Our comprehensive guide to Saturday's game
Stevenage v Luton TownSky Bet League 2
Saturday 4th October 2014, kick-off 3pm
Live commentary on Hatters Player, DiverseFM, BBC3CR and lutontown.co.uk
• Hatters unbeaten in four games; not conceded in 382 minutes
• Stevenage 13th in table; not conceded in last two
• Head2Head: Town wins: 3, Stevenage wins: 1, Draws: 0
WHO? Stevenage FC, aka Boro, although the club dropped the ‘Borough’ from their name following their promotion to the Football League at the end of the 2009/10 season. Under Graham Westley – who is now in charge for a second spell – the club were promoted in their first season in the League, beating Torquay in the League 2 Play-Offs. Boro then reached the League 1 Play-Offs in their first season at that level, only to lose to Sheffield United. Westley left Stevenage in 2012 for Preston but returned in March 2013, however the club were relegated last season after finishing bottom of League 1.
WHERE? Boro play their home fixtures at Broadhall Way, aka The Lamex Stadium and have done since it was opened in 1980. The ground failed to meet Football League capacity requirements when the club won the Conference title in 1996 and were subsequently denied promotion. These days the stadium holds 6,722 – half of which is seated. Town supporters have been allocated just under 2,000 seats for this match, the majority of which are behind the goal in South Stand which offers an unobstructed view of the action.
HOW TO GET THERE. Town followers’ shortest trip of the season consists of half-an-hour journey – some 16.4 miles from Kenilworth Road to the Lamex Stadium car park. For the sat-nav savvy the postcode is SG2 8RH. There is a large car park at the ground, whilst the adjacent Roaring Meg retail park only offers parking for 90 minutes, otherwise you could face a £100 fine. For those catching the train, the ground is a mile walk from the station. You can also go by coach, with the Bobbers, who depart Luton train station at 1pm. Fares are £12 for adults and £10 concessions. Call 01234 856542 to book.
TICKETS PLEASE! The Town’s 1,900 allocation was sold-out within a week of going on sale. The game is all-ticket with none available on the turnstile.
PARKING, ON THE DAY, IN THE GROUND. Stevenage have put together this FAQ aimed specifically at Hatters fans. Definitely worth a read.
HAVEN’T WE MET BEFORE? The Town travel to Broadhall Way aiming to preserve a 100 per cent winning record at the Hertfordshire venue having won on all three of their previous visits. A Matthew Barnes-Homer goal have the Hatters all three points in the two clubs’ last meeting in April 2010. The Town also won twice in the LDV Vans Trophy in successive seasons in 2002 and 2003. Ahmet Brkovic netted a five-minute hat-trick in the 4-3 win in 2002.
DON’T MENTION. Ground regulations. Boro were refused entry to the Football League because the Broadhall Way capacity did not been the criteria after their Conference title win in 1996.
DO MENTION. Conference Championships (won twice). FA Trophy finals – Boro won the first-ever competitive match at the rebuilt Wembley).
OLD BOYS NETWORK. Both clubs have one players who has represented both clubs. Andy Drury, now in his second spell at Kenilworth Road, originally joined the Town from Stevenage at the beginning of the 2010/11 campaign. Boro, meanwhile, have Ronnie Henry in their ranks, the right-back who lifted the Conference title for the Town last year. The right-back is in his second spell at Broadhall Way having left Boro for Kenilworth Road in the summer of 2012.
THIS TIME ROUND. Stevenage’s relegation from League 1 last term made Westley’s side one of the favourites for promotion this season. However, Boro have endured an inconsistent start to the campaign having won four, drawn two and lost four of their nine games. They began the season with a 1-0 win over Hartlepool. Three games with a win followed before an impressive 3-2 win at AFC Wimbledon. Boro then lost 3-2 at home to York, then beat Shrewsbury, lost at Bury, drew 0-0 at Oxford, before beating Mansfield 3-0 at the Lamex last Saturday.
REF WATCH. Whistler Tony Harrington, from Cleveland, takes charge of his ninth match of the season on Saturday having already brandished 21 yellow cards in eight matches. Seven were shown in the last match he oversaw, the Championship encounter between Leeds and Reading on Tuesday. Tony last officiated a Town game back in March 2012 and showed John Paul Kissock a red card in the Hatters’ 2-0 defeat at Wrexham
TOWN TEAM NEWS. The Town could have several players back in contention after a number made reappearances for the development squad in the week. Alex Lawless and Paul Benson both played in that win over Gillingham on Tuesday and could be involved. Luke Rooney, Paul Connolly, Andy Parry and Fraser Franks are definitely ruled out.
AWAY THE LADS. The Hatters will be sporting their orange and blue striped away shirt for the first time at Stevenage.
LIVE AND ONLINE. Hatters Player is the only place to listen to online commentary of the Hatters this season and once again the DiverseFM team will be bringing subscribers all the action from Broadhall Way. What’s more there will be a full report, reaction and photographs post-match and live text updates during the match itself.
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