Chris Hargreaves – Two-time National League promotion winner
WITH the season heading into the home straight, it makes me think back to how teams got over the line in the past and how they handled the pressure of a promotion push.
Having a connection with Torquay United as a player, of course like to see them return to the Football League but, whatever happens, the two teams who do clear the final hurdle into League Two will have thoroughly deserved it.
Much has been said about Torquay and their squandered lead but they are still very much in the race.
Sutton United, however, appear to be enjoying the ride. The U's were 12 points off top spot at the turn of the year. Always the underdog and written off more times than most.
Matt Gray has done a brilliant job, building team spirit and assembling a good mix of personalities in the squad. They have a consistent game plan and, with everything coming together, have been on an unbelievable run of results.
Laying down the 3G at Gander Green Lane 2015 was a brilliant move commercially, building stronger links with the academy and community clubs, plus a successful women's team. I can see why so many football clubs are thinking of installing artificial surfaces. These surfaces are so good now, and with care and maintenance they can last for decades and bring in a consistent revenue stream.
When I look back to some of the Astroturf surfaces I used to play on, I remember a lot of uncomfortable nights spent with my legs sticking to bedsheets in the middle of the night. I remember playing at Grimsby and getting the old leg burns at Preston North End away in the early 90's – the physio wanted me to be admitted to hospital at one point. That, though, was never going to happen. We won that day and the lads needed to get back home. I think there was an offer of ‘buy one get two free' at the Pier 39 in Cleethorpes, so there was no way that coach was being delayed on its journey back to Blundell Park and the lure of ‘Meggies' nightlife.
It was the same at Luton and QPR. Sandy, rock-hard Astroturf's, where the ball would bounce about a hundred foot in the air when it landed and when a sliding tackle meant a hell of a lot of gauze and a fair few tubes of Savlon!
Steamroller
Sutton may well have to rip it up their 3G surface if they do get promoted but the reward of the Football League will, I'm sure, far outweigh the negatives.
Underneath Sutton, there are currently six clubs in the play-off positions who, for years, were wedged firmly in the Football League. Many of these clubs have big fan bases and big expectations within their town, city, or community.
This is why I get so annoyed at the one automatic spot. I'm a big advocate of promoting two automatically and one through the play-offs – it give teams that come down much more of a chance of a swifter return. Otherwise, it's potentially years, if not decades, in the wilderness. Just ask Wrexham!
The National League has been a brilliant platform for clubs to be relaunched or reborn but it's a tough slog for most to get back to the promised land. That's why Bristol Rovers and Cheltenham over the last few years have done so well to bounce straight back.
Of all the teams that have done it over the last ten years – probably bar Macclesfield, it has usually been the steamroller effect for outright promotion – a decent budget, a definitive way of playing, and a consistent team. Of the play-off successes, it has simply been the team that has kept it's nerve at Wembley, on and off the pitch. Enjoy the pressure of being there.
So many clubs in the National League have a chance of getting promoted with the extra play-off place available. A good run by anyone means there could conceivably be another seven or eight teams, down to about 15th place, who will fancy themselves with an outside chance of making the play-offs.
Yes, it's a long shot, but just ask Paul Dean about how his £5 bet went at Cheltenham this week. A quarter of a million in his bank account says anything could happen.
I have had the good fortune to be promoted five times as a player and coach and in many cases it is about having a Positive Mental Attitude, about visualising success, lifting the trophy, playing the right pass, scoring the critical goal.
It's a bit cheesy to some, but top sportsmen and women will have coping strategies or positive-thought processes that will help them get over the line.
It's akin to watching or reading the Secret and expecting the cheque to come through the post box. Like watching a high jumper running through his or her steps to the bar.
I said it a lot to my teammates in promotion pushes, ‘imagine the glory, not the failure'.
Having played in a few different teams that have been in the mix over the years, there have been a combination of a couple of things that have got in our way.
Maybe, it was some who were just pleased to have got there, fatigue at having played so many games, or just not being good enough.
My history of play-offs is two penalty shoot-out losses, one throw away in the last nine minutes, an injury after 19 minutes, some unfortunate officiating, and not being as good as our opponents over two legs. I've seen it all.
Indeed, I've won only two of seven play-offs I have been involved in – three in the Football League and two in the National League, it's clearly a tough gig. But you would rather being going for it than not – being up there where the fun pressure is.
Whatever level it is, it's a case of keeping the momentum going and keeping the same processes. Staying in hotel for a week before the game, getting some dodgy suits, and not getting too nervous. Stick to game plan A, move to B if required, and throw C and the kitchen sink at it if needed.
Good luck to all clubs on the run in – the players, staff, management and , of course, good luck to the fans who will be wearing their lucky pants and praying over the course of some crucial 90 minutes of football.
