When the TV cameras found an empty manager’s office at Broadhall Way

After losing at Crawley on the first day of the 2007-8 season, Boro went on an amazing run of form comprising eight wins and a draw.

It was also a run that included eight straight clean sheets, so it was inevitable that Mark Stimson was going to attract attention.

Sure enough, Gillingham and Port Vale came a-calling and the Gills seemed determined to land their man.

Despite Phil Wallace reportedly refusing permission for Stimson to talk to either, there was an increasing sense that Stimmo wanted to go.

On October 17, 2007, Boro revealed that Stimson had resigned and was soon found at Gillingham. But that’s another story for another time.

The resignation came just a day before the club took on Burton Albion at home, live on TV.

The Setanta cameras arrived and found a vacant manager’s office at Broadhall Way.

Scott Barrett was put in charge for the match and it proved to be a more than effective antidote to the confusion and disappointment of the previous couple of days.

In a topsy-turvy game, Daryl Clare put Albion ahead before Steve Morison levelled.

Boro went ahead through Adam Miller (prompting a “Stimmo Bounce” celebration), but were pegged back by Shaun Harrad on 76 minutes.

The action was to continue as Mitchell Cole put us back in front on 78 minutes, only for a second Harrad strike on 79 minutes to ensure the visitors left with a point.

Stimmo was a memory, and Boro were now looking ahead.

* Pete Hayman runs BoroGuide, the Stevenage FC internet resource. For more information visit www.boroguide.co.uk or follow him on twitter @boroguide