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INTERACTIVE DIGITAL PROGRAMME 2020/21

RE K HIFE CLBUIC OLLOW Y YOUR TO ASS! MATCH P

RE K HIFE LOW CLBUIC L O Y YOUR TO ASS! MATCH P

v XXXXXXXXXXX v EXETER CITY Tuesday, Tuesday, December February 292 2020 2021 || Kick-Off: Kick-Off: 7.00pm 5.00pm

ALEX REVELL

lex Revell gives Boro fans an insight into the first team with his digital programme notes.

“SATURDAY’S WIN SHOWED OUR TOGETHERNESS AND OUR SPIRIT”

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All photos by Jim Steele unless otherwise stated

THE MANAGER

INTERACTIVE DIGITAL PROGRAMME

UNITED

V Barrow AFC

SAT NOV 14 2020 | Kick-Off: 3.00pm

SATURDAY 22 AUGUST 2020

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THE CHAIRMAN

PHIL WALLACE

ood evening and welcome to the players, and officials of Exeter City. Well, that’s been a hectic couple of days! The win at Grimsby – with their equaliser and our winner in the last 2 minutes of injury time – was a roller coaster of emotion, but it feels good to have things go in our favour on the pitch! That warm feeling over the weekend didn’t last long as we had to start early on Sunday with final plans for deadline day on Monday. Deadline days are weird. Surreal even. You start off with a list of those you’d like to get, then others come up you’ve never thought of, then you lose targets, all in the space of a few hours. We’re delighted with our business – delighted to have secured Jahmal Hector-Ingram who we have pursued since last summer and Jack Roles, who is a player we know well and admired for a long time. Added to the 3 early additions of Chris Lines, Luke Norris and Matty Stevens and the signings of Jacob Bancroft and Joe Martin, we’re very pleased with our work in January. Perhaps now is the time to explain how we approach recruitment at Stevenage. Our policy is exactly the same every year and there’s one over-riding rule – the manager decides who we sign, always. That is the case this season, it was the case last season and as many seasons before as I can remember. The only time I can recall us making a signing when the manager wasn’t fully up to speed with the player was when we had to act quickly with Matty Godden, who Leon Hunter had spotted and tracked at Ebbsfleet and Danny Newton, who Leon spotted at the Jamie Vardy trials. Other than that the procedure is exactly the same; the manager either starts his own search or tells Leon what he’s looking for and then the names start coming in, almost always using agents. So you are only as good as your network of contacts. There are times when we happen to see someone playing at a lower level, but

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usually the leads come from agents. Names are then accumulated by the manager, clips are looked at by him and his staff and the decision is made by the manager. I will then generally take over the negotiation after Leon has managed expectations. Sometimes I’m successful, sometimes not – I try to be aggressive if a manager wants someone, but I won’t pay what we can’t afford. There have been many times that Leon and I have tried to talk a manager out of players they have been given to him by an agent – almost always without success – but other than that, the system is well established. In the summer of 2020, we spent a lot of time with Revs understanding the type of player he wants, not just on the pitch but character-wise and that’s why we have such a great spirit in the dressing room now. That is no accident - Revs spent hours checking out character, desire, fit and only if they tick all those boxes do we sign them. We now feel that we’ve put the type of squad together that can do well in League Two and that much better times lay ahead for us all. Alex Tunbridge runs the business side of the Club – exceptionally well – and I try to work with the manager on the playing side, transfers and budgets to secure what he wants. It’s a system that runs well. We were blown off target by the court cases and uncertainty of 2019/2020 but that’s all behind us now. We’re back on track! Enjoy the game this evening!

STEVENAGE FC

LATEST NEWS WATCH TUESDAY’S GAME LIVE FROM HOME Stay safe and support Stevenage from home this midweek as Tuesday’s big game against Exeter City is available to watch with an iFollow Match Pass. Match Passes cost just £10 and are available to buy now. To do so, click here and select the Exeter fixture. If you already have an iFollow account, sign in using your email address and password. If not, create a free account by clicking ‘Register Now’, completing the form and clicking ‘Create Account’ at the bottom. Click here for more information.

THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH COMES TO STEVENAGE After launching the eSports Arena in November in partnership with US-based Rival, over 500 gamers from around the world have joined together to create Stevenage FC’s very own gaming community. Earlier this month in the New Year’s Kick-

Off, gamers competed in both FIFA 21 and Rocket League to win signed official Stevenage FC merchandise. This time round, gamers will be playing Madden 21 in the lead up to Super Bowl LV 2021, for the chance to win an official NFL jersey of choice. The tournament takes place on Sunday 7th February 2021 at 7pm GMT, on both Xbox One and PS4. Gamers can sign up here, following the steps below: • Sign up for free at rivalgames.com/ stevenagefc, connecting both your Twitch account & PSN ID/Xbox Gamertag. • In the Game Center, select the Tournament you wish to participate in. • Click ‘Join Tournament’. Have you got what it takes to win Super Bowl LV? Show your worth and WIN an Official NFL Jersey of your choice! Register now at rivalgames.com/ stevenagefc.

Stevenage FC v Exeter City

FOUNDATION DEGREE OPEN EVENING THIS WEDNESDAY Stevenage FC Foundation is hosting an online open evening at 7pm on Wednesday 3rd February 2021 for prospective students of its Community Football Coaching & Development Degree. Stevenage FC Foundation’s two-year Foundation Degree programme is a course designed for individuals wanting to attain a university qualification and are passionate about pursuing a career in the football industry. Students will develop the necessary skills, qualities and characteristics that are required to work within professional football club community departments or national governing bodies. Interested? To register for the online open evening on Wednesday 3rd February 2021, click here. Scheduled to begin in August 2021, the course is delivered in partnership with the University of South Wales and all lectures, seminars and tutorials are delivered in a supportive and inspirational club environment via online material. Alongside the academic element of the course, students will complete up to 200 hours of voluntary coaching within the

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community, alongside the Foundation staff, allowing the students to embed and develop the coaching techniques learnt within lectures. Through the Foundation’s partnership with the University of South Wales, all students will be enrolled as a student at the university. Students will be able to access the university’s online library, blackboard and learning materials, providing them with the best possible learning platform to excel. For more information on the degree, take a read of the Information Package or email LucyB@stevenagefc.com.

DELIVER A MORE SECURE TOMORROW. www.mbdacareers.co.uk

MATCH

ACTION 1 GRIMSBY

PAYNE 90+3’

STEVENAGE

LIST 42’, STEVENS 90+5’

63% 37%

POSSESSION

Stevenage posted their first away win of the season on Saturday at Grimsby Town, as unbelievable late drama saw Matty Stevens score with the last kick of the game to seal all three points.

SHOTS

6 4

CORNERS

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CLEARANCES

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GUESS THE BADGE Can you work out the club badge of another team in League 2?

WHO’S THE PLAYER? Can you guess the player in disguise?

GUESS THE BADGE Mansfield Town

ANSWERS:

WHO’S THE PLAYER Arthur Iontton

INTERACTIVE BORO QUIZ! It has been a busy weekend of football action throwing up some nice stats and records? Test your knowledge with the following questions...

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FROM THE

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4 Romain Vincelot SPONSORED BY

9 Inih Effiong SPONSORED BY

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Stevenage FC v Exeter City

SPONSOR YOUR FAVOURITE PLAYER...

For sponsorship enquiries email alfied@stevenagefc.com

14 Jamie Fielding SPONSORED BY

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23 Jack Smith

16 Arthur Iontton

17 Elliot List

19 Arthur Read

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35 Matty Stevens

36 Luke Norris

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27 Jack Aitchison SPONSORED BY

40 Chris Lines SPONSORED BY

LUTHER JAMES-WILDIN

FOOTBALL FRIENDS IN THIS NEW FEATURE, WE ASK THE PLAYERS TO DISH THE DIRT ON THEIR FELLOW STEVENAGE TEAMMATESâ€Ś Loudest Teachers Pet Smartest t s ie n n u F

Messiest t udesudest o L t s Sma Mo Lo ers errstest h fined Teacher c a e T Teetach s P Pet Peeatchers T t tes test Pet Smarteeslty marm r S a SlikeFluynniest t lik Funnies s o M t t pundit est est MomsaSnmaagretrest i n n i u F n T st M e n t a ost chers es Fu essieessiest M Loud ngriest f in P e et Q d Loudest A uietesM s t cher MessieMs t s t e e t t P uie uietes Q t s Q Most eachers Quiete y ost ost M M d o Pet e s in f t Loudest likellikely eMd ed t n i s f o f t in i fAinngrieQsuFie Funnies ed Most lik M pMuonsdptundit tun tensietst t y e t l l S S s y m e em artest ie m Mayart setsr t Tleikatecr Mess t lhiekr rl ensasegie Teache MosM g s a o s ost l manmaPneatges MLoost likerlPyet rM pun t muadneasgte Angries ngelriest Messies yt st st Most lAik e l i e t r k i g m l anager y n ngrie AM At Most Mostundit o s Most lik p f f in ined e e y d l e k Q Qpuuientdeitstly i uietest l r Messies Mess nage t Most lik punditely Angries AnMgorsiets Most lik t ltikely ely manager manager Most lik Mos punditely p

Funnies t Quietest

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STEVENAGE FC

FOUNDATION Tackling Loneliness If you have been keeping up to date with the Foundation’s work recently, you may be aware of the Tackling Loneliness Together project that we have been running, which to date has included regular phone calls, monthly activity packs, Christmas cards and the Club Cuppa, all designed to help keep in touch with Stevenage residents who may be feeling isolated or lonely. All aspects of the project have been incredibly well received and we have been proud to help support our community in this way throughout the uncertain times of the past few months. Thanks to additional funding from DCMS via the EFL Trust, we are about to expand the Tackling Loneliness service and from this week we are offering FREE Winter Warmer Care Packages to over 70’s living in Stevenage. These packages will contain a warm blanket, scarf, mug, hot drink and activity pack and will be delivered directly to recipient’s homes by Foundation staff, in the hope that they will provide warmth and comfort to those that need it this winter.

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If you are someone or know of someone who would benefit from one of these care packages, please get in touch and sign up for the package by clicking here. Alternatively, give us a ring on 01438 584019 or 07403 703022 and details can be taken over the phone. Please note, recipients must be aged 70 and over, and currently living in Stevenage. The contents of the packages are not modifiable and are available on a first come, first served basis. HANNAH MARSH - Healthy Lifestyles Manager

STEVENAGE FC

WOMEN

Becky Shephard Striker

WHAT CLUBS HAVE YOU PREVIOUSLY PLAYED FOR? Tottenham Ladies, Hertford Town, Royston Town, Cambridge United and Harlow Ladies before moving to Stevenage. Also had 2 years playing in Texas (US) for Cisco College. WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF FOOTBALL? I’m a sales manager for a lifting equipment company in the construction industry. HOW DO YOU FIND JUGGLING FOOTBALL, TRAINING AND YOUR DAY JOB? I’m quite fortunate that my job doesn’t really interfere with training nights or match days, but my boss is really supportive of my football so helps me out with time off if needed. CAN YOU TELL US WHO YOUR FOOTBALLING IDOL OR ROLE MODEL WAS WHILST GROWING UP AND WHY? My idol has always been Jermain Defoe. Everything about him, from what he does on the pitch to what he does off it, is exactly what a role model should be. Being a striker myself also, I admire his game play a lot, his movement and goal scoring talent is unreal. DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE FEMALE FOOTBALLER AND WHY? Ellen White – again, being a striker myself, I admire everything about her game. From her vision, to her movement, to her overall reading of the game, it’s just second to none. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FOOTBALL HIGHLIGHT OR ACHIEVEMENT THAT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF? My favourite highlight has to be scoring

Stevenage FC v Exeter City

the winning goal whilst out in America to win us our conference. The emotion and pride I felt from all the hard work I had put in to get there, paying off, was one of the best moments of my career. IT HAS BEEN A STOP START SEASON SO FAR AND AFTER LAST SEASON BEING DECLARED NULL VOID. HOW DO YOU FEEL THE SEASON HAS GONE FOR YOU PERSONALLY? I think personally the season for me has gone quite well, being new to a team always brings its own challenges of having to earn your stripes, however, the girls and management team have been amazing from the moment I’ve arrived so I was lucky to be able to slot right in and push on from there. As a team, we know what we are capable of and more than ready to push on should the season restart or, if we continue from a brand new season next year. WHO MAKES YOUR ULTIMATE DREAM TEAM XI [OF FEMALE FOOTBALLERS]? GK – Hope Solo RB – Lucy Bronze CB – Steph Houghton CB – Casey Stoney LB – Alex Greenwood RM – Karen Carney CM – Fara Williams CM – Jill Scott LM – Rachel Yankey FW – Ellen White FW – Vivianne Miedema DO YOU HAVE A GO TO CELEBRATION FOR WHEN YOU SCORE? I actually don’t have a goal celebration. I get nicknamed ‘Casual Becky’ because I’ll literally just run back to the half way line for kick off again when I score, haha!

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AS WE’RE CURRENTLY IN LOCKDOWN, WHAT TV SERIES ARE YOU CURRENTLY, OR HAVE BEEN, BINGE WATCHING? I do love a good crime series, so I’ve been watching a fair few of them but I’ve just finished binge watching ‘Friday Night Dinner’ – late to the party on this one! YOU’RE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON A DAILY 10KM CHALLENGE THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY – COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS? In December 2019, after a short but courageous battle, I unfortunately lost my Dad to a stage 4 brain tumour. A disease that affects so many with such devastating effects. My dad has and always will be my biggest fan in everything I do, so in memory of him, I have decided to run 10km every day throughout the month of February to help raise funds for an incredible charity to help families and patients towards a hopeful future. Together, we will find a cure! Throughout February, the Stevenage FCW staff and players will be taking on a fitness challenge to raise funds for two campaigns; the first is for Becky’s campaign for brain tumour research CLICK HERE and the second to raise money for the East & North Hertfordshire Hospitals’ Charity CLICK HERE, who are raising funds to support hospital staff with their wellbeing during the pandemic. Both campaigns are important to our staff and players and we would be grateful for any donations. Thank you, stay safe and up the ‘Boro! FOLLOW THE WOMEN:

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STEVENAGE FC

ACADEMY

ood evening and welcome to the updates from the academy. Firstly, as a football fan, I think its fair to say, we all experienced two different types of emotion during the 94th minute of the 1st team game Saturday game v Grimsby. But I loved it and jumped with joy at Matt Stevens’ winner, that gave us three points. Best of luck to the guys this evening as they host Exeter. Come on Boro! January has been an interesting month for our academy and has seen the introduction to additional U19/20 games, something we have not done before. We have visited Luton Town development squad, Colchester United as well as a fixture against Premier League opposition Brighton and Hove Albion. We also visited Watford FC and Dorking Wanderers of the conference south, all throughout the month. Usually, this time of the year, our secondyear apprentices and junior pros are out on loan at step 2 or 3 club, for obvious reasons this has not been able to happen. Therefore, during an academy management meeting, we felt it was vital to ensure our players are challenged

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against stronger opposition between now and the end of the season. This means effectively, we have U18-21 group of players participating and competing against other clubs’ U18-21 groups. Meaning our U16/17’s will complete the EFL Youth Alliance South East league, this also has its own challenges but enables us as an academy to expose our young school boys earlier into what it’s like at U18 level and players will learn earlier than usual. We feel our newly formed U19/20 group have had the beneficial challenges and our players have stepped up and performed well, most noticeably against Watford, Dorking Wanderers and recently Colchester United. The intensity and quality of these games means our players are not only to be challenged technically but also physically. These are vital for the players to learn to win. We now have a series of fixtures coming up in February where we will play Birmingham City U23, Brentford B and Cambridge United’s U21. Thanks for reading. JORDEN GIBSON – Professional Development Phase Lead Coach

WELCOME CLUB MATTERS Exeter City have a rich and well connected history - and of course a confusing nickname. Founded in 1904 from the conjoining of two other clubs (Exeter United and St Sidwell’s United) they started life at Exeter United’s home ground of St James Park and haven’t moved since. Their first game came in September 1904 and just four years later they recorded their

highest FA Cup win beating Weymouth 14-0. In 1914 they made a remarkable eight match tour of Argentina and Brazil and were the first team to play a Brazil national side. To this day they are now a partner club of Fluminense in Brazil. Clearly going places, Exeter were entered into Division Three south in 1920 but it took until 1963-64 until they earned their first promotion. This was a sign of what was to come, Exeter have never played in the top two tiers of the league set-up and have spent the longest in the third tier without making the next step. In 2003 they were relegated to the Conference for five seasons. This current season started superbly for the

LAST 5 GAMES

Carlisle

Morecambe

AWAY

HOME

L1-0

L0-2

Stevenage

W3-1 HOME

Harrogate

D0-0 AWAY

Bolton

D1-1 HOME

Stevenage FC v Exeter City

Grecians with just one defeat in the first 15 in all competitions, but recent form has seen them win just one in eight (against Boro of course). And that brings us to the nickname. Not a definitive answer it seems but the smart money is that some 200 years ago when locals played out the siege of Troy as part of a local Fair, those from the outer part of Exeter (or St Sidwellâ€™s) played the part of the Greeks rather than Trojans. And you thought Exeter was a Roman town?

THE BOSS Matt Taylor was appointed manager of Exeter City on June 1, 2018 following the departure of long-serving boss Paul Tisdale. His first season in charge of the Grecians saw them finish ninth in Sky Bet League Two, only a point outside the play-off places. Taylor made more than 150 appearances for the Grecians as a player helping City to back-to-back promotions from the Football Conference to League One during his first spell at the club. He started his playing career off at non-

league Burscough as a goalkeeper and helped the Linnets to an FA Trophy win over Tamworth in the 2002/03 season. He spent a number of years at non-league level, before getting his break at Exeter City in 2007 where he helped them to promotion in his first season at the club by making 46 appearances at the centre of defence and scoring nine goals.

WATCH OUT FOR Tom Parkes was Matt Taylorâ€™s second summer signing of 2019, joining from Carlisle United having turned down a new deal at Brunton Park. The 27-year-old, who played 42 times for Carlisle, had previously won back-to-back promotions with Bristol Rovers as well as had loan spells at Burton Albion and Yeovil Town. A product of the Leicester City youth academy, Parkes has represented England at under-17 level 18 times and was a member of the squad that went to the 2009 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship. He scored his first goal for the Grecians in a 4-0 win over Plymouth Argyle and made 41 appearances for the club last season.

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STEVENAGE FC

COMMERCIAL As with every Club in the land, we’ve been starved of a vital income stream, after all, who wants to sponsor a match they can’t attend, hire an executive box they can’t access or sponsor a match ball that nobody will see? But we are ready for business. As soon as we’re allowed to reopen we will be there for you. Hopefully this current set of restrictions will have the desired effect and infection numbers will fall significantly

enough for us to be allowed to restart, most likely with a limited service similar to what was offered for the recent game against Grimsby Town with around 100 people being admitted to the North Stand, before a more general opening of the stadium as time goes on. For the very latest information, or to make a booking please log on to www.stevenagefc.com In the meantime, keep well, we hope to see you soon.

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