This week’s fan column by Dean Thompson is a tribute to loyal Stevenage servant Chris Day.

Seeing the town centre Christmas light turn earlier this month led me to reminisce about events nine years ago writes Deano.

It’s 2008. Graham Westley has returned. Didn’t start too well. A 5-0 reverse at Wrexham. A 3-1 home defeat by Eastbourne. A home draw followed by a 4-0 rout at Ebbsfleet.

His goalkeeper Ashley Bayes let soft ones in. Monday, August 25 2008 saw a new era. A new goalkeeper. At the age of 33.

It was then 13 goals conceded in four matches turned into five in seven and 16 points on the board. Chris Day had arrived.

And to take the club on a journey over the next few seasons, where no other club had more fun than we did.

The season saw a play-off semi-final and a trophy win at Wembley in which Chris made 52 appearances with us fans hailing him as one of our own.

The following year Chris kept 13 out of 16 clean sheets. A phenomenal record.

And if you’re going to win one promotion you might as well win two, as three clean sheets in the play-offs sealed League 1 football for the club.

We can count mistakes from Chris on the fingers of one hand in 350 appearances for this football club.

Stevenage is a tough town to win the locals over and I have to pay tribute to my favourite Stevenage footballer since I first came to Broadhall Way in 1985. What a breakthrough to have the town’s football club represented at the town light turn on, and for that person to be Chris Day. His work off the pitch, within the community is something that he never says no to. {Sports Ed And don’t forget his visit to the Lister}.

A trophy, two promotions, two play-off campaigns. He’s seen off 20 other goalkeepers in 10 years. Five managers.

It would’ve been easy to join your hometown club in your 30’s and wind down before retirement. Chris saved his best performances for us.

Stevenage is a special club. Gary Smith and Teddy Sheringham didn’t get that.

It’s not about reputation. It’s about graft, passion, and ambition.

Chris has them all.

I get a sneaky feeling, even at 42, we haven’t seen the last of him in a Stevenage shirt.