Tommy Smith has two vivid memories of his temporary stint at Stevenage, where Town begin this season’s Capital One Cup campaign tonight.
The then 17-year-old defender was loaned to Boro, then a Blue Square Bet Premier outfit, in February 2008 and went on to clock up 15 consecutive first-team appearances through to the end of the season as the Hertfordshire club finished two points outside the play-off zone.
Smith, now 23, an established first-teamer at Portman Road and a New Zealand international, laughed: "I remember I got there late for my first game — I got caught in traffic — so that wasn’t the best of starts. But I remember my time there fondly.
"Actually, I remember playing most of my games with a bandage round my head. I got bullied and bruised in what were my first professional outings. Overall though, I have good memories of that spell.
"I played the full 90 minutes on my debut and played a total of 15 games when I was there. It was a mental, as well as physical, battle and it really toughened me up.
"The following season I managed to get myself into the Ipswich first team so being with Stevenage definitely stood me in good stead.
"It was in my second game that I clashed heads with someone and split my head open. I’ve got the scars but it was a good experience to go on loan. Mentally, just playing competitive senior football is better than reserve football. I would encourage any young players to do it.
"My memory of the Stevenage fans is that they were good for us but I’ve no experience of playing against Stevenage there. They didn’t seem too hostile back then but it was a good few years ago now so it could have all changed.”