In this phase: January 2026 – BoroGuide

We won’t hang around in this new year; January 2026 flashes forward, with fixtures all over the store. We entered this first month of the year with what you could call a shortage in terms of matches played – certainly in contrast to last year. However, it now appears we made that up with a vengeance. The big question you still had to ask us: how does it all compare to the January days of yesteryear?

January?

Januarae?

Who knows.

Either way, poor form was halted to some extent. And that means that in the grand scheme of things, it’s easily not a bad January. Good opening months include 1989-90, where Boro won four out of four. On the other hand, we have 2015-2016, where we didn’t win any of the five games in January 2016. We drew two and lost three and… well… it would culminate in the end of Teddy Sheringham’s spell as gaffer; the ex-Spurs striker was released on February 1.

League One comparison at this stage

A small increase in the second half of the month means our League One comparison is fairly fair. It ranks third in a list of seven for almost all metrics; Goals Because Gary Smith finished fourth in the 2012-2013 season, Gary Smith’s team had at least found the net more often. On the other hand, we are not far off the pace at which we reached the play-offs in 2012.

FACT:

Looking at points per game, Smiffy’s side had 1.54 at the end of January, while the current crop has dropped to a nice round of 1.50. I hope this isn’t déjà vu we’re feeling and more a case of a dodgy mutton vindaloo for lunch…

Are there similar seasons?

There have been several seasons in recent years where we have started to experience what February had to offer with 28 league matches on the schedule. The leader of the pack is – quite clearly – our winning Blue Square Premier campaign of 2009-2010; Then by month two there are 60 points on the board. It’s a big jump back. Next up is 1988-1989, which is just ahead of where we are this year. And then we fall even further back into a fairly austere area.

The best and the worst at the end of January

It may well be that there is no point in ever again comparing ourselves to 1990-1991, such is the dominance we enjoyed then. To end January with 72 points and only win a quartet of games is perverse. But it’s pretty interesting to see the class of 2007-8 right there in the rearview mirror. Despite our FA Trophy embarrassment at Dorchester Town, Peter Taylor’s magic had not yet destroyed our promotion. It was coming, remember…

It took a while, but 2019-20 is now firmly supporting these debacles. What might be a bit interesting is that our defensive record is far from bad. We just couldn’t score or win. The end of January 2003, meanwhile, came just before the arrival of Graham Westley and a rise in fortunes that pulled us out of harm’s way. To be honest, you can ignore the presence of 1981-2 here. PPG will do much more justice to that specific campaign at the end of January 1982.

January 2026 vs. averages

It is a look at the average figures at the end of December over the years: games played, goals scored, points won. That kind of thing. Boro’s +/- for 2025-6 is in brackets and all values ​​have been rounded up/down.

Games played: 28 (+2)

Games won: 11 (–)

Goals scored: 30 (-10)

Goals against: 27 (-5)

Points won: 42 (+2)

Main photo: X/Stevenage FC