Stevenage Reflect on Strong Season After Play-Off Heartbreak

Stevenage Reflect on Strong Season After Play-Off Heartbreak

By Football Correspondent | May 25, 2026

Stevenage Football Club's 2025/26 campaign came to an end with a semi-final defeat in the League One play-offs against Stockport County, but the club can take immense pride from a sixth-place finish in the regular season.

The Boro, managed by Alex Revell, secured their highest league position in over a decade by accumulating 78 points across 46 matches. Their consistent performances throughout the season earned them a place in the end-of-season promotion lottery, where they faced Stockport in a tightly contested tie.

The first leg at Broadhall Way on May 9th ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat, with Stockport edging ahead through a second-half goal. Stevenage created several opportunities but were unable to find the breakthrough despite strong pressure. The return leg at Edgeley Park on May 13th saw Stockport prevail 2-0, completing a 3-0 aggregate victory and advancing to the final.

Despite the disappointment of missing out on promotion, Revell described the season as "incredible" in his post-match comments. "The players have given everything this year. To finish sixth in this competitive division is a huge achievement for everyone connected with the club," he said.

Following the conclusion of the campaign, Stevenage have announced their retained list for the 2026/27 season. Seven players will depart the club, including experienced duo Mark Roberts and Jamie Sweeney. The club confirmed that a number of first-team squad members have been offered new contracts as preparations begin for the next challenge in League One.

Off the pitch, the club continues to strengthen its community ties. The popular Boro Cup 6-a-side grassroots tournament returns for 2026, with boys' and girls' teams invited to compete on the Broadhall Way pitch across two weekends in May. Additionally, the club's academy setup has received positive updates, with clear pathways identified for young talents to progress into the first team.

Stevenage supporters have shown tremendous backing throughout the season, with impressive attendances both home and away. The club's ability to compete at the top end of League One has renewed optimism among fans, who are now looking ahead to what reinforcements the summer transfer window might bring.

Chairman Phil Wallace expressed gratitude to the playing squad and staff: "This has been a memorable season that has reignited belief in what we can achieve. While the play-off exit hurts, we have laid strong foundations. Our focus now turns to building a squad capable of sustaining this level of performance and pushing even higher next year."

As the dust settles on 2025/26, Stevenage find themselves in a healthy position both on and off the field. With a competitive core and growing community engagement, the club enters the close season with ambition and stability. Fans will eagerly await news of incoming signings and contract renewals as Alex Revell looks to mount another promotion challenge in the upcoming campaign.

The 2026/27 League One season promises to be another tough test, but Stevenage have proven they belong among the division's stronger sides. The coming weeks will be crucial in shaping the squad that will wear the famous red and white next term.

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Home of Stevenage FC

Opened 1961

Capacity 7,800

History (from Wikipedia)

The club plays at Broadhall Way, previously home to Stevenage Town and Stevenage Athletic. Following the bankruptcy of the town's former club, the stadium was not used for three years.[1] The newly formed Stevenage Borough had planned on playing Hitchin Town Youth at Broadhall Way in November 1976 as a "curtain-raiser" for the new venture.[3] Volunteers prepared the pitch in anticipation, but their plans were scuppered when the ex-chairman of Stevenage Athletic — and stadium lease-holder — desecrated the playing surface at Broadhall Way by digging a trench across the full length of the pitch.[3] The club eventually moved into Broadhall Way in 1980 as a result of the council re-purchasing the stadium, and allowed the football club to become its tenant.[4][5][6]

Following Stevenage's successful 1995–96 Conference campaign, the Hertfordshire side were denied promotion to the Football League because of insufficient ground capacity and facilities.[1] Consequently, in the early 2000s, the ground was upgraded, with a new £600,000 stand opening,[1] and work on a £5million training facility was announced for nearby Shephalbury Park — which subsequently opened in Autumn 2002.[6] In June 2011, the club secured a 40-acre former sports ground in Bragbury End[7] — with the intention of developing the site into a new training complex.[7] Work began on the development in the summer of 2011,[7] and the staff began to use the complex towards the latter stages of the 2012–13 season.

In January 2009, Stevenage announced that they had signed a seven-figure sponsorship deal with the Lamex Food Group, resulting in the renaming of Broadhall Way to the Lamex Stadium.[6] As a result of the club securing promotion as league champions during the club's 2009–10 campaign, Broadhall Way hosted League football for the first time during the 2010–11 season.[8] The stadium has a capacity of 6,722 people, including 3,142 seats.[9] The capacity was reduced from 7,100 following the club's promotion to the Football League.[10]

Structure and facilities[edit]

The ground's pitch includes four stands – the East Terrace, the North Stand, the West Stand, and South Stand.[6] The West Stand is all-seated and covered, and covers the length of the pitch, although it has open corners to either side of the stand. At the back of the stand there are a number of glass-fronted areas to various club offices and executive boxes.[1] The club shop is situated next to the West Stand, opposite to the club's official car-park.[11] Opposite to the West Stand is the East Terrace, which is a covered terrace for home supporters. The terrace has a gable with a clock sitting on its roof above the half-way line,[1] as well as holding a television gantry on its roof.[4]

The North Terrace was situated behind the goal at the north end of the ground and was just seven steps deep.[1] Three-quarters of the terrace was covered, whilst one-quarter was open and without cover.[4] The stand held a capacity of 700 people,[12] and offered facilities for disabled fans.[1] In January 2013, the club announced they were due to present plans to replace the existing North Terrace with a new £1.2 million 1,700 seat stand,[13] although these did not materialise due to "numerous obstacles put in the way".[14] In July 2017, the club asked fans to contribute towards a mini-bond investment scheme, through sports investment platform Tifosy, in an attempt to fund the remaining £500,000 needed to go towards developing the new North Stand.[14] The club stated its desire to open the new stand for the start of the 2018–19 season if the bond scheme was successful.[15] Five weeks after the campaign started, the £500,000 target was met after investment from over 200 fans.[16] A further £100,000 was raised in the following days, meaning a total of £600,000 would be invested in the new North Stand development.[17] The North Terrace was demolished in January 2018.[18] Work on the new North Stand was halted in June 2018 when UK Power Networks refused the club permission to construct a stand around the existing substation.[19] Work restarted in February 2019 when the new substation was installed.[20] The 1,428 all-seater stand was officially opened in December 2019.[20][21]

Opposite the North Stand is the South Stand, which is a single tiered, all-seated covered stand. The stand was built in 2001, costing £600,000.[4] The South Stand is reserved for away supporters and can hold a capacity of 1,400.[6] The stand also has an electronic scoreboard in the centre of the roof, which was installed in 2001, making it visible to home supporters.[1] The scoreboard was replaced in October 2011.[22] Behind the stand is the supporters' club.[6] A new set of floodlights were installed before the start of the club's 2007–08 campaign.[2]

Things to do in Stevenage.