Source: FOOTYMAD
The S24 Preview: Stevenage v Southend United
It's a squad carrying a few injuries but let's stay confident and get in the mood for the midweek trip to Stevenage for the Shrimpers on Tuesday, November 23rd; kick-off 19.45. v SHRIMPERSWhere do we start then with the injury list, and well done to the boys for grabbing a point at Shrewsbury, with all this lot sidelined.Anyway, we have, in no particular order, Chris Barker suffering a setback in his recovery from a calf injury; Mark Phillips rsting a hernia in the hope he can avoid surgery, and forget about wideboys Ryan Hall and Sofiene Zaaboub.Bilel Moshni would not allow several aches & pains to keep him out, though the red card he could have received would have given him the day off, and he took to the field at the weekend with veteran Graham Coughlan, who himself just got back from a groin injury!Luke Prosser continues on the bench despite still suffering from the effects of a foot injury.Upfront, Luggy to forgive QPR loanee striker Antonio German for his poor timekeeping last week and surely replace the rather wooden Jack Midford, I'd play him with Barry Corr.And I actually fancy the Shrimpers here to pull off a surprise 2-1 win, with German grabbing the winner, possibily!Possible Southend United: Morris, Clohessy, Moshni, Coughlan, Barker, Simpson, Grant, Timlin, Soares, Corr, German. Subs: Evans, Herd, Prosser, Sturrock, Crawford, Midford, Paterson.COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!OPPOSITION Boro boss Graham Westley will welcome back defender Jon Ashton from suspension after picking up five yellow cards.Left back Scott Laird, striker Ben May, midfielders Stacy Long and David Bridges may return after being rested for the cup replay against MK Dons, which they won, 7-6 on penalties.However, Lee Boylan (calf) and Darren Murphy (ankle) remain out.7Torquay United 173231310351139674261925+78Macclesfield Town 1741310103331112746212225-19Stevenage 1725198333106584191423+510Cheltenham Town 16431972241419655232623-311Crewe Alexandra 1733319102421614575352422+1112Burton Albion 17432149134811566222021+2Last Time Out(Home) Stevenage 1 Shrewsbury Town 1 (played on Saturday, November 13th.)Report: www.stevenagefc.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10839~51833,00.html(Away) Accrington Stanley 1 Stevenage 0 (played on Saturday, November 20th.) Report: www.stevenagefc.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10839~52929,00.htmlPREVIOUSLYOnly the once a few years back.At Stevenage (1)At Southend Utd. (0)ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%Stevenage00.00Southend Utd.00Southend Utd.1100.00Stevenage00Draws00.00Draws00GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pgStevenage11.00Southend Utd.00Southend Utd.44.00Stevenage00On Neutral Ground (0)Overall (1 matches)ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%Stevenage00.00Stevenage00.00Southend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.1100.00Draws00.00Draws00.00GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pgStevenage00.00Stevenage11.00Southend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.44.00RecordsHighest Aggregate5Stevenage B. 1 - 4Southend Utd.2001/2002 Highest Stevenage score:1Stevenage B. 1 - 4Southend Utd.2001/2002 Highest Southend Utd. score:4Stevenage B. 1 - 4Southend Utd.2001/2002 SeasonDateHomeScoreAwayCompetition 2001/2002Mon 15 OctStevenage B.1 - 4Southend Utd.(Associate Members) GROUNDA nice tidy ground, that although generally modern, still has a bit of character about it. On one side is the all seated covered, Main Stand, that looks quite impressive and is single tiered. It is unusual in so much that at the back of the stand on either side of it, there are large gaps between the back of the roof and the stand below. Whilst in the middle of the stand at the back, there are a number of glass fronted areas to various Club offices. Opposite is the fair sized East Terrace, that is covered and is quite steep. Eventhough like the rest ground, the stand is relatively new, it does have a gable with a clock sitting on its roof above the half way line, which gives it a touch of character. At one end is the Buildbase South Stand, which is another single tiered all seated covered stand. This stand which was opened in 2001 is given to away supporters. There is an electric scoreboard on the roof of this stand. Opposite at the North End of the ground, is a small covered terrace. This terrace is mostly covered (around 3/4's) with a portion of open terrace to one side. A set of four new floodlights (one pylon in each corner) were installed for the start of the 2007/08 season. On promotion to the Football League, the Club changed its name from Stevenage Borough FC, to Stevenage FC, which was its original name when founded in 1976.Away fans are located at one end of the ground in the Buildbase South Stand, where up to 1,400 supporters can be housed. As you would expect from a relatively new stand the facilities and views of the playing action are good. Normally an enjoyable day out and one that fans of most other clubs look forward to.(Ground information supplied by www.footballgroundguide.com) TICKETSPay on the day:Adults - £18, Concessions - £15, Under 18's - £10, Family (2 Adults and 2 juniors) - £40.WEATHERCloudy and some drizzle forecast by 18.00 at 4c's, wrap up! REF The man in the middle is Simon Hooper from Wiltshire.A full interview with him here: http://refworld.com/referee/185/1/simon-hooperHis assistants are Matthew McLaughlin & Rob Whitton; The 4th official is Ian Cooper. FIXTURESLeague TwoTuesday, November 23rd; (all kick-offs 19.45): Barnet v Gillingham, Bradford v Accrington Stanley, Burton Albion v Aldershot, Chesterfield v Oxford Utd, Lincoln City v Bury, Macclesfield v Cheltenham, Rotherham v Northampton, Shrewsbury v Hereford, Stevenage v Southend, Stockport v Port Vale, Wycombe v Torquay. Saturday, November 27th; Morecambe v Crewe, 15:00. Friday, November 26th - F.A Cup Second Round Crawley Town v Swindon, 19:45; Port Vale v Accrington Stanley, 19:45. Saturday, November 27th; (all matches 15.00 unless stated): AFC Wimbledon v Stevenage, (12.50), Brighton v FC United of Manchester, Burton Albion v Chesterfield, Bury v Peterborough, Carlisle v Tamworth, Charlton v Luton, Colchester v Swindon Supermarine, Darlington v York, Dover v Aldershot, Hartlepool v Yeovil, Hereford v Lincoln City, Huddersfield v Macclesfield, Notts County v Bournemouth, Sheff Wed v Northampton, Southampton v Cheltenham, Torquay v Walsall, Wycombe v Chelmsford.Monday, November 29th; Droylsden v Leyton Orient, 19.45.BETStevenage (to win) - 10/11, Draw - 11/4, Southend (to win) - 7/2. For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-two/TRANSPORTBy Train go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw5/stevenage_fc_555335/index.shtmlBy Car go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw7/stevenage_fc_601613/index.shtmlBy Coach go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw3/stevenage_fc_601614/index.shtmlPUB AND PIESFor the best drinking around the ground and in the town go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw8/assist_our_mutual_friend_pub_crawl_in_stevenage_601611/index.shtmlSOMEWHERE TO LAY YOUR HATFor an overnight stay: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw1/stevenage_fc_553302/index.shtmlHISTORY Stevenage F.C., nicknamed "The Boro", were formed in 1976 following the bankruptcy of Stevenage Athletic. The club's Broadhall Way pitch was subsequently dug up for non-footballing purposes after the council sold the land to a local businessman. Consequently, the new club started out playing in the Chiltern Youth league on a roped-off pitch at the town's King George V playing fields, and moved up to intermediate status joining the Wallspan Southern Combination shortly after. In 1980 the club moved back to Broadhall Way and the name Borough was added. With the council as their landlords and a refurbished stadium, Stevenage Borough took on senior status and joined the United Counties Football League in the same year. In their first season as a senior club, the side won the United Counties League Division one championship, Cas well as the United Counties League Cup.After winning the FA Trophy success in 2007, as well as keeping the majority of the first-team at the club, Stevenage started the 2007-08 season well, breaking a new club record when the defence kept 8 consecutive clean sheets. Stimson was offered a new contract by Stevenage in October 2007, but resigned the following day and subsequently joined Football League club Gillingham. In November 2007, he was replaced by Peter Taylor. However, after failing to make the play-offs, Taylor resigned at the end of the season and was replaced by former manager Graham Westley. On Westley's return, Stevenage started the season slowly, but went on a 27-game unbeaten run from December to March and reached the play-offs, where they lost in the semi-finals to Cambridge United, 4-3 on aggregate. The following season, Westley retained the majority of the squad and Stevenage found themselves in first place by New Year's Day. The squad continued to perform well, winning eight consecutive games through February and March , and Stevenage were promoted to the Football League for the first time in the club's history with two games to spare. Promotion was secured thanks to a 2-0 win at Kidderminster Harriers, as Stevenage finished the season 11 points clear at the top of the table. The club reached the final of the FA Trophy again, but lost to Barrow 2-1 after extra-time, having played seventy minutes of the match with ten men. Shortly after the end of the season, chairman Phil Wallace announced that the club will start its life in the Football League as Stevenage Football Club, dropping the word 'Borough' from its name from 1 June 2010.(For a more comprehensive history of the club, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevenage_F.C.)
