The history of football in Stevenage dates back to 1884, and a meeting at Stevenage Public Hall in Orchard Road on Friday, September 19.
More than 20 people - members of Stevenage Cricket Club - attended, and Stevenage Football Club was founded. The Reverend William Jowitt became President, while the first Club Captain was Herbert Salmon.
Stevenage FC wore amber and black caps, with white shirts and white knickerbockers. They played their matches at Stevenage Cricket Club - around where Stevenage Leisure Centre is now located.
History was made on Saturday, October 18, with the very first recorded football match in Stevenage - with the newly-formed club losing 5-2 to Biggleswade FC. In the ensuing year, all of the club's matches continued to be friendlies - there was no suitable league for them to compete in.
However, in December 1885 the local press included its last report on Stevenage FC - the club effectively ceased to exist at this moment.
It would be almost another decade until football in Stevenage was revived. On Tuesday, November 6 1894, a meeting was called at the refreshment rooms at Stevenage railway station. The Reverend E. B. Skinner chaired the meeting, and proposed that a club called Stevenage Town Football Club be formed. The Reverend William Jowitt was again appointed as president.
Around the same time, a second club was formed - Stevenage Rovers Football Club. The first ever Stevenage derby took place - with Town as the home team - on February 23 1895. Rovers won 8-0.
Then, in September 1895, Stevenage Town elected to rename themselves Stevenage Wanderers. They also changed their team colours to dark blue and light blue shirts. Shortly after, the Wanderers made Stevenage Cricket Club their home ground.
A further AGM was held at Stevenage's Lyric Hall in August 1896, and the Rovers and the Wanderers amalgamated - they became Stevenage Town FC again.
The ensuing 1896-97 season saw, for the first time, a Stevenage team compete in an organised league - the North Herts League, after joining the North Herts FA. The club also ran a reserve team for the first time.
Stevenage Town's highest ever victory came in that very first competitive season, with a 17-0 win over Hitchin St Saviour's on Boxing Day 1896.
While Stevenage Rovers and Wanderers had amalgamated, Stevenage retained a second team with the launch of Stevenage Post Office FC. Stevenage Town remained the senior club, and became affiliated to the Hertfordshire FA.
Not content with just a reserve team, Stevenage Town elected to form a reserve team at a meeting on July 22 1897 in the Lyric Hall - Stevenage Wednesday, who would play their fixtures on Wednesday afternoons. Stevenage Town FC moved for the 1897/98 season to the Fisher's Green Enclosure.
During the 1898-99 season, Stevenage Post Office FC became Stevenage United FC. Around October 1898, Stevenage Town relocated to the Walkern Road Enclosure.
Another Stevenage team emerged in January 1899, named Stevenage New Town Rovers.
In 1900-01 season, Stevenage Town used the old cricket ground - the cricket club having moved to their current ground near King George V playing fields. It was in that season that they first occupied the London Road ground.
At the end of the 1899-1900 season, Stevenage Town decided to pull out of the Herts County League due to it costing too much.
For 1901-02, Stevenage Town joined a revised Herts County League Northern Division.
Stevenage United seem to have folded around the summer of 1902. But September 1902 saw yet another new Stevenage team - Stevenage Church Lads Brigade.
In August 1903, a meeting was held to form the Wednesday Football Club. They would play in shirts with chocolate and amber stripes, at the Town FC football ground, located at the rear of Brook's Orchard and known as Seven Acre.
For the 1904-05 season, for the first time, Stevenage Church Lads Brigade and Stevenage New Town Rovers joined the Herts FA. The Stevenage Bunyan Institute team was also formed for this season.
William Wadsworth was Stevenage FC's first chairman (WHEN?) and was likely the man who made the decision that the club should play in red and white stripes.
In September 1906, Stevenage Church Lads Brigade and Stevenage Young Churchman's Guild combined to form Stevenage Church United FC.
In the 1906-07 season, there were two midweek teams - Stevenage Wednesday FC and Stevenage Early Closing FC.
As of summer 1907, Stevenage New Town Rovers were playing their home matches at Fishers Green Road.
December 11 1909 was the first match between Stevenage teams in a formal competition - Rovers beat Town 3-2 in the Herts Junior Cup at the Fishers Green Road ground.
In October 1910, the Herts FA met to discuss Stevenage Town's lack of payment. They suspended Stevenage Town, and no more was heard of them for the next ten years. In the meantime, Stevenage New Town Rovers became the senior club in the town.
As of September 1910, the New Town Rovers were playing at New Town Road.
Stevenage Unionist FC was elected to the Herts FA in September 1910.
Around 1911, we see two other Stevenage clubs playing friendly matches - Stevenage Juniors and Stevenage Red Cross United.
In summer 1911, Stevenage Unionist FC began a midweek team to go alongside their weekend team. Stevenage Unionist FC became the senior team in the town at this time.
For 1912-13, Stevenage Red Cross joined a league - the North Herts League. Until then, they had played at the grammar school ground.
LLOYD'S BOOK SHOWS HOW MANIC THIS PERIOD WAS WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT AND SIMILARLY NAMED WEEKEND AND WEDNESDAY TEAMS
Stevenage Red Cross continued for several years, playing their last game on September 26 1914. Football then finished with the coming of the First World War.
Stevenage Town was resurrected in 1919, taking their place in the North Herts Junior League. They continued for many years.
Shephall and Aston United were founded in 1921, and the 1922-23 season was their last.
1922-23 saw the foundation of a club named Stevenage Athletic. They joined a league for the 1923-24 season. They played at a venue in Sish Lane. Stevenage Wednesday also continued to exist at this time. 1927-28 would be the final season for Stevenage Athletic.
Stevenage Town folded in 1968, with Stevenage Athletic founded as a replacement. They themselves folded in 1976.
More than 20 people - members of Stevenage Cricket Club - attended, and Stevenage Football Club was founded. The Reverend William Jowitt became President, while the first Club Captain was Herbert Salmon.
Stevenage FC wore amber and black caps, with white shirts and white knickerbockers. They played their matches at Stevenage Cricket Club - around where Stevenage Leisure Centre is now located.
History was made on Saturday, October 18, with the very first recorded football match in Stevenage - with the newly-formed club losing 5-2 to Biggleswade FC. In the ensuing year, all of the club's matches continued to be friendlies - there was no suitable league for them to compete in.
However, in December 1885 the local press included its last report on Stevenage FC - the club effectively ceased to exist at this moment.
It would be almost another decade until football in Stevenage was revived. On Tuesday, November 6 1894, a meeting was called at the refreshment rooms at Stevenage railway station. The Reverend E. B. Skinner chaired the meeting, and proposed that a club called Stevenage Town Football Club be formed. The Reverend William Jowitt was again appointed as president.
Around the same time, a second club was formed - Stevenage Rovers Football Club. The first ever Stevenage derby took place - with Town as the home team - on February 23 1895. Rovers won 8-0.
Then, in September 1895, Stevenage Town elected to rename themselves Stevenage Wanderers. They also changed their team colours to dark blue and light blue shirts. Shortly after, the Wanderers made Stevenage Cricket Club their home ground.
A further AGM was held at Stevenage's Lyric Hall in August 1896, and the Rovers and the Wanderers amalgamated - they became Stevenage Town FC again.
The ensuing 1896-97 season saw, for the first time, a Stevenage team compete in an organised league - the North Herts League, after joining the North Herts FA. The club also ran a reserve team for the first time.
Stevenage Town's highest ever victory came in that very first competitive season, with a 17-0 win over Hitchin St Saviour's on Boxing Day 1896.
While Stevenage Rovers and Wanderers had amalgamated, Stevenage retained a second team with the launch of Stevenage Post Office FC. Stevenage Town remained the senior club, and became affiliated to the Hertfordshire FA.
Not content with just a reserve team, Stevenage Town elected to form a reserve team at a meeting on July 22 1897 in the Lyric Hall - Stevenage Wednesday, who would play their fixtures on Wednesday afternoons. Stevenage Town FC moved for the 1897/98 season to the Fisher's Green Enclosure.
During the 1898-99 season, Stevenage Post Office FC became Stevenage United FC. Around October 1898, Stevenage Town relocated to the Walkern Road Enclosure.
Another Stevenage team emerged in January 1899, named Stevenage New Town Rovers.
In 1900-01 season, Stevenage Town used the old cricket ground - the cricket club having moved to their current ground near King George V playing fields. It was in that season that they first occupied the London Road ground.
At the end of the 1899-1900 season, Stevenage Town decided to pull out of the Herts County League due to it costing too much.
For 1901-02, Stevenage Town joined a revised Herts County League Northern Division.
Stevenage United seem to have folded around the summer of 1902. But September 1902 saw yet another new Stevenage team - Stevenage Church Lads Brigade.
In August 1903, a meeting was held to form the Wednesday Football Club. They would play in shirts with chocolate and amber stripes, at the Town FC football ground, located at the rear of Brook's Orchard and known as Seven Acre.
For the 1904-05 season, for the first time, Stevenage Church Lads Brigade and Stevenage New Town Rovers joined the Herts FA. The Stevenage Bunyan Institute team was also formed for this season.
William Wadsworth was Stevenage FC's first chairman (WHEN?) and was likely the man who made the decision that the club should play in red and white stripes.
In September 1906, Stevenage Church Lads Brigade and Stevenage Young Churchman's Guild combined to form Stevenage Church United FC.
In the 1906-07 season, there were two midweek teams - Stevenage Wednesday FC and Stevenage Early Closing FC.
As of summer 1907, Stevenage New Town Rovers were playing their home matches at Fishers Green Road.
December 11 1909 was the first match between Stevenage teams in a formal competition - Rovers beat Town 3-2 in the Herts Junior Cup at the Fishers Green Road ground.
In October 1910, the Herts FA met to discuss Stevenage Town's lack of payment. They suspended Stevenage Town, and no more was heard of them for the next ten years. In the meantime, Stevenage New Town Rovers became the senior club in the town.
As of September 1910, the New Town Rovers were playing at New Town Road.
Stevenage Unionist FC was elected to the Herts FA in September 1910.
Around 1911, we see two other Stevenage clubs playing friendly matches - Stevenage Juniors and Stevenage Red Cross United.
In summer 1911, Stevenage Unionist FC began a midweek team to go alongside their weekend team. Stevenage Unionist FC became the senior team in the town at this time.
For 1912-13, Stevenage Red Cross joined a league - the North Herts League. Until then, they had played at the grammar school ground.
LLOYD'S BOOK SHOWS HOW MANIC THIS PERIOD WAS WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT AND SIMILARLY NAMED WEEKEND AND WEDNESDAY TEAMS
Stevenage Red Cross continued for several years, playing their last game on September 26 1914. Football then finished with the coming of the First World War.
Stevenage Town was resurrected in 1919, taking their place in the North Herts Junior League. They continued for many years.
Shephall and Aston United were founded in 1921, and the 1922-23 season was their last.
1922-23 saw the foundation of a club named Stevenage Athletic. They joined a league for the 1923-24 season. They played at a venue in Sish Lane. Stevenage Wednesday also continued to exist at this time. 1927-28 would be the final season for Stevenage Athletic.
Stevenage Town folded in 1968, with Stevenage Athletic founded as a replacement. They themselves folded in 1976.