The Grecians first away trip of the 2019/20 season is against Dino Maamria's Stevenage side who will be looking to improve on last season's tenth place finish.
Here is all you need to know about the Boro ahead of the 3pm kick-off.
A brief overview
- Founded: 1976
- Nickname: The Boro
- Honours: League Two playoff winners (2010/11), Conference champions (1995/96 & 2009/10), FA Trophy (2006/07 & 2008/09)
Stevenage have won the FA Trophy two times in three seasons in 2007 and 2009, but greater prizes awaited and the clubs’ second Conference title finally saw them promoted to the Football League. The following season and instant success once more, as the club gained promotion to League One – their highest-ever status to date.
Last match
Stevenage kicked-off the 2019/20 season with a trip to newly-promoted Salford City, in front of the Sky Sports cameras. A double from Salford's Emmanuel Dieseruvwe saw the Ammies come away with a 2-0 win and all three points.
The manager
Dino Maamria
After becoming Stevenage manager in March 2018, Dino Maamria has completed the set of playing at the club, being an assistant manager and finally assuming the number one hotseat.
Born in Tunisia, Maamria started his career at AS Marsa before moving to CO Transports – both in his homeland. His goalscoring pedigree soon alerted the eyes of English suitors and Burnley brought him to the UK in 1996.
From there, Maamria had spells at Doncaster Rovers, Southport and Leigh RMI, though it is at Stevenage where the striker really excelled. Three years were spent in the Conference with Stevenage with Maamria pillaging opposition goal nets across the country.
A regular in the Conference during his playing days, after hanging up his boots in 2012, Maamria has gone on to manager Northwich Victoria, Southport, Nuneaton Town and now Stevenage.
Last season, Dino would guide Stevenage to a tenth place finish, level on points with the Grecians and just one point off the final play-off place. They will be looking to better that finish this season.
The stadium
- Name: The Lamex Stadium
- Capacity: 6,722
- Year opened: 1961
- Address: The Lamex Stadium, Broadhall Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG2 8RH
The Lamex Stadium – previously known as Broadhall Way – may have opened in 1961, but that’s almost 20 years before it housed Stevenage. Stevenage Town and then Stevenage Athletic were the tenants in the intervening 19 years before Stevenage moved in.
After the Boro won the Conference in 1996, Broadhall Way was deemed insufficient to stage Football League football. Consequently, heavy investment has been ploughed into the stadium to make it meet the requirements.
In 2009, the stadium was named the Lamex Stadium for sponsorship reasons and is now in its tenth year. The stadium has also been used for Tottenham’s youth teams and was also used for the FA Womens Premier League Cup recently.
The Stadium is in the process of undergoing redevelopment, with a new North Stand nearing completion, the 1500 all seater stand is costing around £1m and has been partly financed by the Football Foundation and the rest from supporters via an attractive bond scheme.
Previous meetings
Stevenage 1 Exeter City 1 (Sky Bet League Two – April 22, 2018)
Last time out at the Lamex, the Grecians fell behind to a Kurtis Guthrie goal but having levelled through Ryan Bowman before half-time it was City who deserved all three points as they hit the woodwork three times and had a goal disallowed.
Exeter City 1 Stevenage 0 (Sky Bet League Two – October 2, 2018)
The red-hot Grecians extended their fine form to seven games unbeaten across all competition, courtesy of Dean Moxey’s first half winner.
The encounter at St James Park saw two of the most in-form sides in the division go head-to-head with just two points separating them at the start of play.
Exeter dominated from the get-go and got the goal deep into first half stoppage time to put the hosts 1-0 ahead. Luther Wildin then saw red for the visitors in the second half to effectively end the game as a contest.
Ticket news
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