Exeter City will be looking to get back to winning ways after suffering back-to-back League defeats when they head to face Stevenage on Tuesday night in a 7pm kick-off at the Lamex Stadium.
Here’s a preview of Tuesday’s opponents.
- Founded: 1976
- Nicknames: The ‘Boro
- Honours: Conference (1995/96, 2009/10)
- Home Kit: MACRON Red and White stripes, red shorts, white socks.
- Away Kit: MACRON navy blue shirt with yellow diamond print, navy shorts and socks
- League Form: WDLDW(21st in League Two)
There have been several associated with the town of Stevenage. Stevenage Town was formed in 1884. They absorbed Stevenage Rangers in 1955 and moved to Broadhall Way. The club went into liquidation in ’68 and by 1976, the current iteration Stevenage Borough were born.
Stevenage has a rich sporting heritage away from football. The Hertfordshire town is the birthplace of many big names in the world of sport. Five-time Ryder Cup winner Ian Poulter grew up in the area, as well as other footballers such as Ashley Young and Jack Wilshere. The standout on Stevenage’s list is undoubtedly seven-time Formula One champion Sir Lewis Hamilton.
Stevenage Borough started its life on the modest grounds around the King George V playing fields with roped off games in the Chiltern League. A change of competition followed to the Wallspan Southern Combination and by 1980 the club returned to Broadhall Way.
After successes in the United Counties League and Isthmian League saw Borough promoted to the Conference in the mid-nineties. Despite winning the 1996/96 Conference title, Stevenage were denied a place in the Football League because of ground regulations.
In 2010, the club rebranded, dropping the ‘Borough’ from the name and in 2011 they were finally promoted to League Two. Since elevation to the Football League, The Boro have had a brief stint in League One, before returning to the basement tier where they have resided ever since. Last season though they narrowly avoided relegation last season due to Macclesfield’s administration.
The Manager
Alex Revell
The 37-year-old is in his first managerial position after taking the job following the departure of Graham Westley last season. Revell had a strong playing career featuring spells at Swindon, Leyton Orient and Wigan amongst others.
Revell’s finest moment though came whilst playing for Rotherham United in the 2014 League One play-off Final. The midfielder scored twice against his former side Orient including the most sumptuous of 40-yard-volley’s, which is down as one of the best-ever goals scored at the National Stadium.
Battling for form in the dugout, Revell has brought Stevenage off the foot of the table and is in somewhat of his first purple patch as the Boro’s boss.
The Stadium
- Name: The Lamex Stadium
- Capacity: 7,800
- Year opened: 1961
- Record Attendance: 8,042 (vs Newcastle, FA Cup 4th Round, 1998)
- Address: Broadhall Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG2 8RH
Former home of Stevenage’s Town and Athletic, Broadhall Way was not used for the first few years of Borough’s formation due to financial reasons.
The record attendance came in bizarre circumstances. When Borough were drawn at home to Newcastle United in the 1998 FA Cup, the Magpies tried, unsucessfuly, to have the game switched to an alternative venue. Stevenage installed a temporary new stand which raised the capacity from 6,500 and were rewarded with a record attendance and even earned a lucrative replay at (the other) St James’ Park.
After the ground’s capabilities denying Stevenage’s 1996 promotion, a new £600,000 renovation was made. In 2009 Lamex gained naming rights, and two years later the ground was hosting Football League fixtures.
Ones To Watch
Scott Cuthbert
The Stevenage captain has led the team since the departure of previous leader Ronnie Henry, in the 2019/20 season. Whilst the managerial merry-go-round has brought a couple of different bosses to Stevenage, Revell has continued to place faith in Cuthbert by allowing him to keep the armband.
The 33-year-old started out his playing career at Celtic, before going on loan to St. Mirren and Livingstone to get some game time. After a six-year spell at Swindon, Cuthbert found himself at Stevenage in 2018, via Luton Town, and featured in every game during the 2018/19 campaign. The Scot won three of four Player of the Season awards at the end of that season and has continued his steadiness this campaign.
As well as Scott Cuthbert, Sam Moakes highlights two other players City need to be aware of and you can check out his picks here.
Head to Head
The Grecians have been somewhat of a bogey team to the Hertforshire side since the first meeting in the first round of the FA Cup in 2007. A 4-0 win in that game for Paul Tisdale’s men set the standard for fixtures to follow, as Exeter have a 50% win rate over Saturday’s opposition.
The Boro have only bettered City on two occasions most recently in 2018. In seventeen fixtures, 40 goals have been shared between the two clubs.
- Exeter wins: 9
- Draws: 6
- Stevenage wins: 2
Recent Encounters
Exeter City 3 Stevenage 1 | League Two | St James Park | January 23, 2021
The Grecians put on a clinical display to take all three points at home against Stevenage. A late flurry of goals saw Matt Jay and Ryan Bowman on target for City and Elliott List for Stevenage - all that coming after Archie Collins' stunning opener as he replicated his strike against Forest Green on Boxing Day.
Exeter City 2 Stevenage 1 | League Two | St James Park | February 8, 2020
Matt Jay slotted home an 81st minute winner after Randell Williams’ opener was cancelled out by Dan Kemp.
Exeter City 3 Stevenage 0 | Leasing.com Trophy | St James Park | January 21, 2020
The Grecians eased into the Leasing.com Trophy Semi-finals with a comfortable win. Two goals from Matt Jay and Nicky Ajose’s strike earned City safe passage to the last four.
Stevenage 0 Exeter City 1 | League Two | Lamex Stadium | August 10, 2019
Nicky Law’s gorgeous last-minute winner stole the points for the travelling Grecians.
And Finally...
Manager Alex Revell has history against Exeter City. In Stevenage’s last win over the City back in 2013, Revell netted a hat-trick to end Exeter’s automatic hopes for the 2017/18 season.
How to Watch
Whilst we would love you to be there, showing your passionate support for the Grecians, you can get the next best thing by purchasing a match pass at the cost of just £10 in the UK. The stream includes the live club commentary, score overlay and replays.
To purchase a match pass please click here.
