Who Are Ya? - Stevenage (#2) - Vital Lincoln City

Thank you to Stevenage supporter Patrick for answering these questions!

Thank you to Stevenage supporter Patrick for answering these questions!

How Long Have You Supported Stevenage?

10 years.

Last Season’s League Finish?

As expected pre-season, but disappointing to get up to 5th and then drop out of the playoffs in the last month.

What Do You Think Of Your Manager?

Love him. Puts the good if the team first and expects everyone else to do the same. Recruits people with the right mentality and is here for the long haul. Understand and cares about the place of the club in the community and regularly attends the junior team matches.

Hopes/Expectations This Season?

Automatics/playoffs – hopes. Expectations – Top half, close on points to automatics than relegation.

One(s) To Watch?

Ben Kennedy. Graduate of our youth academy, he has the X factor!

Top Seven Predictions?

Exeter City, Luton Town, Mansfield Town, Crewe Alexandra, Notts County, Stevenage and Chesterfield.

Bottom Two Predictions?

Cheltenham Town and Yeovil Town.

Thoughts on Lincoln City?

A club that represents the town playing in a nice traditional stadium. Hope you guys stay up!

Score Prediction?

Stevenage 2-1 Lincoln.

Random Fact About Your Club?

Olympic Decathlete Daley Thompson played for us!

What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as a Stevenage Supporter?

Beating Sheffield Wednesday 5-2 for both. Wednesday is my boyhood club so it was a bittersweet confusing day when they came to town…

Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?

Yes, I’m a member. They provide an important voice between the fans and the board.

Which was your favourite match involving Stevenage?

Knocking Newcastle out of the FA cup! I didn’t get a ticket to the game and watched in a pub, the atmosphere was amazing!

Which was your least favourite match involving Stevenage?

See above!

Your chairman had a “spat” with the council and dropped Borough from the club’s name upon promotion to the EFL. A tad unfair bearing in mind their history of support during the club’s development?

The council have been less than helpful in fulfilling the Chairman’s ambitions to take the club forwards developing new facilities, I can understand his frustration. We have recently, finally had the new North Stand plans approved, self funded despite the council ownership, so hopefully relationships are improving. The party line is that the dropping of the suffix Boro was to do with modernising the club’s image, nothing to so with a spat with the council.

Was it a good feeling to be able to say “non-league Luton” and are they now your principal rivals as opposed to Cambridge and historically but oddly Woking?

Being a relatively new supporter I don’t really understand the historic rivalries. Luton don’t see us as rivals though they are undoubtedly our nearest bug club, they remember when they were a big club! Barnet, Wycombe and Cambridge are all important local rivalries, always nice to beat them!

Many years ago (living in WGC) I added to my ground-hopping by travelling to Northwich and Histon on your official coaches. Less than 20 by mini-bus seemed to be the norm, what about now?

Maybe before my time. You do see the players about from time to time. Chris Day owns my local. It’s a friendly club with good access between fans and players.

Under Graham Westley Stevenage were renowned for ‘staging’ drinks/tactics breaks in play. Would you favour formally altering the rules?

I don’t see a problem with drinks breaks. Both sides have the same break in play to refresh and make tactical adjustments. The sidecars initiated it start with 10 men so the current rules are adequate.

Are you surprised you kept Godden after last season?

No. Phil Wallace is prudent, would only have sold for the right price. Godden had a good spell, but not a fully good season, so splashing 7 figures on him was a risk, which I think is the minimum wed have accepted.

On reflection do you think your fans were a bit dismissive of the stewarding concerns the other week? Most seemed very flippant about it, but surely if the boot was on the other foot…

Stewarding? No comment. The investigation is ongoing, don’t know if there’s any truth to the allegation and don’t feel I should comment til that s known. There was definitely elevated stewarding and police present which is unsurprising after the criminal damage when they visited last season.

Mitchell Cole was a sad loss, is he still remembered/commemorated around the ground eg named stand/bar?

A sad loss indeed. Only caught the tail end of his career, but the aftermath was very touching. Regular minutes applaus on 21 minutes. A yearly charity match organised by fan legend Keith Bell that has raised thousands for cardiomyopathy research.

Just what exactly does Ronnie Henry do to his hair?

Nobody knows, but it’s spawned a few amusing chants. I’m more mesmerised by his big panther tattoo.

Favourite past player and why?

Mark Roberts. Great player, great captain, great caretaker manager, thoroughly lovely man. I got changed next to him once getting ready for 6-a-side (back then the team finished training at the same facility we hired after work which gives you an idea how close the club is to the community) I swooned.

I have a recurring nightmare of seeing a non-chairman doing cartwheels in a fat-suit. Please reassure me this did not happen and advise the most amusing thing that actually did.

I have no idea what you’re referring to. My favourite incident was Ashley Bayes, the sub goalkeeper joining us in the East Terrace and taking over on the drum. That was at the first Mitchell Cole memorial game if memory serves correctly.

Who Are Ya? – Stevenage (#1)