Stevenage Borough Football Club

The Stevenage Borough that we know today was formed in 1976 by a group of local enthusiasts following the closure of the previous Stevenage Athletic. The team started playing in the Chiltern Youth League on King George V Playing Field but by 1980 moved back to Broadhall Way as a senior club, steadily improving its status, winning leagues and reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Vase, until in 1993 it achieved promotion to the Football Conference.

In 1996 Stevenage won the Conference, only to be denied promotion to the Football League due to insufficiencies in facilities and capacity. In 1996/97 Borough reached the semi-finals of the FA Trophy and the 3rd round of the FA Cup having beaten Leyton Orient but then going out to Birmingham City. In 1997/98 Stevenage reached the 4th Round of the FA Cup with wins against Cambridge Utd.and 1st Division Swindon before meeting Newcastle Utd of the Premiership in a 1-1 draw at Broadhall Way, which had a capacity of 8040 for that game. The replay, held at St James's Park in Newcastle resulted in a 2-1 victory for the home team. 2002 saw Borough reach the final of the FA Trophy losing to Yeovil at Villa Park.In 2004/05 Borough reached the Conference Play-offs losing in the final and failing to gain promotion to the Football League. The following season 2005/06 Borough reached the final of the FA Trophy that was to be played at the new Wembley Stadium. 26,000 tickets were sold by the Borough in less than two weeks and who can forget that magnificent come-back in front of 53,000 fans, with Borough 2-0 down at half-time, winning the FA Trophy by 3 goals to 2 for the first time.