2nd Round Proper Stevenage FC V Stourbridge FC

I want to thank Delicious Industries for they have designed a new logo (see above) for The Giant Killing Adventure. If you like their work, click on the following link to see what else they offer http://www.deliciousindustries.com/

Since my last posting our blog has got stronger. We have received over 10,000 page views since the Extra Preliminary Round game between St Helens Town and Ashton Athletic back on the 17^th August 2013 (the first tributary to our river to Wembley).

Now it is the 2^nd Round Proper of the FA Cup 2013/14, and in this round teams from the Football League’s Sky Bet League One and Sky Bet League Two are still the biggest draws.  We have teams that are at least 2 divisions lower than the Premiership big boys and the ties are National.

The FA Cup draw on Sunday 10^th November was painful to watch.  I had a cold; I had a stinking hangover; I’d somehow managed to get so drunk during my unsuccessful date that I remember getting into a taxi, but I don’t remember getting out of one – signs of a good night. I sat and waited impatiently for Stourbridge to be drawn out of the ‘hat’ and it took until the very last blinking ball before I heard their name.  

Our winner Stourbridge FC from the 1st Round Proper had drawn an away tie against Stevenage FC.  40 teams will fight it out during this round.   

V

In the 1940s Stevenage was re-designated as a new town and its population started to grow. It is situated 30 miles north of London, in Hertfordshire.

Steve Coogan fans may be familiar with Stevenage because it is the location of the BCC sitcom Saxondale. 

  

Stevenage FC can trace their roots back to as early as 1884, but it wasn’t until 1896 that Stevenage Wanderers FC and Stevenage Rovers FC combined to become Stevenage Town FC – the team colours of red and white were established at this point in the club’s history. In 1968 due to massive debts the club folded and was replaced by Stevenage Athletic FC – this club also folded and in 1976 the current Stevenage FC was created.        

They pay in the Sky Bet League One which is 4 leagues higher than Stourbridge FC.  Stevenage FC are in 19^th position with 17 points from 18 games. The club has enjoyed some recent good runs in the FA Cup. They played Premiership side Newcastle and held them to a home draw in the 1997/98 campaign, before losing in the replay 2-1 away at Newcastle. In 2009/10 they secured a 3-1 home victory in the 3^rd Round Proper of the competition against Newcastle. In 2010/11 they reached the 5^th Round Proper of the competition and lost away to Premiership side Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 in a replay.        

In 2011/12 Stevenage FC knocked Stourbridge FC out of the competition in the 2^nd Round Proper of the competition.  The score was 3-0 to Stevenage FC and history has brought these two rivals back together again, in the same round, in the same location (I've been reliably informed by a reader that the last game was actually at Stourbridge FC, so thanks for correcting my deliberate mistake - I was checking to see if people were reading properly ;). 

Stourbridge FC plays in the Southern Calor League - Premier Division.  Stourbridge are currently in 7th position with 28 points from 15 games. 

Stevenage FC will be favourites for the game as they are in the higher division; playing at home and they won the last encounter between the two teams – however, the FC Cup may think differently and we will find out on Saturday 7^th December 2013. 

I welcome all fans to our Giant Killing Adventure facebook page https://www.facebook.com/thegiantkillingadventure

Since my unsuccessful date after the previous Stourbridge game I went on another date in Manchester but she didn’t turn up (which makes the first one a success in comparison) and I had a girl round my house last Saturday (also an unsuccessful date, so the search continues).  

As you can see from the map, we are travelling downwards 116 Miles from The War Memorial Athletic Ground (home to Stourbridge FC) to The Lamex Stadium (home to Stevenage FC).  Our FA Cup journey has travelled 899 miles in eight rounds from its current home in Wigan to Stevenage via Ashton, Curzon, Crosby, Curzon, Lancaster, Stourbridge, Workington and Stourbridge.