# 2023–24 Stevenage F.C. season

The 2023–24 season is the 48th season in the history of Stevenage and their first season back in League One since the 2013–14 season following their promotion from League Two in the previous season. The club are participating in League One, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the 2023–24 EFL Trophy.

## Current squad

    As of 7 March 2024
| No. | Name | Position | Place of birth | Date of birth (Age) | Previous club | Date signed | Fee | Contract end |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Taye Ashby-Hammond | GK | Richmond | (1999-03-21) 21 March 1999 (age 25) | Fulham | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 12 | Craig MacGillivray | GK | Perth | (1993-01-12) 12 January 1993 (age 32) | Milton Keynes Dons | 18 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 50 | Max Woodford | GK | | | Academy | 11 November 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2026 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 2 | Luther James-Wildin | RB | Leicester | (1997-12-03) 3 December 1997 (age 27) | Nuneaton Borough | 1 July 2018 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 3 | Dan Butler | LB | Cowes | (1994-08-26) 26 August 1994 (age 30) | Peterborough United | 7 July 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 4 | Nathan Thompson | CB | Chester | (1990-11-09) 9 November 1990 (age 34) | Peterborough United | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 5 | Carl Piergianni | CB | Peterborough | (1992-05-03) 3 May 1992 (age 32) | Oldham Athletic | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 6 | Dan Sweeney | CB | Kingston upon Thames | (1994-04-25) 25 April 1994 (age 30) | Forest Green Rovers | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 14 | Kane Smith | RB | Luton | (1996-02-07) 7 February 1996 (age 29) | Boreham Wood | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 15 | Terence Vancooten | CB | Kingston upon Thames | (1997-12-29) 29 December 1997 (age 27) | Reading | 18 July 2017 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 17 | Finley Burns | CB | Southwark | (2003-07-17) 17 July 2003 (age 21) | Manchester City | 1 August 2023 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 22 | Nesta Guinness-Walker | LB | Twickenham | (1999-09-14) 14 September 1999 (age 25) | Reading | 24 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| — | Owen Cochrane | RB | Huntingdon | (2004-09-03) 3 September 2004 (age 20) | Academy | 2 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 7 | Alex MacDonald | RM | Warrington | (1990-04-14) 14 April 1990 (age 34) | Gillingham | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 8 | Jake Forster-Caskey | CM | Southend-on-Sea | (1994-04-25) 25 April 1994 (age 30) | Charlton Athletic | 3 January 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 10 | Nick Freeman | CM | Stevenage | (1995-11-07) 7 November 1995 (age 29) | Wycombe Wanderers | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 11 | Jordan Roberts | LM | Watford | (1994-01-05) 5 January 1994 (age 31) | Motherwell | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 18 | Harvey White | DM | Maidstone | (2001-09-19) 19 September 2001 (age 23) | Tottenham Hotspur | 2 September 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 23 | Louis Thompson | CM | Bristol | (1994-12-19) 19 December 1994 (age 30) | Portsmouth | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 24 | Ben Thompson | CM | Sidcup | (1995-10-03) 3 October 1995 (age 29) | Peterborough United | 28 June 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 9 | Elliott List | RW | Camberwell | (1997-05-12) 12 May 1997 (age 27) | Gillingham | 31 August 2019 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 19 | Jamie Reid | CF | Torquay | (1994-07-15) 15 July 1994 (age 30) | Mansfield Town | 13 July 2021 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 20 | Aaron Pressley | CF | Edinburgh | (2001-11-07) 7 November 2001 (age 23) | Brentford | 2 August 2023 | Compensation | 30 June 2025 |
| 29 | Kane Hemmings | CF | Burton upon Trent | (1991-04-08) 8 April 1991 (age 33) | Tranmere Rovers | 2 September 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 33 | Vadaine Oliver | CF | Sheffield | (1991-10-21) 21 October 1991 (age 33) | Bradford City | 17 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 42 | Theo Alexandrou | CF | | | Academy | 29 August 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 44 | Makise Evans | CF | | (2006-08-20) 20 August 2006 (age 18) | Academy | 13 November 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| Out on Loan ||||||||||
| 16 | Harry Anderson | RM | Chertsey | (1997-01-09) 9 January 1997 (age 28) | Bristol Rovers | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 41 | Rylee Mitchell | GK | | | Academy | 5 September 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 43 | David Hicks | CM | | (2006-05-02) 2 May 2006 (age 18) | Academy | 29 August 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2025 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred from | Fee |
| 28 June 2023 | CM | Ben Thompson | Peterborough United | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 2023 | RM | Harry Anderson | Bristol Rovers | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | GK | Taye Ashby-Hammond | Fulham | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | CM | Nick Freeman | Wycombe Wanderers | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | RM | Alex MacDonald | Gillingham | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | CM | Louis Thompson | Portsmouth | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | CB | Nathan Thompson | Peterborough United | Free Transfer |
| 7 July 2023 | LB | Dan Butler | Peterborough United | Undisclosed |
| 2 August 2023 | CF | Aaron Pressley | Brentford | Compensation |
| 14 August 2023 | LB | Reece Hannam | Crystal Palace | Free Transfer |
| 2 September 2023 | CF | Kane Hemmings | Tranmere Rovers | Free Transfer |
| 2 September 2023 | DM | Harvey White | Tottenham Hotspur | Undisclosed |

### Out

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred to | Fee |
| 14 June 2023 | CF | Danny Rose | Grimsby Town | Undisclosed |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | Michael Bostwick | Boston United | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | LB | Max Clark | Gillingham | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CF | Luke Norris | Tranmere Rovers | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | GK | Adam Przybek | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Jake Reeves | AFC Wimbledon | Free Transfer |
| 30 June 2023 | DM | Jack Smith | King's Lynn Town | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Jake Taylor | Eastleigh | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | LB | Sam Tinubu | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | Mackye Townsend-West | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Alfie Williams | Free agent | Released |
| 21 July 2023 | CF | Finlay Johnson | Cardiff City | Compensation |
| 1 September 2023 | CF | Josh March | Harrogate Town | Undisclosed |
| 1 February 2024 | LB | Reece Hannam | Free agent | Mutual Consent |

### Loaned in

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned from | Until |
| 21 July 2023 | GK | Krisztián Hegyi | West Ham United | 3 January 2024 |
| 1 August 2023 | CB | Finley Burns | Manchester City | End of Season |
| 14 August 2023 | CM | Harrison Neal | Sheffield United | 3 January 2024 |
| 1 September 2023 | CF | Charlie McNeill | Manchester United | 3 January 2024 |
| 17 January 2024 | CF | Vadaine Oliver | Bradford City | End of Season |
| 18 January 2024 | GK | Craig MacGillivray | Milton Keynes Dons | End of Season |
| 24 January 2024 | LB | Nesta Guinness-Walker | Reading | End of Season |
* ↑ On 3 January, Hegyi returned to West Ham United early from his season-long loan.
* ↑ On 3 January, Neal returned to Sheffield United early from his season-long loan.
* ↑ On 3 January, McNeill returned to Manchester United early from his season-long loan.

### Loaned out

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned to | Until |
| 31 July 2023 | RB | Owen Cochrane | Kettering Town | 20 November 2023 |
| 2 October 2023 | CF | Theo Alexandrou | Cheshunt | 30 October 2023 |
| 21 November 2023 | RB | Owen Cochrane | Aveley | 2 January 2024 |
| 26 January 2024 | RM | Harry Anderson | Colchester United | End of Season |
| 26 January 2024 | CM | David Hicks | Potters Bar Town | 24 February 2024 |
| 31 January 2024 | GK | Rylee Mitchell | Potters Bar Town | 28 February 2024 |
| 29 March 2024 | GK | Rylee Mitchell | Royston Town | End of Season |
* ↑ On 20 November, Cochrane was recalled back from his loan at Kettering.

## Pre-season and friendlies

On 30 May, Stevenage announced their first pre-season friendly, against Watford. A second friendly match was confirmed on June 5, against Ipswich Town. A day later three away pre-season fixtures was added to the schedule, against St Neots Town, Hitchin Town and Stamford. On 1 July, Boro announced two further friendlies, against Colchester United and a Tottenham Hotspur XI.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

## Competitions
### Overall record

| Competition | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| League One | Matchday 1 | | 43 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 53 | 42 | +11 | 041.86 |
| FA Cup | First round | Third round | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 8 | +0 | 025.00 |
| EFL Cup | First round | Second round | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +0 | 000.00 |
| EFL Trophy | Group stage | Group stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 033.33 |
| Total | Total | Total | 52 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 69 | 56 | +13 | 038.46 |
Last updated: 9 April 2024 Source: Soccerway

### League One
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 6 | Barnsley | 46 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 82 | 64 | +18 | 76 | Qualified for League One play-offs |
| 7 | Lincoln City | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 65 | 40 | +25 | 74 | |
| 8 | Blackpool | 46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 65 | 48 | +17 | 73 | |
| 9 | Stevenage | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 57 | 46 | +11 | 71 | |
| 10 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 60 | 55 | +5 | 65 | |
| 11 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 53 | 55 | −2 | 65 | |
| 12 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 63 | 56 | +7 | 62 | |
* ↑ On 19 May 2023, Wigan Athletic were deducted four points for failing to pay players and staff on time following previous EFL rules breaches in the 2022–23 season. Another four-point deduction was applied on 26 May, after the club's owners missed a deadline to deposit an amount equalling 125% of its monthly wage bill.

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 19 April 2024. Source: Soccerway

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 27$^2$ | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 25$^1$ | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 29$^3$ | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H |
| Result | W | W | W | L | D | W | D | D | W | L | L | W | L | D | D | W | W | W | W | D | W | D | L | W | L | W | W | W | L | D | L | L | W | W | D | D | L | L | D | D | D | L | W | L | D | W |
| Position | 9 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
* $^1$ Matchday 25 (vs Cambridge United) was postponed due to a local area power cut.
* $^2$ Matchday 27 (vs Reading) was postponed due to FA Cup involvement.
* $^3$ Matchday 29 (vs Barnsley) was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

#### Matches

On 22 June, the EFL League One fixtures were released.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### FA Cup

Stevenage were drawn at home to Tranmere Rovers in the first round and to either Port Vale or Burton Albion in the second round. On 14 November, Port Vale won their replay 2–0 and were confirmed as the next opponents.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Cup

Stevenage were drawn at home to Watford in the first round and away to Exeter City in the second round.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Trophy

Stevenage were drawn into Southern Group C, alongside AFC Wimbledon, Wycombe Wanderers and Crystal Palace U21.
| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | L1 | Wycombe Wanderers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 9 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | L2 | AFC Wimbledon | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 5 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | L1 | Stevenage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 4 | |
| 4 | ACA | Crystal Palace U21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | −6 | 0 | |
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures