PU PREVIEW 20: STEVENAGE

Stevenage FC was founded in 1976, following the demise of the town's former club Stevenage Athletic. Starting out in the Chiltern Youth League and then the Wallspan Southern Combination, they took on senior status in 1980 when the club reacquired the lease for its ground at Broadhall Way after the local council had re-purchased it. They added the suffix 'Borough' to the club's name and joined the United Counties League in 1980, winning the league's Division One title and United Counties League Cup in their first year. After three promotions in four seasons in the early 1990s, the club was promoted to the Conference in 1994. Having won the League in 1996, Stevenage were denied promotion to the Football League due to insufficient ground facilities, but were promoted when they won the Conference title again in 2010. The club then dropped 'Borough' from its title. Stevenage won promotion to League One via the play-offs in their first season as a Football League club.

In 2007, Stevenage became the first team to win a competitive final at the new Wembley Stadium when they defeated Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Trophy Final. The club also won the FA Trophy in 2009, defeating York City.

The club famously drew 1-1 with Newcastle United in the FA Cup fourth round in 1998 whilst still a non-league side, narrowly losing the replay at St James's Park 2-1. They defeated Newcastle 3-1 in the third round of the FA Cup in 2011 during their first season as a League club, which was their first win against top-flight opposition. The club reached the fifth round of the FA Cup in 2012, eventually losing to Tottenham Hotspur in a replay.

Stevenage's ground was renamed the Lamex Stadium in January 2009 following a seven-figure sponsorship deal with the Lamex Food Group.

The Boro are managed by Darren Sarll (permanently appointed May 2016) and finished the 2015-16 League Two season in 18th place. Ex-Pompey defender Mark Stimson is a former manager of the club.

Pompey have faced Stevenage on nine occasions. Two were Cup games, each side winning one (Pompey League Cup, Stevenage FA Cup). Of the seven League meetings, Stevenage have won three and Pompey two with two draws. Stevenage won 2-1 at Fratton Park earlier this season.

(Information via Wikipedia and www.11v11.com)