Cod Almighty | Diary

We're on our way

16 May 2016

Miss Guest Diary writes: To quote the 1982 England World Cup song: "This time, more than any other time, this time we're going to find a way, find a way to get away". And find a way Town did at the fourth time of asking. It started way back last summer when the disappointment of losing to Bristol Rovers on penalties kick-started Operation Promotion. I’m sure the money raised came in handy, but it was the spirit generated by that month-long campaign, culminating in the next generation Harry Haddock, which was priceless.

In the end it proved a bit of a bumpy ride getting there, but yesterday at Wembley was the icing on the cake. The match couldn't have gone better in terms of excitement generated. A steady start with 40 or so minutes of what my other half called "unthreatening dominance" was followed by two goals in 90 seconds from Town hero Omar Bogle. Going in at half time 2-0 up allowed us a 15-minute party on the concourse. At one point I had to turn back or risk being subsumed into an ecstatic mass of humanity dancing and throwing tumblers of beer into the air.

Forest Green played their part by bringing on Jon Porkin - sorry - Parkin for the second half: one of those pantomime villain players, who obligingly missed an easy chance early on. Town's bubble was slightly deflated by Marsh-Brown's wonder strike on 60 minutes, but that just served to make our singing and chanting more defiant, more valuable to the players. Until, in the 94th minute, Nathan Arnold's goal allowed a tremendous release of tension and burst of euphoria for the dying seconds of the game. I reckon you could power the floodlights at Blundell Park for a whole season on the energy generated.

So Town are back in the Football League after a six-year absence. Looking around at some of the young faces yesterday reminded me that for them this will be a new experience. For us more seasoned fans it was a time to savour all those little things we used to take for granted: the fixture list coming out in June rather than July; not having to play in a knockout competition that causes Saturday games to be rearranged; and not having to play in the qualifying round of the FA Cup.

Also, according to a chap on the train, featuring in FIFA 17 (though I have no idea what that means). Plus the bonus of no longer being at the mercy of BT Sport rescheduling games for Friday nights or to kick off at odd times. Oh, and I've already 'unfollowed' that irritating @TheNationalLge on Twitter.

It also feels like the perfect time to go up. The parachute payments now available for the relegated teams will make it doubly hard for other Conference teams to compete next season; Lincoln have finally got a manager in Danny Cowley who might be any good; and the thought of having to play against a team from a village near Hull (North Ferriby) or one founded in 2007 (Solihull Moors) was simply depressing.

There will undoubtedly be downsides to promotion, such as higher ticket prices and not being the big fish (no pun intended) in the division – though we still have a much larger following than many of the teams in the fourth division. But that is for next season. Right now we can bask in the glow of achievement and success, not something we've had much of in the last few years. The players will be doing some basking themselves in an open-top bus tour later today.

A few weeks ago I wrote about the double-Wembley scenario and suggested that, if we reached and won the play-off final, the FA Trophy final a week later could be a giant anti-climax. Now it's here, I feel completely differently about it. Next Sunday's game will be a tremendous opportunity for a joyous celebration of everything Town. No need for nerves or lucky shirts: if we win it will be a brilliant end to this season and if we don't we'll still be playing League football next season and leaving the whole trophy thing behind us. See you at Wembley for the party!