The Stimson Effect

After years of disappointment, frustration and wallowing in the Conference wilderness, one of Non-League's greatest underachievers are finally starting to rekindle the championship credentials that have lain dormant for over a decade.

Since being controversially denied promotion back in 1996, Stevenage fans have seen their club's station amongst the Conference cream of the crop slowing diminish into a prolongation of heartache and mediocrity.

Despite the odd six game winning start to a season or narrow play off final defeat, Boro have seen the vast majority of their pre-season hopes and dreams predictably dwindle into the harsh realisation of yet another false dawn.

Plagued by bold and often outrageous predictions of glory from football pundits and bookmakers alike, Boro have continuously failed to match expectations whilst becoming the target of jokes amongst fans of their Conference rivals.

But the tide may be starting to turn back in favour of the Hertfordshire side.

Defying the inevitable pressures that have cost the jobs of so many of his predecessors, Mark Stimson surprised many last summer by leaving his role at Grays to take on arguably the most difficult job in Non-League football.

Touted as one of the game's brightest young managers, Stimson left behind his legacy of unprecedented success at the Essex club to pursue his own personal ambitions at Broadhall Way.

And it didn't take the 39 year old long to make his mark.

Putting behind them a below par start to the season, Boro went on to narrowly miss out on a play off place whilst simultaneously playing their way into the history books by taking part in first competitive match at the new Wembley Stadium.

Masterminding a miraculous comeback to clinch the club's first ever FA Trophy, Stimson broke Non-League records by becoming the first ever manager to win the competition three years running, whilst instantly securing hero status amongst the Stevenage populace.

Although Stimson's Trophy success secures his place in Boro history, it also guarantees that the bar of expectation will be raised another notch or two.

But so far so good for the former Spurs and Newcastle defender.

Tuesday's impressive victory at Droylsden didn't only consolidate Boro's 2nd place in the Conference table, it epitomized exactly what the club have been missing in recent years.

Such a clinical performance, away to the kind of side Boro have earned themselves a reputation for struggling against, demonstrates exactly the kind of character required for a promotion push.

Averaging a change of manager practically every two years, Stevenage have suffered the unavoidable consequences of lacking stability, with a new season usually signalling a radical change in personnel.

But for the first time in half a dozen years, Boro fans could look forward to the start of a new season in the knowledge that the club had retained the majority of the team that had given them that memorable day in May.

Just a handful of summer recruits have given an already talented Boro squad an additional injection of experience at the back and flair going forward.

Knowing that his team probably relied too heavily on striker Steve Morison last season, the Boro boss will be delighted to see both his midfield and defence already chipping in with their share of goals. And with five clean sheets on the bounce, Stimson's talented young squad look as capable at the back as they do going forward.

And not a minute too soon for Stevenage chairman Phil Wallace.

While some may consider the club's past success as overachievement, with the influx of relegated Football League clubs pushing Stevenage further down the Conference food chain, the Boro chief will point to investment both on and off the field as a clear indicator of the club's intent and ambition.

There's little doubt that Boro have the key infrastructure in place to launch an assault on the Football League.

Now it's in the hands of Stimson and his team to finally unlock that Boro potential.

Simon Downes