Neil Metcalfe
banner
npmetcalfe.bsky.social
Neil Metcalfe
@npmetcalfe.bsky.social
Freelance sports journalist, formerly for the Comet newspaper and more in Hertfordshire. Cover Stevenage FC and others. A cycling loving, Tottenham supporting Geordie from Hebburn.
Based on a similar issue in March 2024, I think this one equates to roughly £1.5m. I'm also guessing it is Phil Wallace that has put it in, the alternative is there is a mystery backer, which is a far more interesting story.
#UpTheBoro #HowayStevenage
December 8, 2025 at 5:06 PM
There's also an update on the cash injection at the club, or rather the lack of one. Club have decided not to give any confirmation either way so we're left with the basic facts that 45,000 new ordinary shares have been allocated.
#UpTheBoro #HowayStevenage
December 8, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Makes sense to go back to the back four. You are at home in a must win game, go more attacking and the option is there to switch it if need be. Very attacking bench too, as Revs like to have.
#UpTheBoro #HowayStevenage
December 2, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Team news for Stevenage v Walsall in the Vertu Trophy. This is the Boro line-up.
#UpTheBoro #HowayStevenage
December 2, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Like I've never been away. Stevenage v Walsall in the Vertu Trophy, report later in The Boro, reaction and ratings first thing tomorrow.
December 2, 2025 at 5:33 PM
From yesterday and something for you to get your teeth into ahead of the game at Peterborough. Four talking points to come out of Stevenage FC in the last week or so.
#UpTheBoro #HowayStevenage
npmetcalfe.substack.com/p/the-boro-3...
November 25, 2025 at 9:31 AM
I started writing the second part of my FM26 career with Stevenage but it ended up completely different - more flippant, more of a dramatisation, a serial if you like, a small novella.
I really enjoyed it too so decided to rewrite part one in a similar vein.
#FM26 #UpTheBoro
November 20, 2025 at 10:06 AM
What do you write when there is nothing to write about? You might not think I’ve managed to do that but I have written something as Stevenage sit through an enforced international break. The news I've found includes the Vertu Trophy draw and another win for the U18s.
#UpTheBoro
November 13, 2025 at 5:23 PM
‘Business as usual’ is a phrase used by the U18s and independently both boss Nick Mountford and skipper Alfie Thornett said it to me last night. The 2-1 win for Stevenage over Merstham in the FA Youth Cup was anything but straight forward but they did get the job done.
#UpTheBoro #HowayStevenage
November 11, 2025 at 9:49 AM
HT: Stevenage 0 Merstham 0 - FA Youth Cup
The visitors have given as good as they've got. Not too many clear-cut chances but feels like Woodford has had to deal with more than Bassom.
0-0
#FAYouthCup #UpTheBoro #HowayStevenage
November 10, 2025 at 8:19 PM
FM26 is out and you can become manager at Stevenage FC. However, you can also do this - a five-year simulation to see Boro's life in 2030 and what strange things happen. Something a bit different to make up for the fixtures in reality being all over the shop.
npmetcalfe.substack.com/p/the-boro-2...
November 9, 2025 at 10:42 AM
And a small clip of the song belting out at the Madejski. Yes, I am dancing along, that's why there's some shaking in there. Be grateful I wasn't joining in and singing...
November 7, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Hearing the Auf Wiedersehen Pet theme tune at a match will probably always be the highlight of an evening. I just didn't realise by how much it would be last night. All the reaction, ratings and some of the thoughts after @StevenageFC lost 1-0 to Reading in League One.
#UpTheBoro #HowayStevenage
November 7, 2025 at 10:18 AM
At Bragbury End this afternoon to talk Stevenage v Reading with manager Alex Revell. Also got his thoughts on the Bolton postponement, his new contract and news of a name change at the ground. The usual Thursday preview brought forward 24 hours.
#UpTheBoro #HowayStevenage
November 5, 2025 at 5:32 PM
FT: Stevenage 0 Chesterfield 1 - FA Cup
A deserved win for the League Two side. Woeful from Boro. Report to come.
#FACup #UpTheBoro #HowayStevenage
November 1, 2025 at 4:57 PM
HT: Stevenage 0 Chesterfield 0 - FA Cup first round
No added time needed and probably nobody wanted to see more of that. People will complain about the lack of penalties but some of the play from a few in white has been lackadaisical at best.
0-0
#FACup #UpTheBoro #HowayStevenage
November 1, 2025 at 3:48 PM
To read, click the link below and subscribe:
#UpTheBoro #HowayStevenage
npmetcalfe.substack.com/p/the-boro-s...
October 23, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Enjoyed the chat with Alex Revell as we looked ahead to Stevenage v Bradford City in League One. I focused on selection and the headaches that come as everyone seems to be putting in really good performances. That and a whole lot more in Thursday’s edition of The Boro.
#UpTheBoro #HowayStevenage
October 23, 2025 at 4:11 PM
They are deservedly catching national attention at last but that doesn’t mean everything is being covered. For that, you need The Boro. Thursday's edition is jammed packed with Stevenage FC news ahead of the trip to Lincoln City.
#UpTheBoro #HowayStevenage
npmetcalfe.substack.com/p/the-boro-b...
October 16, 2025 at 4:14 PM
While someone at Vodafone was unplugging the wrong thing, I was writing the latest edition of The Boro. It got published but in the confusion, I didn't push it out to you lot, so here you go.
#UpTheBoro #StevenageFC #HowayStevenage
npmetcalfe.substack.com/p/the-boro-m...
October 14, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Order of play today:
🔴Work on The Boro
⚪️Watch the FA Cup draw tonight.
🔴See ball number 42 immediately follow ball 56
⚪️Get in touch with the kids and let them know I'm coming home for the weekend
Nothing complicated about that and surely not too much to ask for...
#FACup
October 13, 2025 at 11:05 AM
A reminder of the piece for The Boro, you can hear the enthusiasm reverberating in every word Berkley Egenes of @xsolla.bsky.social said here about the link-up with @stevenagefc.com:
npmetcalfe.substack.com/p/xsolla-and...
October 10, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Having spoke to Berkley Egenes of @xsolla.bsky.social
the other week, it wasn't hard see the partnership with @stevenagefc.com extending. The collaboration benefits both and it's also hard to under-estimate how much potential there is to this deal. Xsolla have a huge, global reach...
October 10, 2025 at 1:48 PM
This week it was the women winning through to the first round, next Monday we’ll have the draw for the men and then it will be the U18s in the FA Youth Cup. Who doesn’t love the FA Cup and its draws? All the latest news from Stevenage FC for a Monday evening.
npmetcalfe.substack.com/p/the-boro-f...
October 6, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Reckon this is worth putting out there again, the match report from yesterday, a 2-0 win for Stevenage over Luton Town. The winds of change blowing round these parts?
October 5, 2025 at 9:07 AM