauvin. Mendy had been in the top three young players of the month every month. His ability to overlap and score had seen him also in the top three goals of the month twice. Thauvin what more could anyone say he is quality for the Stevenage side.
On the 20th of February not only did the fans praise the long time managers Birthday but a game that will go down in Stevenage history.
Manchester City at Wembley. With the captain injured some reshuffling in the midfield was to happen. Starting Line for Stevenage: GK Smithies, RB Hodson, CB Miranda, CB Sikov, LB Mendy, CM Tassi, CM Gambardella, AMR Alessandro, AMC Thauvin, AML Freeman, ST Gignac.
Kick off and City quickly showed there dominance. A lovely run from Andre Ayew put City in front on the 38th. The break came and the motivating talk happened. A quick reply with a great ball from young Italian Gambardella sought out unmarked Thauvin which he placed into the bottom left corner 13 minutes into the second half. The talk saw the team working the ball around the pitch perfectly. A silly goal kick from City got Gignac ahead of the defenders in a one on one versus city goalie Enyeama. Gignac cleanly chipped the ball over the keeper into the back of the net.
Stevenage very much looked like they were going to win, when City replied with a wonderfully crafted counter saw Aguero volley a ball past Smithies.
The game went into extra time. Neither team could get on over each other which pushed the game into penalties. First penalty and Ayew’s powerful shot was saved by Smithies. Giving Stevenage one over the Citizens. The last penalty came, City with 4/5 penalties in and the Boro with 4/4, it was up to Wisdom if he scored they would win the Cup if he missed or Enyeama saved a new round of penalties would start. Wisdom calmly stepped up and slotted it past the keeper. The crowd went nuts. Stevenage were Capital One Cup Champions try saying that 3 times as fast. Post Match Conference.
Reporter: What a birthday present for you!
Fisher: Yeah you should have seen what they gave me earlier. But I am absolutely delighted with the great win!
Reporter: Your players praised your approach at half time. What exactly did you say?
Fisher: I just told them as I saw it. They all have immense quality and have what it takes to win. Go out there and give it your all. And they did.
Three days later and Stevenage crept past a hard Blackpool side in the FA Cup 5th round on penalties. The next game against City on the 27th of February saw them get revenge 2-0 to City in the BPL.
In March Tottenham again fought off Stevenage to win 3-1. But only a week later Stevenage beat 2-1 to Wigan retaining there spot up the top half of the table.
A series of draws followed as the Baggies managed a 1-1 draw as did, Newcastle and Tottenham (FA Cup 6th round). Liverpool were the only team to beat the Boro during the handful of draws.
The cup team, Tottenham managed to beat Stevenage in the second round of the 6th 2-0. The fans were hoping for success in the FA Cup as they did in the Capital One but, it wasn’t to be.
Stevenage finished April with a draw to Norwich and a win against Forest. Reading were the last opponents before the final month of the Premier League.
Reading opened up the scoring on the 19th with a beautiful shot from range after a corner and as always Stevenage replied. Mendy with another one of his sneaky overlaps. After half Thauvin put Stevenage on top with a poachers effort after the Reading goalie failed to clear Williams scorcher. A lucky free kick from Reading’s Cresswell saw the final goal of the game ending 2-2 Reading being the happier side.
The last three games of the season Chelsea, Wolves and Manchester United. These games would be crucial for the Boro as the mid table was a tightly contested area. 2-2 with Chelsea was a more than acceptable finish. Gignac and Alessandro putting in the goals Stevenage needed the effort was greatly appreciated. Wolves also put up a fight as a battle raged between the two clubs. The game was decided early into the second half when Willams scored for the Boro. 3-2 to Stevenage Gignac scoring two.
Manchester United at home was predicted to be an easy win for Guardiola’s men. A pre match meeting was held at Stevenage, a new idea Fisher had come up with in the past weeks to deal with United. With Sikov, Parker and Hodson injured this meant a change to the regular 11. The team meeting proceeded
Fisher: In 3 days we play United. All of you know that and I know some of you think we will lose but I have a better idea. This will be the Starting line up. Smithies as per usual you will start, Toure as Hodson is injured you will be play right back, center backs Miranda and Wisdom. Left back my french Medley *with a wink*. Dunne you and Williams will be in the midfield. Alessandro, Thauvin, Freeman and Gignac you in the attack. Now then onto formation, we are going to use an odd one for United. Instead of our regular 4-2-3-1 we are going to use a similar but, completely different formation 4-2-2-2. As always the back four will the stay the same and Mendy you will do your usual wizardry of overlapping. In the midfield we will have Dunne and Williams in the center I want Williams to be our playmaker and Dunner your job is to be everywhere, win the ball for me out there. Thauvin you will play on the left wing and you will be working with Mendy work together and show us that french style, Alessandro you will take your usual right wing role and just play how you always do. Up front we will have Gignac and Freeman. Freeman is going to be out target man, get into space mate and work your way to the net shoot. You will link the midfield with the Attack. Gignac if theres a deflection you will be there as our poacher to finish the job. Now we all know how United play, they are smart and they work the ball into space I need the back four to be ruthless let nothing past, play deeper and more rigid. When you have the ball back look to pass to Williams he will start our play up. Remember Dunne you are there to assist the Defenders as well as the Attackers so if the back four look like they are having a hard time, help them out. Slower tempo boys, wider play and counter attacks, think smart lads and we will win this.
Onto the match each player knew what he had to do. Dunne was also out there to play well, with his lack of first team football he expressed his desire to find it and Fisher agreed. Fisher was putting Dunne in the shop window for all to see in this match.
The whistle blew, and 11 minutes in Freeman found the net. 10 minutes later saw Dunne find the net from Mendy who delivered an early floating cross onto Dunne’s head. After half time Freeman tripled the lead, United had no reply. To finish the route for Freeman Stevenage were awarded a penalty on the 88th by Chris Smalling. Freeman stepped up and walked away with the match ball. 4-0 to Stevenage. What a way to end the season. The end season press conference sent off the squad and fans with a smile.
Reporter: Your team finishes the season in some style hey?
Fisher: Had to didn’t we, we let United beat us at their home now we return the favor.
Reporter: The pundits at the start of the season left with some discouraging odds and you proved them wrong again, how does it feel to sit in 8th place?
Fisher: I told that lot we aren’t going down, they just didn’t listen. Maybe their expertise escaped them (with a wink).
Reporter: How excited are you to get the squad its first taste of out of country competitions? like the European Cup you won qualification to for next season.
Fisher: It will be great the squad really deserves it for the performance they gave this season.
Reporter: Recent rumors have suggested that Liverpool are looking to you to be the next manager to take ranks there after Harry Redknapp’s reign comes to end as he retires, is this true?
Fisher: It is. Every club that has a history like Liverpool would tempt any manager and I mean any. Right now though I am not done what I set out to do with Stevenage maybe once I feel I have fulfilled my dream I will find a new challenge, but who know?
Reporter: One last question.... *interrupted*
Fisher: .... Cardiff and Scunthorpe, I always favor the underdog you know that.
And with the estimation of who will win playoffs in the lower divisions over the conference finished.
And so the season ended for Stevenage and onto next season Fisher eyes move.
Premier League
Winners: Manchester City 84pts
Top 4: Manchester United 80pts, Arsenal 75pts, Chelsea 70pts
Top 6: Liverpool 66pts, Stoke 65pts
Relegated: Fulham 34pts, Nottingham Forest 33pts, Wigan 24pts
Npower Championship
Winners: Sunderland 99pts, 2nd: Derby 90pts
Playoff: Cardiff, runners up: Bolton
Relegated: Crewe 43pts, Leicester 42pts, Bristol City 39pts
Npower League 1
Winners: Bristol Rovers 86pts, 2nd Crystal Palace 85pts
Playoff: Millwall, runners up: Scunthorpe
Relegated: Bournemouth, Carlisle, Preston, Bradford
Npower League 2
Promoted: Plymouth, Portsmouth, Leyton Orient, Notts County
Relegated: Fleetwood, Luton town
European Champions Cup: Barcelona
Euro Cup: Liverpool
FA Cup: Sunderland O.O wow
Capital One Cup: Stevenage Yahoooo
where my Mum and Dads family grew up in the town Enfield but I lived in Hertfordshire. This is the reason I chose to do a Stevenage FC rise to the Premier League.