Stevenage 2019-20 League Two Preview

Stevenage was one of the three teams to finish with 70 points last season but was placed lowest of the three due to goal difference.

They were just one point off the play-off spots so, it will be realistic to say the target for this season will be to get promoted.

Last season they were victims of late or extra-time goals, Andy Williams’s 91st-minute goal for Northampton Town, Nicky Maynard’s 95th Minute goal for Bury, Antoine Semenyo’s 98th-minute goal for Newport County have turned draws into losses.

While Danny Whitaker’s 93rd-minute goal for Macclesfield Town turned a win into a draw and in hindsight that could have cost them the control of the playoff race.

They were very inconsistent throughout the season but finished the season on a high as they won five out of their last six games and drawn the sixth. Fans will hope they will start where they ended against Salford City on opening day.

The 2019-20 season is going to be their sixth consecutive season in League Two and to give a boost to their finances Stevenage board selling equity with funds raised going into playing and transfer budget.

They are working with Tifosy to raise equity. We are attaching a video to explain things better.

According to Tifosy page – “New investors will receive a dividend of 25% of the issue price on the first promotion to EFL League One and a further dividend of 75% on the first promotion to the EFL Championship”. To visit the page click here

We are in no way paid to promote the above investment and it is only informative in nature. Equity investments are subject to market risk, read all scheme related documents carefully before investing.

They have released 10 players in the summer but managed to keep hold of most of their important players. Players released in the summer are

  1. Luke Wilkinson
  2. Michael Timlin
  3. Johnny Hunt
  4. Mark McKee
  5. Joe Martin
  6. Jamal Campbell-Ryce
  7. Will Appleyard
  8. Oliver Byrne
  9. Donovan Makoma
  10. Ronnie Henry

Stevenage FC Manager

Noureddine ‘Dino’ Maamria is the current manager of Stevenage FC. He was one of the key factors of their success last season. He is the only African manager in the Football League.

Dino Maamria arrived in England from his home country of Tunisia after he was scouted by Brian Miller, a Burnley Scout on vacation in 1996. He played for teams like Doncaster Rovers, Southport, and Stevenage.

He started his coaching career in his Burnley days that is in 1997 as an academy coach while still being a player. Since then he coached most of the teams where he played for.

His managerial career began with the National League side Northwich Victoria in 2007, where he managed the club in Player-Manager capacity. He won National League Manager of the Year award with them for the 2007-08 season.

After that, he managed other non-league teams like Southport, Nuneaton Borough and also took up coaching roles at Preston North End, Stevenage, Newport County before getting a chance to manage a football League side in Stevenage.

He is a UEFA Pro license holder and uses 4-4-2 double 6 in most of the games but is also known to spring few surprises based on the opposition. Maamria has spent close to 8 years with Stevenage FC at various levels.

As manager of Stevenage, he won 24 and drawn 12 from 60 games in charge of the Stevenage football club.

Stevenage FC 2019-20 New Signings

Stevenage has managed to sign the following players so far.

Jason Cowley

Jason Cowley is a 23-Year-Old non-League star striker who has spent the last 3 seasons with Bromsgrove Sporting FC in Southern League Division One Central, the eighth tier of English football and helped them win promotion to Southern Premier League Central in the 2018-19 campaign.

He scored 107 goals in 127 appearances for Bromsgrove Sporting FC and is their leading goalscorer of all time. 2019-20 season with Stevenage FC will be his first professional Football League season.

He is also known for his wonder goal that he scored against Corby Town in March of 2019 where he beat two defenders by flicking the ball over them before volleying it into the bottom corner. We are attaching the goal below.

Jamie Fielding

Jamie Fielding is a 19-year-old defender who predominantly plays as a Center back but also can play at Right Back.

He is a product of Eastbourne Borough academy but made his name at Hastings United who play in Isthmian League.

Fielding was named Hastings United ’s Young Player of the Year and was linked with Leicester City academy in the summer but decided to sign for Stevenage to play regular first-team football.

Charlie Carter

Charlie Carter is a 22-year-old midfield player who predominantly plays as an Attacking Midfielder but also can play as CM, LM, and RM.

He is a product of the Working academy and made 77 appearances for them in National League scoring 12 goals in 41 league appearances in the 2017/18 season.

Carter joined Chesterfield for the 2018-19 National League campaign but managed to make only 20 appearances for them scoring 4 goals as he suffered two ankle injuries that forced him to miss nearly 24 games last season.

He is also an England Armature international. Charlie is known for his final third creativity but has never played a single game in the football league.

Paul Digby

Paul Digby is a 24-Year-old holding midfield player who can also play as Center back if needed.

The 6-foot 4-inch player is a former youth international and represented England at U-19 and U-20 levels. He is a product of the Barnsley Academy.

He has made a total of 104 senior appearances of those 53 were in League Two, 12 were in League One, and 17 were in the championship.

Last season he was with Forest Green Rovers and made 45 appearances for them in all competitions including 37 in League Two.

He is a good header of the ball, he can turn to throw in situations into set-pieces if needed and he is also known for his work rate.

Chris Stokes

Chris Stokes is a 28-Year-Old Left Back who can also be used as a center back, right back and left wing-back.

He was a product of Bolton Wanderers academy but never made a single appearance for the senior squad. After leaving Bolton he joined Forest Green Rovers, Coventry City, and Bury FC.

Stokes has an experience of playing 274 appearances as a pro footballer of those 119 were in National League, 71 were in League Two, 59 were in league One.

He won promotions with Coventry City, Bury in the previous two seasons that is 2017-18, 2018-19 respectively from League Two.

6-foot tall defender is known for his heading ability, his reading of the game and covers a lot of ground during the match.

Stevenage FC 2019-20 Away Journey

Total Away miles Stevenage fans have to travel this season is 3220 which means they have to travel an average of 140 miles per game.

The Longest away game for them this season will be Carlisle United. For that game alone they have to cover 272 miles.

Stevenage FC 2019-20 Odds

Betting sites are expecting Stevenage to finish in playoffs with a chance of midtable finish this season.

Odds Effect
33/1 Title
7/1 Promotion
13/2 Relegation

Stevenage FC 2019-20 Fixtures

Stevenage FC 2019-20 Kit

Stevenage FC kits are one of the most talked-about topics among League Two enthusiasts. As fans what are your thoughts on Macron kit with Burger King logo comment below

Photo credit- Stevenage (Twitter)

To read more club previews click here or visit 72 in 72 section from the menu.