Stevenage reaping the rewards gained by sticking by their Manager

The re-appointment of former manager Graham Westley in the summer of 2007 was greeted with uproar by most Stevenage supporters. Westley, during his first stint in charge, had not been able to provide the one thing that all Boro supporters dreamt about and that was a place in the Football League. His three-and-a-half year reign came to a subsequent end when Westley decided to end his tenure leaving Stevenage stuck in the Fourth tier of English Football.

After a two year absence Westley regained control of the Hertfordshire-based club, claiming that he had come to “finish the job he started” – in reference to trying to guide Stevenage into the Football League. Westley’s re-appointment was met with scepticism by a majority of fans, as they questioned, why go back to a man who had failed to deliver in the first place? But his promises to deliver a winning team, kept the supporters just about on board.

How right they were to stick by a manager that would not only lead the club into the Football League, but guide Stevenage to back-to-back promotions.

Westley made a habit of retaining competitive squads and going into the 2009/10 campaign, Stevenage, perhaps for the first time, had assembled a squad capable of pushing for promotion, how it turned out would be start of a revolutionary assault on the Football League.  

Stevenage were promoted as Conference Champions with two games to spare and the previously unfancied Westley had written his name in Stevenage folk law by becoming the first manager to guide the club into the Football League. His two years back at the helm had delivered an astonishing 70 wins in 114 games with two FA Trophy finals and a promotion. The scepticism had been replaced with optimism as the club looked to cement their place in the third tier of English Football.

Along with an FA Cup giant-killing of Newcastle United at Broadfield Way, 2010/11 was another memorable season for Stevenage. The victory over the Premier League side was the first time the club had ever beaten top flight opposition, and although FA Cup runs can have a negative impact on a club’s league form, Stevenage combined both to reach the League Two play-offs and the FA Cup fourth round in an exceptional introduction into the Football League.  

Remarkably, Stevenage overcame Torquay United in the Final to clinch back-to-back promotions under Westley who was now adored by all Boro supporters. The rise into League One is an example of what can be achieved when a club sticks by a manager who originally may not have been considered the best choice. The question is, with Stevenage fans no longer sceptical about the man in charge, can they divert attention away from the bigger club’s?