The 2009–10 season was Stevenage Borough F.C.'s 16th season in the Conference Premier. This article shows statistics of the club's players in the season, and also lists all matches that the club played during the season. Their fifth-place finish and subsequent play-off semi-final defeat in the 2008–09 season meant it was their sixteenth successive season of playing in the Conference Premier. It also marked the second year in charge for manager Graham Westley during his second spell at the club; having previously managed the Hertfordshire club from 2003 to 2006.

The majority of the squad from the 2008–09 season were retained, with little transfer activity in comparison to previous seasons. Steve Morison, the club's top goalscorer for the past three seasons, moved to Millwall for a fee of £130,000, while both John Martin and Calum Willock were released in late May 2009. Midfielder Gary Mills was the last departure of the close season; rejecting a contract and instead opting to join fellow Conference Premier club Mansfield Town. Five players joined the club during the close season. Charlie Griffin was the first signing of the season, joining Stevenage from Salisbury City on a free transfer. Yemi Odubade, Chris Beardsley, and Joel Byrom signed for the club shortly after; the latter for a transfer fee of £15,000. The last signing of pre-season was Stacy Long; who joined the club on a free transfer from Ebbsfleet United. No players departed the club during the season, with Tim Sills the only addition, signing for an undisclosed fee from Torquay United in January 2010.

Stevenage started the season by recording just one win from their first five games of the season. Following a 2–1 defeat to Oxford United in August 2009, the team went on a 17-game unbeaten run from August to December 2009, moving the club into the top two in the league standings. A 4–1 victory against Cambridge United on New Year's Day meant that Stevenage were in first place for the first time in the season. Two defeats away from home within the space of a week in February meant that Oxford United had an eight–point lead going into March 2010. The team responded by winning eight games consecutively; including a 1–0 victory against Oxford United in late March, subsequently replacing Oxford at the top of the league table. Stevenage earned promotion to the Football League with two games to spare following a 2–0 victory against Kidderminster Harriers at Aggborough. The team won their last six games of the league season without conceding a goal, and recorded 42 points from a possible 45 from their last fifteen league fixtures. Stevenage finished the season having amassed a total of 99 points from 44 games, winning the league by 11 points.

The club also played in the final of the FA Trophy against Barrow – losing 2–1 after extra–time; it was Stevenage's third visit to Wembley Stadium in four seasons. Yemi Odubade finished as the club's top goalscorer for the season after scoring 16 goals, 14 of which came in the league and two in the FA Trophy. Scott Laird, who played 53 games throughout the season, more than any other player in the squad, was named as Player of the Year.

Squad details Last updated on 18 April 2010. The squad at the end of the season.

Players information No. Name Nationality Position Date of birth (age) Signed from Notes Goalkeepers 1 Ashley Bayes GK Crawley Town 16 Chris Day GK Millwall Defenders 3 Scott Laird LB Plymouth Argyle 4 Eddie Odhiambo RB Oxford United 5 Jon Ashton CB Grays Athletic 6 Mark Albrighton CB Cambridge United 14 Mark Roberts (c) CB Northwich Victoria 25 Ronnie Henry RB Dublin City Midfielders 2 Lawrie Wilson RM Colchester United 7 Darren Murphy CM Cork City 8 Stacy Long CM Ebbsfleet United 13 Joel Byrom CM Northwich Victoria 18 David Bridges CM Kettering Town 21 Mitchell Cole LM Southend United 23 Andy Drury RM Lewes 24 Michael Bostwick CM Ebbsfleet United 30 Peter Vincenti CM Millwall Forwards 9 Charlie Griffin FW Salisbury City 10 Lee Boylan FW Cambridge United 11 Yemi Odubade FW Oxford United 17 Tim Sills FW Torquay United 20 Chris Beardsley FW Kettering Town

Management Manager: Graham Westley Assistant manager: John Dreyer First team coach: Dino Maamria Goalkeeping coach: Ali Uzunhasanoglu Fitness coach: Neil Withington Physiotherapist: Paul Dando

Match results

Legend WinDrawLoss

Pre-season On 3 June, Stevenage Borough announced that their pre-season campaign would consist of seven friendlies to open the 2009–10 season. Stevenage Borough began their pre-season schedule on 15 July with a trip to Melbourne Stadium in Essex to play Chelmsford City. All five of Graham Westley's summer signings featured in the match, with both Charlie Griffin and Chris Beardsley getting on the scoresheet in a 2–1 victory. Three days later Borough hosted League One outfit Brighton & Hove Albion in their first pre-season friendly at Broadhall Way. Stevenage won the game 2–1 despite trailing at the half-time interval. Second-half goals from Mitchell Cole and Stacy Long secured the turn-around and a second pre-season victory. With their pre-season schedule well underway, Stevenage then travelled to Southern League Premier Division side Cambridge City for their third pre-season friendly on 21 July. The game ended 1–1, with both sides scoring a penalty a-piece; Lee Boylan successfully converting after David Bridges was adjudged to have been fouled in the penalty area.

Stevenage then hosted three Football League sides at Broadhall Way within the space of six days. Firstly, Borough entertained Millwall on 25 July as part of the £130,000 deal that took ex-Stevenage striker Steve Morison to The Den in May 2009. Stevenage lost the game 2–1, with a goal from Mitchell Cole sandwiched in between two from Morison for Millwall. Borough then hosted Peterborough United, who annually visit Broadhall Way as part of the deal that took winger George Boyd to the Cambridgeshire based club in January 2007. Stevenage lost the game 2–0, with Shaun Batt, who came through the youth system at Stevenage, scoring one of the goals. Borough midfielder Mitchell Cole was also stretchered off with an ankle injury in the first half of the same game. Later that week, it was announced that utility player Peter Vincenti had gone on a three-month loan deal to recently relegated Conference South side Woking. On 31 July, Stevenage played League One club Southend United. Stevenage won the game 2–1, with two first half goals from Joel Byrom and Darren Murphy. The following day, Stevenage played out a 0–0 draw with Conference South side Woking in their final pre-season fixture. Despite joining Woking on-loan, Peter Vincenti featured for his parent club, whilst former Mansfield Town winger Nathan Arnold also played a part in the match. However, it was announced that Vincenti's loan deal to Woking had fallen through after Borough boss Graham Westley decided he wants to keep the player as cover. On 3 August, Championship side Peterborough United announced that left-back Danny Blanchett would start a two-day trial at Broadhall Way. On 5 August, just three days before the start of the new Conference Premier campaign, striker Jerome Anderson joined Southern League Premier Division outfit Brackley Town on loan. On 7 August, Westley announced that Stevenage had signed Danny Blanchett on loan from Peterborough United. +GameDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersNotes1Griffin, Beardsley2345671 August 2009 Note: Stevenage Borough goals come first.

Conference Premier

The 2009–10 Conference Premier fixtures were released on 3 July 2009, with Stevenage Borough to open their campaign against Conference North champions Tamworth on 8 August 2009. The game ended 1–1, with Stevenage taking the lead early on in the first-half thanks to a Lee Boylan penalty after Scott Laird was adjudged to have been fouled in the box. Tamworth equalised before the interval courtesy of a Bradley Pritchard strike. Manager Graham Westley handed debuts to Stacy Long, Charlie Griffin, Yemi Odubade and Joel Byrom during the game, with the latter being sent-off after receiving a second caution in the closing stages of the match.

This was followed up with another 1–1 draw at newly promoted Conference South play-off winners Hayes and Yeading on 11 August. Stevenage opened the scoring in the second-half through midfielder Andy Drury, but were pegged back ten minutes later following good work from ex-Borough winger Dale Binns, who set-up Danny Allen-Page to finish from close range. Stevenage then drew their third game within the space of a week, playing out a 0–0 stalemate with Barrow at Holker Street. Three days later, Borough recorded their first win of the 2009–10 season, with a 3–0 victory over Ebbsfleet United at Broadhall Way. Chris Beardsley scored on his debut after just 10 minutes, with Joel Byrom and Lawrie Wilson adding to Stevenage's tally courtesy of two second-half goals. Stevenage lost their first game of the season on 22 August, losing 2–1 against Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium, with Yemi Odubade scoring his first goal for Borough deep into injury-time. A week later, Stevenage beat Rushden & Diamonds 2–1, with goals from Lee Boylan and Michael Bostwick after Cliff Akurang had equalised for the away side. The visitors played the majority of the game with 10-men, having had Michael Corcoran sent-off for a tackle on Lawrie Wilson, which resulted in the latter suffering a dislocated ankle and broken leg in three places. The Hertfordshire side then gained their first away win of the season two days later, with a 2–0 victory against Histon despite playing the majority of the game with ten men after Peter Vincenti was sent-off in the sixth minute for violent conduct. However, goals from both Scott Laird and Eddie Odhiambo secured the three points. Daniel Wright also missed a penalty for the home side late on. This was followed up with a third successive victory against Eastbourne Borough at Broadhall Way eight days later. Jon Ashton scored his first goal in Stevenage colours, heading in from Joel Byrom's corner. Ronnie Henry then doubled the home side's lead in the second-half following good work from Mitchell Cole.