SHRIMPERS
No new injuries to report, though enough players are going to travel to Stevenage not fully 100% fit.
Centre back Chris Barker continues to suffer from a setback in his recovery from a calf injury; Mark Phillips is resting a hernia in the hope he can avoid surgery, and forget about wideboy Ryan Hall.
Fellow winger Sofiene Zaaboub will travel from with the team but cannot look further than starting as a sub.
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, Zaaboub, Sturrock, Crawford, Midford.
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.
7 | Torquay United | 17 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 26 | 19 | 25 | +7 | ||||
8 | Macclesfield Town | 17 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 21 | 22 | 25 | -1 | ||||
9 | Stevenage | 17 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 19 | 14 | 23 | +5 | ||||
10 | Cheltenham Town | 16 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 23 | 26 | 23 | -3 | ||||
11 | Crewe Alexandra | 17 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 35 | 24 | 22 | +11 | ||||
12 | Burton Albion | 17 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 22 | 20 | 21 | +2 |
Last 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.html
PREVIOUSLY
Only the once a few years back.
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GROUND
A 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)
TICKETS
Pay on the day:
Adults - £18, Concessions - £15, Under 18's - £10, Family (2 Adults and 2 juniors) - £40.
WEATHER
Cloudy 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-hooper
His assistants are Matthew McLaughlin & Rob Whitton; The 4th official is Ian Cooper.
FIXTURES
League Two
Tuesday, 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
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.
Stevenage (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/
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw5/stevenage_fc_555335/index.shtml
By Car go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw7/stevenage_fc_601613/index.shtml
By Coach go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw3/stevenage_fc_601614/index.shtml
PUB AND PIES
For 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.shtml
SOMEWHERE TO LAY YOUR HAT
For an overnight stay:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw1/stevenage_fc_553302/index.shtml
HISTORY
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.