From one Boro’ to another; goalkeeper Joe Fryer arrived at Stevenage in summer 2017 on loan from Middlesbrough. The young stopper came to the Lamex at a time when then-current number one, Jamie Jones, was stalling on a new contract. It was just as well too. Jones was to eventually move on, leaving Fryer a free run at the number one shirt.
The ‘keeper made plenty of appearances during the 2017-8 League Two campaign. His run between the sticks did come to an end, however, when Boro’ made another move into the loan market that term. Tom King’s arrival from Millwall saw Fryer relegated to the bench. After that, he spent much of the second half of the season playing second fiddle to King. The following season, he was back out on loan again – this time to Carlisle United.
Joe Fryer: Before Boro’
Fryer had gained valuable League Two experience the season before he came to Boro’. In spite of all the difficulties he faced as Hartlepool United lost their fight against relegation to the Conference in 2016-7, Fryer still impressed. Indeed, Sarll sent scouts to watch him in action on a number of occasions.