Boro Legends

Alan Julian

Signed in January 2005 from Brentford. “AJ” was an instant hit with the Boro fans due to his outstanding reflexes and “dramas” on the field. He left in the summer of 2008 to re-join Mark Stimson at Gillingham after 3 and a half years at the club.

Chris Day

Boro’s number 1 for their successful title winning season in the 2009/2010 season. Day kept an amazing 24 clean sheets as the club stormed towards their promotion to League 2. He was a big part of Boro’s season with his commanding performances between the sticks and will get a much deserved return to league football with Boro.

Des Gallagher

Gallagher was Boro’s No 1 for most of the Conference winning season. A consistent performer who was an asset to the side. Also starred in the 1997/1998 Cup run.

Mark Smith

“Smudger” was bought originally by Paul Fairclough as a striker, but excelled for Boro at centre back where he formed a great partnership with Efe Sodje which helped the club win the league in 1996. While at Boro, Smith was also part of the England Semi-Pro side along with Dave Venables and Barry Hayles. Smith still plays regularly for Hitchin.

Efe Sodje

Sodje arrived at Boro in 1994. The bandana wearing Nigerian starred for Boro in defence during his 3 years with the club until moving on to Macclesfield Town and then various Football League clubs before appearing at the World Cup in 2002. He is now at Bury.

Jason Goodliffe

Goodliffe joined Boro in 2001 from Hayes. He was a rock in the heart of the defence during his 6 years at the club until moving on to Rushden and then AFC Wimbledon. Goodliffe is currently at Sutton United.

Mark Roberts

Roberts captained Stevenage to the Blue Square Premier Championship in his first full season at the club. He signed for Boro from Northwich initially on loan in November 2008, but this deal was made permanent in January 2009. He’s been a worrier at the back for the club since his debut against Wrexham.

Ronnie Henry

Ronnie was the Boro Captain when the club lifted the FA Trophy in 2007 and has been with us since January 2005. A very accomplished centre half that gives his all for the club. Henry was switched to a right back role when Graham Westley returned and since then he has won the Trophy again in 2009 plus the Conference championship in 2010.

Kenny Webster

Kenny Webster was another member of the Conference winning side. A former Arsenal trainee, Webster was a vital member in Boro’s side and chipped in with a few free-kicks along the way.

Robbie Mutchell

Again another member of the 95/96 team. Was only at Boro for a short while after moving from Telford, but like Webster was a vital part of that team.

Scott Laird

Laird was signed by Peter Taylor in the January transfer window of 2008. He came in as a centre midfielder, but was converted to a left back by Graham Westley the following season. Laird has never looked back since then and has been a vital part of the team for the best part of 2 years. He has a habit of getting important goals as Luton and Oxford know only too well.

Ryan Kirby

Former Arsenal trainee Kirby signed for Boro in the 1996/1997 season, the year after the club had won the Conference. Kirby was a consistent full back in his time at Broadhall Way and often filled in different positions when needed. He spent 5 years at the club before leaving in 2001 to join Aldershot.

Sam McMahon

McMahon joined Boro in the summer of 1999 when Richard Hill was manager. McMahon looked a class above until a career threatening injury stuttered his Boro career. Still he managed to get back to his best form and helped Boro reach the 2002 FA Trophy Final before being released a year later.

Steve Berry

Berry had 2 very different spells at Broadhall Way. His first, he captained Boro to the Conference Championship before moving to Kettering, where he was manager. He returned, but only for a short time before again moving to Northamptonshire with Rushden & Diamonds.

David Phillips

Former Nottingham Forest and Norwich midfielder David Phillips signed for Stevenage in the 2000/2001 season. Phillips was in the twilight of his career at 37, but was a calming influence on the Boro side. He was intelligent on the ball and what he had lost in pace, he made up for with his head. A highlight of his spell at Broadhall Way was his thunderous strike away at Aldershot in the FA Trophy.

Paul Barrowcliff

Part of the successful midfield partnership which led Boro to the league title. Barrowcliff was the creative spark in the Boro midfield until moving on to Brentford in 1997.

George Boyd

What can you say about George Boyd? One of the most gifted players to ever play for Boro. Started out at Charlton before being picked up by the club’s EFCO scheme. Boyd spent nearly 5 years at the Hertfordshire club improving every year before finally moving to League 2 side Peterborough United. Boyd left Peterborough in 2010 to join Nottingham Forest on loan.

Simon Wormull

Simon Wormull came to Stevenage in 2001 and scored 9 goals from 73 appearances. The right winger was an expert from set pieces before moving on to Crawley Town.

Dave Venables

Venables was another important member of the title winning side of 1996. His bursts down the right led to many Boro goals down the years until he left in 1997.

Tony Lynch

He was either absolutely brilliant or a total donkey, but Tony Lynch’s contribution to the Boro title winning side is enough to get him into having “legendary” status at Broadhall Way.

Adrian Clarke

Adrian Clarke signed for Boro in the summer of 2000 after impressing then boss Paul Fairclough over pre-season. “Clarkey” was a huge hit with the Boro faithful before unfortunately moving on to Margate in 2002 after a falling out with manager Wayne Turner.

Steve Guppy

Signed just after the start of the 2006/2007 season along with Steve Morison and was a massive success at Boro. Showed his class and stamped his experience on a young side who then went on and won the FA Trophy at Wembley.

Steve Morison

“Moro” joined Stevenage from Bishop’s Stortford in 2006 and was an instant success with the Broadhall Way crowd due to his hard working performances and prolific goalscoring record. Morison made 152 appearances for Boro, scoring 89 goals. He left Stevenage after 3 years at the club to join Millwall for £160k.

Corey Browne

Corey Browne formed a deadly partnership with Hayles after moving to Hertfordshire from Dover Athletic midway through the 1995/1996 season. Browne wasn’t as prolific as Hayles, but was imperative during the run in for the title. Browne left Boro to join Slough Town before a brief return to Stevenage in 2000 under Paul Fairclough.

Guiliano Grazioli

“Graz” was only at Boro on loan during the 1997/1998 season. In the short time he was here though Grazioli grabbed crucial goals which led to Boro playing Newcastle in the 4th Round of the FA Cup. Grazioli recently retired due to an eye injury.

Carl Alford

Carl Alford was Boro’s nemesis before joining the club in 1998 from Rushden & Diamonds on a free transfer. Alford had cost the Diamonds £85,000 just a year earlier. “Carlo” was a goal machine while at Boro who had finally replaced Barry Hayles who had departed a year earlier.

Martin Gittings

Due to popular demand, Martin Gittings has been added to the ‘Boro Legends’ page. After nearly 400 appearances over 4 different spells, Gittings scored 209 goals, a record that has still to be beaten. He left the club in 1995 to join Hitchin Town.

Leo Fortune-West

Leo Fortune-West was only at Broadhall Way for a short time, but he helped significantly to keep Boro in the Conference in the 1994/1995 season. He then moved on to Gillingham for £5,000.

Barry Hayles

Arguably Boro’s greatest ever player. Hayles used to be able to destroy teams on his own at times and top scored in Boro’s title winning season in 1996 with 34 goals. Moved onto Bristol Rovers in 1997 before enjoying a spell in the Premier League with Fulham.

Dino Maamria

One of the more controversial figures to wear the Boro shirt. Maamria joined the club initially in 2003 and was an important member of the squad that survived relegation that season. He briefly went to the USA, but returned to Boro and was the hero in the 2004/2005 play-offs. He is now a coach at the club along with Graham Westley and John Dreyer.

Anthony Elding

“Eldinho” as he was known had a pretty impressive record while at Stevenage. He joined the club in 2003 with Boro fighting to survive the drop from the Conference. His goals were important as Boro crawled away from the relegation zone. Elding scored 57 goals in 126 appearances while at Broadhall Way. He left in 2006 to join Kettering Town and has since played for Leeds, Crewe and now Ferencvaros of Hungary.

If you have any players in mind that you think should be included in the “Legends” list then either comment below or email me at fcboro@hotmail.co.uk