By Alex Stone. Thursday, 29 April 2004.
Four teams from the Nationwide Conference kick-off this season's play-offs tonight, with a coveted place in The Football League the prize.
|
Date |
Home |
|
Away |
Kick-Off |
|
29 Apr 04 |
Aldershot T |
v |
Hereford Utd |
1945 |
|
03 May 04 |
Hereford Utd |
v |
Aldershot T |
1500 |
|
29 Apr 04 |
Barnet |
v |
Shrewsbury T |
1945 |
|
03 May 04 |
Shrewsbury T |
v |
Barnet |
1500 |
With Chester City promoted as Champions, albeit by only a point from Hereford United, this season's play-offs feature four former Football League teams, all looking to rekindle memories of yesteryear.
Aldershot have performed exceptionally well under the stewardship of Manager Terry Brown, and despite only gaining promotion to the Conference this season, three more games could see the Hampshire club back into the Football League.
Such an achievement would cap a remarkable resurrection for the club, and also for centre back Ray Warburton, who has already been promoted into the Football League twice with former clubs Rushden & Diamonds and Boston United.
Shots fans will be looking to the goal power of Roscoe D'Sane and Tim Sills to fire them into the Play-Offs final, but know that they face a tough task, against a Hereford United side who finished 21 points above them in the table.
United finished their league programme with a 2-1 win over Champions Chester City in front of 7,240 fans on Saturday and will be seen by many as the 'form team' going into the play-offs.
Hereford's continued progress has been impressive after they lost influential winger Paul Parry to Cardiff City, and Graham Turner will be looking to one of this season's FA Cup Player of the Round winners [Steve Guinan] to fire the Bulls into the Final.
The second play-off pitches third place against fourth place, and Jimmy Quinn against Paul Fairclough. Quinn has already experienced play-off heartbreak, when as Joint-Manager of Reading, the Royals lost at Wembley to Bolton Wanderers, when within touching distance of the Premier League.
This time around, Quinn is hoping to take Shrewsbury Town back into The Football League, and may even call upon himself from the bench to supplement the strike threat of Duane Darby, Luke Rodgers and Jody Banim.
Standing in the way of Shrewsbury will be Barnet. After Manager Martin Allen departed to Brentford, the club appointed England National Game XI Manager Paul Fairclough on a Caretaker basis to steady the ship.
With one of the smallest squads in the Conference, Barnet secured their play-off place with a tense home win over relegated Leigh RMI at the weekend. Fairclough will be looking to the experience of Danny Maddix and Ian Hendon, as well as the strike power of Giuliano Grazioli to guide them back to the Football League.
Despite his busy schedule, Fairclough believes he is able to fulfil both managerial posts.
He told TheFA.com: "It has been quite easy because the England squad was picked in my head before I took over at Barnet. I would not have even contemplated managing at the club if there was going to be clashes of interest."
Should Barnet be victorious in their push for the Third Division, Fairclough does not rule out the possibility of continuing to manage both teams.
"I love the England job," he said. "It is great honour and a dream to do it, but I have not thought what happens if Barnet win promotion. At the moment I am focused on getting them into the Football League and if we do then we will face those hurdles when we come to them."