“We’ve punched well since coming up, and staying mid-table again shows we belong at this level”

Reece Donnelly reflects on Stevenage’s season

Jun 22, 2025

Sunday 22 June 2025

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THE SCARF MY FATHER WORE 2025-26 CALENDAR: Having been to all 56 County games this season, I’ve taken thousands of photos. I’ve put together calendars for next season, featuring some of my favourite photos from the last year, plus some other County bits and bobs. £10 each. Get in touch if you’d like one.

Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Stevenage supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Sunday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.

Our penultimate 2024-25 season review takes us down to Stevenage, where Reece Donnelly gives us the lowdown on his side’s campaign.

As you can see from the photos above, I was at Broadhall Way in December. I was also at Edgeley Park for the return fixture in April. In fact, for the first time in my life, I’ve been to every single County game this season – all 56 of them! I’ve written a book about my adventures this season. If you’d like to support the publication by having your name printed in the book (along with a signed copy and a ticket to the book launch) drop me an email.

Today’s edition is sponsored by Parkers Solicitors Ltd. A big thank you to Adam and all the team. If you’ve been injured in an accident and would like to discuss the matter further, call 0161 477 9451 or email info@parkers-solicitors.co.uk.

Thanks also to Our Mutual Friend who sponsor our Stevenage content on the website.

Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.

Total distance so far: 253.75 miles

Total steps so far: 418,084

Total raised so far: £2,312

Total completed streets so far: 474 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)

Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.

Des Junior

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A superb win for Stevenage at Wrexham in January (Photo credit: Stevenage FC)

Best moment of 2024-25?

I think you’d be hard pushed not to say Wrexham away, going to one of the best sides in the league and just teaching them an absolute lesson in the first half. Best 45 I’ve ever seen us play.

Worst moment of 2024-25?

We lost 2-0 at home to rock bottom Cambridge early on in the autumn having built a lot of momentum by beating Wrexham and Charlton in our previous two home games. That was a chastening reality check.

Funniest moment of 2024-25?

Our centre-back Dan Sweeney coming on up front and scoring with his first touch in the last minute to get us a point in our last home game of the season. Gold.

The Birmingham Boasters and the Wrexham Wazzocks seem to have annoyed a lot of fans in League One this season. Which one are you most glad to see the back of?

Birmingham. They took everything as an insult. Very self absorbed. Tactically didn’t find them interesting at all. Additionally them leaving allows a more balanced division quite frankly.

Reform have been making a lot of noise recently. Based on this season, what’s in most need of reform at Stevenage, on or off the pitch?

Our lack of goalscoring. A problem all season that just went on and on. It didn’t matter if we were dominating games or had just one chance to win it, we just couldn’t put the ball away confidently and consistently.

Four Four Two had you down to finish 19th, EFL pundit Gabriel Sutton thought you’d finish 12th, while the Opta supercomputer predicted you’d be 12th. You finished 14th. Discuss.

I think that’s about fair. We’ve punched well since coming up, and staying mid-table again shows we belong at this level. Small margins cost us maybe a couple of places, but it’s been steady progress. The media expectations were probably a bit safe – we’re better than the 19th talk, but not quite ready to knock on the top 10 door yet.

Stevenage 2 County 1 in December. County 3 Stevenage 0 in April. Thoughts?

Two games that showed how fine the margins can be. In December we were on it: aggressive, sharp, took our chances. In April we looked leggy and second best. Shows where we need to build a bit more depth going forward.

Best and worst away days of 2024-25?

Best: Wrexham. Again, just because of how good we were. Winning in the last minute at Barnsley was also sweet.

Worst: Crawley. We were taught a lesson by a side deep in a relegation battle. Exposed some gaping holes in our team.

Which Stevenage player is most deserving of his couple of weeks on the beach this summer?

Carl Piergianni. Led by example through a full season once again. Played through knocks – proper captain. Get him a sunbed and a cocktail.

Never mind Welcome to Wrexham on Disney+, a TV production company have just made Stevenage: The Story of 2024-25. Which channel would it be most suited for?

Channel 5. Bit gritty, bit chaotic, but loads of heart.

And finally, apologies for darkening the mood, but you’ve only got 30 seconds to live. Putin’s pressed the red button and we’re all about to die. You can have one last moment of pleasure, watching a single Stevenage goal from this season. What you sticking on?

I remember an incredible sense of relief when we deservedly scored a late winner at home to Northampton. Fanbase was getting a bit angsty, we were playing against ten men for over half the game, our manager Alex Revell had been sent off. It felt like a very big win at the time for everyone. I went mental just through pure relief.

➡️ Any Stevenage fans joining us today? As stated above, I’ve written a book having watched every County game home and away this season. There’s obviously two big chapters on Stevenage included (home and away). Also, as I celebrated my 40th birthday this season, I’ve written about my four decades as a County fan as well, which I’m hoping will be an enjoyable read for anyone who supports a lower league club. There’s memories of beating four Premier League clubs as County reached the Coca-Cola Cup semi-finals in 1996-97, the club’s rise from the National League North to the brink of the Championship over the last few years, and the tale of a trip to Blackpool 20 years ago when me and my mates had a run-in with armed police after a day on the ale…

If you’d like to support the book, click on the link below to become a paid subscriber and I’ll post you a signed copy with your name printed inside once it’s published.

Have you suffered an injury as a result of another person’s negligence?

If the answer to that question is yes, then you may have a claim for compensation for personal injury.

Parkers Solicitors have extensive experience in dealing with different types of personal injury claims, such as the following:

Road Traffic Accidents
Accidents at Work
Clinical Negligence
Accidents in Public Places
Medical and Clinical Negligence

➡️ For further details visit parkers-solicitors.co.uk.

Photo of the day

Broadhall Way, Stevenage

There were loads of fans in fancy dress in the away end at Stevenage back in December. Plus a cheeky little Neil Holland.

Today in SK

🍴 Food and drink

Enjoy a delicious Sunday roast at The Crown (SK2) or The Three Tunnes (SK7) with homemade Yorkshire puddings and all the trimmings. Served till 6pm.

A number of venues are featured on The Scarf My Father Wore such as The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Crown Inn (SK6), and The Cross Keys (SK8) and Flute & Firkin (SK12). Pop in for some food or a few drinks today.