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The Reckless Guide To…. Stevenage

Stevenage v Barnet

Sky Bet League 2

Saturday 26th January 2016

Kick-Off 3.00 pm

Stadium: The Lamex Stadium, Broadhall Way, Stevenage  Hertfordshire SG2 8RH

Telephone: 01438 743322 or 01438 223223

Club Colours: Red and White

Nickname: Borough

Key Personnel: Edward Paul Sheringham is the current manager at Broadhall Way. A Striker capped 51 times as a Full International for England, he started his career at Millwall and also played at Nottinham Forest, Spurs, Manchester United, Portsmouth, West Ham and Colchester before retiring in 2008 aged 42. He joined Stevenage in May 2015 and this is his first taste of managing. He won a Champions League medal while at United and was voted PFA Player of the Year in 2001.

Brief Directions by Road: A1(M) North to junction 7 Novotel Roundabout. Turn right towards Stevenage South (A602). Go straight over the first roundabout. Follow the A602 and Broadhall Way is then straight ahead. On your right is the ground.

Car Parking: There is a very large free car park on the left hand side of the road directly opposite the ground. (Careful crossing the road everybody!)

Directions by Train: The nearest station to the ground is Stevenage which is about one mile away from the ground. The Arriva No 5 from the nearby Bus Station takes ten minutes.

Eating and Drinking Locally: The Standard Bearer, the local Wetherspoons outlet, can be found in the Bus Station. Our Mutual Friend is easily the best pub in the area and can be found on Broadwater Crescent, a 10-15 minute walk from the ground – decent Ruby Murray bar meal if you get there early enough to order as it gets busy. The Roebuck on London Road is another good option and is also about a 10-15 walk away. Both served decent sales and food. The local Retail Park offers a Harvester, Pizza Hut and numerous of those take away franchises type outlets.

Ground Description: The main stand runs the full length of the West touchline.  The majority of Stevenage fans prefer to congregate on the East Terrace opposite. It also runs the full length of the pitch and is covered at the back. Barnet fans will be given the covered all seating area behind the goal, the South Stand which has room for around 1,400. The turnstiles can be found adjacent to the Broadhall Suite social club. To the left of the main stand is the partially covered North Terrace which is the only area of the ground which is under developed at present. Capacity is a shade over 7,000.

Admission Prices: Adults £22, Concession £19, U16s £10.

Previous Meetings and Memories: Our last visit was in the Herts Senior Cup a couple of seasons ago when we lost 0-5 but the last League visit was in January 2011 when nearly 4,000 witnessed a 4-2 win for Stevenage; Izale McLeod and Mark Marshall were on target for the Bees. A splendid photograph that sat on the wall of the Durham Suite at Underhill basically explained Saturday 9th September 2003. With the team 1-0 down injured and substituted, Capt. Marvel Ian Hendon was dispatched by Martin Allen to join the Bee army behind the goal who were instantly lifted. It led to Peter Beadles’ lethal finish and a Grazioli winner and the scenes were something to behold. My first visit was in 1975 in the Southern League Division 1 North but that was in Black and White!

Celebrity Watch and Other Info: Stevenage were originally known as Stevenage Town and then Athletic and when that club went bankrupt in 1976 the new club was formed. They were promoted to The Conference by winning the old Isthmian/Diadora Premier League in 1993-94 pipping Enfailed to the title – well done! They became Stevenage Borough before reinventing themselves. A stunning piece of trivia is that Stevenage can be reached via two junctions of the A1 – 7 or 8. I have three cousins and an Uncle living in Stevenage who have become lifelong Stevenage fans but only when they play Barnet!

Marty Wilde, the singing sensation of the late 1950s and early 60s was born in Stevenage. His daughter Kim (We’re The Kids In America) probably wasn’t born in Stevenage – but she was less of a singer and more of a sensation!  If you decide to travel to Broadhall Way via the country route, i.e. the B197 via Knebworth, then I advise you to leave your precious valuables at home. In the 1730s the stretch of road between Woolmer Green and Knebworth was a haunt of Dick Turpin the infamous highway robber. Many a London bound coach was told to stand and deliver. I must confess I always thought Dick was a Geordie as he was (a in a Geordie accent) “Ha Way Man”. 

Overnight Stay Factor: Not really on the tourist map so my personal vote is 0/10 – under no circumstances do you stay in Stevenage unless a) you are visiting on business from over 200 miles away and the journey home is not feasible due to bad weather, illness, more business or your car has been stolen or b) you live there.

Reckless