So this is my first chance to catch up and catch my breath after that momentous game against Bradford. With less than 10 minutes to go we had achieved the impossible… the play-offs… better than anyone could have expected at the start of the season, considering the step up from last season, changes to the playing squad, and the realistic restrictions we place on the playing budget as a club. But BPA scored a late equaliser and Kendal scored an even later winner against a plucky Buxton side, and it was not to be for us.

But the highest praise must be given to Margy and the players for getting us to that moment a week last Saturday. Margy has built yet another side that has gained in confidence as the season has progressed. To become the form team in the league that other top teams were hoping ‘to avoid’ if we had have made the playoffs.

If we can keep this side together for next season, we must be genuine contenders to actually win this division next year. We now have the quality of players (in fact a number have the ability to play a couple of levels higher at least), to more than have a good go at a top 6 place, and just as important a reputation as a great footballing side that has earned us respect from most of the other sides.

A crowd of 3800 or so on the day, and average crowds up on last season can’t be bad either.

Paul has asked me to recount the day in a timeline/diary format so here goes (as far as my fuzzy memory can recall):-

• 

  ArmchairArmy Grand Day Out - Team Photo

  11:30 Got to the ground early to help unload and set up the kit. I was on the bus that day so that I could indulge in a few pre- and post- match beers.

• 12:30 Kit unloaded in the South Stand, the TV/Radio crew decamped to CYCM to watch James Quinn’s play ‘At the End of the Day’, do a bit of filming, and have a couple of those large bottles of

  Stowford Press Cider. Also got roped into carting all the booze up the stairs with Mrs Producers brother.

• 14:00 Back to the South Stand to check that the kit was set up and sound checks complete, whilst Paul went off to find the Armchair Army and set up a photo op with Swampy and Brian.
• 14:20 Finally managed to meet a few of you AA’ers, in the South Stand on
  

  FCUM Radio v Real Comedy

  your guided tour, 10 minutes before going on air. Great stuff. Good to see you guys and thanks for listening and all the AA support throughout the season.

• 14:40 Live on the air and joined by John Henshaw, and James Quinn for the pre-match.
• 15:00 – 17:00 The match (of which much has already been said..)
• 17:30 – 19:00 Down to the Swan and Cemetary to enjoy the sun and a few more post match beers
• 19:00 – 02:00 Censored !!! (but it involved lots of alcohol..)

On the horizon we have the friendly at Daisy Hill… I’m not sure as yet if we’ll be doing any live radio from there, but we do have some new kit we want to test before we traipse off to Sweden for the IF Djurgardens game.

Keg.