You Can Stick Mark Stimson Up Yer Arse!!

While we are on the subject of Stevenage, I would like to tell you a bit about their manager - our old manager, Mark Stimson. Yes, fair play to the guy- he got us promoted to the Conference, finishing 3rd in our first season and we won the F.A. Trophy two years on a trot. But this guy is a bit of tosser. We had just won the FA trophy, again! Reached the play-offs - only being narrowly defeated in the semis by Halifax. Then Mark Stimson announces he is gonna resign- which was a bit of a kick in the teeth. But we all wished him the best and understood that he would like to manage a league team. There were rumours that he was gonna take over at Millwall, in-fact he seemed a popular choice amongst the Millwall faithful. Instead of going to a league team he joined conference rivals Stevenage. In a BBC interview, just after he left us he said;
"I would like to manage a team in the Football League. I'd like to either be there or with a club who can get there. Grays can be a League side but that will take time, I think this year we had a great chance because of the start we made. "
Now, to me that sounds as though he didn't think we can make the league yet but he thinks Stevenage, a team that finished below us last season, can make it! (no wonder why we didn't keep our good spell last season, he didn't have faith in us!)The only other explanation was that no one else wanted him so he had to go to Stevenage- either way, he is a tosser.

So well done Stimson, you have surpassed yourself- You are now with a team in The FA Trophy final and are chasing a play off place - same shit, different team. What a tosser!

Stevo Scum.

Stevenage 2 Grays 1 (FA Trophy Semi-Final 2nd Leg)

I woke up very early for a Saturday and nervously made way to The Bull for a bit of dutch courage. there were a couple of other Grays supporters in there and they seemed confident we would beat Stevenage, why is it that when other, older fans think we are gonna win ,does it make you better? A swift half in The Traitors Gate and I was off on my way to Stevenage. As usual, the train to London was delayed and packed! I got to Fenchurch Street and realised I was not gonna make kick-off. The Circle Line was playing up so jumped in a taxi to Kings Cross (£15!!!). I caught the 14:34 - I read somewhere that the train only took 20 minutes, but not this one.

I got to the ground and was waiting for a steward to escort me through the home supporters to the away end. Standing there, It sounded as though we were winning- all I could here was the mighty Grays! On Borochat the Stevo fans are saying that we didn't sing!?! Knob ends !!. The steward informed me that it was 0-0, Shit- we weer already 1-0 down due to a lucky Stevo goal in the 1st leg, we really need an early goal here!

There were quite a lot in the Grays end and they were in full voice- the atmosphere was wicked. we were dominating the game- Stevenage were shit and at half-time everyone was confident that we could win this! I had a coffee (I hate footie ground coffee!) and a burger and went back to my seat.

A few minutes in from half time Tonkin to Oli to Rhodes- GOAL!!!!!!! The was a massive cheer in the Grays end and you could see us all doing a double take and thinking 'shit, we're are gonna win this!' and cheering over again. We were playing well for the rest of the second half and another goal was surely inevitable.

The Match went into extra time and the nerves were starting to get to us, so we used all our nervous energy on singing and shouting. Then as reached down to find my fags I heard a big cheer and saw the other stands cheering- Shit, they scored. We all looked at each other in disbelief and started singing again- we can still win this. If we can just score another goal we can force this game to penalties.

I saw that something was happening at the other end of the pitch but couldn't work out what. It turned out that Stuart thurgood was being sent off- Bollocks! We were still in the game though and the Stevenage fans were whistling for full time- then out of nowhere Stevo put the final nail in our coffin, they scored in the last minute!

Whilst I and every other Grays fan is feeling a bit gutted, we can now concentrate on staying in the conference. After months of not getting it right, our players had gelled properly for the first time and played amazing football. Even Stevenage would have to admit they were lucky (and they have seemed to have luck on their side this season rather than good football- although their goalie is amazing). Most other conference sides would not have been able to keep up with the level of skill and quality our boys showed. If we can play like that in the league- we should end at least mid table.

Stevenage are unlikely to beat Kidderminster in the final and I don't think they have the quality to succeed in the play-offs. I want Morecambe to to be promoted.