2023/24 League Two Play-Offs

[Si Robin]

After a busy day at work, I still can't believe I have secured a ticket to watch us at Wembley, pure bucket list stuff. I know my opinion will change on the day once we're in the heat of battle but at this moment in time, the result doesn't even seem that important.

It's why we support our clubs at a lower level.

Anyone can support a big club funded by oil-states and US hedgefunders and visit Wembley once a year. But where's that feeling of truly earning it?

It's why they should never take the playoff finals (including national league) or non-league trophy finals away from Wembley. It's a day out for fans and players that will live in the memory forever - it makes the trips to Carlisle, Gillingham, and everywhere else in the country completely worth it. The lows of past years are completely forgotten.

It bloody hurts when you lose there though.

 

[Millerbri]

Tru dat, he's worse on the touchline but can't be as two faced as he leaves all the media to Fatty Fat Fat Evans. Sadly they come as a pair. Gladly they've never been in the home dugout, and very likely never will.

Well, he's back here for a second spell and no doubt some supporters are not renewing because of his reputation.

However I take the view that he did the crime, paid the fine and served his time.
Compared to what many of this corrupt government have done and got away with he's not even on the scale.

Watching his first two home games back in the dug out, he seemed to be much calmer and he left all the moaning to PR.

He got us 2 promotions, kept us in the Championship and provided a level of attacking entertainment that we haven't seen since (even under 2 Warne promotions).

Whether he can manage to completely rebuild this very poor, aging, injury prone squad is up for debate.

But one thing I am sure about is that it won't be for the want of hard work and if he does pull it off, the stay aways will come crawling back.

 

[ForzaCounty]

Not sure if they are doing it this weekend but we had free parking at Wealdstone FC and they did a BBQ and had a bar etc, they were fantastic hosts and easy tube to Wembley. If they are doing it, whichever club they are hosting would highly recommend it to their fans.

Did that for us last season. I didn't go but do remember many County fans enjoying the visit

 

[GTFCfish]

One of the best days of my life (aside from wedding day and birth of the kids of course!). Just felt like it was fate with what had happened to DC etc. Everyone was on it to a tee, even Jake Taylor who struggled that season went in and totally bossed the midfield. Loved that squad and the togetherness that season of the whole club, felt like the DC thing really saw us come together as one for him. Crazy who badly needless decisions have totally undone that with a completely avoidable relegation.

Probably meant more to us Valiants being only the second promotion in 30 years, first time at the new Wembley and first Play off appearance since 1993.

Maybe we can experience it again in 12 months time!

Not sure if they are doing it this weekend but we had free parking at Wealdstone FC and they did a BBQ and had a bar etc, they were fantastic hosts and easy tube to Wembley. If they are doing it, whichever club they are hosting would highly recommend it to their fans.

Edited for you.

 

[JJ1990]

We've passed 10,000 after 2 days of sales. It'll slow to a crawl in the next few days, but if we get anywhere near the 13,000(ish) we took in 2012, I'll take it.

 

[valefan16]

Edited for you.

Got to say it as an insurance policy haven't i!

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

We've passed 10,000 after 2 days of sales. It'll slow to a crawl in the next few days, but if we get anywhere near the 13,000(ish) we took in 2012, I'll take it.

Was more 14-15K from us in 2012 cos Cheltenham only brought about 9K and gate was 24K.

Already surpassed the 2013 total though and, having worked in all the towns surrounding Crewe this week, there's a proper buzz about Wembley in the likes of Winsford and Northwich which I'm pretty sure wasn't as prominent last time. The other towns like Sandbach, Alsager, Middlewich and Nantwich are a given but shows we're making good strides in growing the fanbase further into the rest of Cheshire. Also helps that Northwich Vics now play pub league football instead of Conference football I guess too.

 

[CTFC - Devils]

Was more 14-15K from us in 2012 cos Cheltenham only brought about 9K and gate was 24K.

Already surpassed the 2013 total though and, having worked in all the towns surrounding Crewe this week, there's a proper buzz about Wembley in the likes of Winsford and Northwich which I'm pretty sure wasn't as prominent last time. The other towns like Sandbach, Alsager, Middlewich and Nantwich are a given but shows we're making good strides in growing the fanbase further into the rest of Cheshire. Also helps that Northwich Vics now play pub league football instead of Conference football I guess too.

We've got a small handful of single seats left in the lower tier and approx half of the club Wembley middle tier left. Sales have obviously dramatically slowed but would expect us to finish up between 17-19k. If 10% of the day trippers turn up next year, I'll be over the moon. As long as it's not a 2 for £2 game, then they can do one.

I genuinely think we would have an extra 4-5k if the last round of prem games weren't the same afternoon. Shocking scheduling.

 

[Hudders]

Was more 14-15K from us in 2012 cos Cheltenham only brought about 9K and gate was 24K.

Already surpassed the 2013 total though and, having worked in all the towns surrounding Crewe this week, there's a proper buzz about Wembley in the likes of Winsford and Northwich which I'm pretty sure wasn't as prominent last time. The other towns like Sandbach, Alsager, Middlewich and Nantwich are a given but shows we're making good strides in growing the fanbase further into the rest of Cheshire. Also helps that Northwich Vics now play pub league football instead of Conference football I guess too.

Yes Northwich is a utter mess of a town now when it comes to football , with a growing population you should be all over it promoting Crewe which is 10/15 mins away on the train. Think it would help if you charged cheaper matchday tickets though, anyway good luck for Sunday.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Yes Northwich is a utter mess of a town now when it comes to football , with a growing population you should be all over it promoting Crewe which is 10/15 mins away on the train. Think it would help if you charged cheaper matchday tickets though, anyway good luck for Sunday.

Growing up, they were a decent outfit for a part time club when I was a kid and had some cracking players who went on to have decent EFL careers or, at worst, played for full-time non league clubs. My Dad's a Northwich lad and he said the worst thing they ever did was leave Drill Field and the second worst thing they ever did was be owned by a convicted criminal, Jim Rushe. They made lots of money from cup runs in the 2000s and it all got squandered on his shady enterprises.

I work in Northwich now and my boss said a while back his lad has switched from Man Utd to Crewe (good to see kids have sense these days!) but this is becoming common in most towns now as kids realise they'll very rarely get to a game involving big clubs whereas there's always a place for them at lower league or non league clubs for them and their mates to watch the games together! It's what'll help gates boom further in the coming years. My old man said you'd never seen Crewe fans in Northwich growing up as Northwich was very much a Vics town with a smattering of Witton Albion fans in addition to the big North West clubs. But, as Vics plummet, it's good to see we're making inroads in the town now!

Our fans aren't happy with the pricing at the club and we've criticised the board regularly but they've fronted up and said as unpopular as it is, they won't budge. The reason being that because we're not bankrolled to the extent of other clubs, we have to make money somewhere in order to compete. I'm not a fan of it myself and I think it'd stop overnight if we stopped seeing silly money spent on wages in this league, but that'll never happen.

Fingers crossed we can do the job. Love a trip to Huddersfield. Nice and easy trip and some cracking pubs in the town too!

 

[Scum.]

I hate the play-offs. Enjoy.

 

[Casey]

Just heard Max Dean has been given a 3 game ban for the stamp on Jay Williams.

I did think he looked a decent player but there's obviously a temperament issue there. I can imagine the shoves and niggles he is going to receive off the ball next season.

Casey

 

[クレイグ]

When we played MK Dons at their place, Dean kicked out at Smallwood off the ball and the ref missed it. Should have been sent off. He seems like a five star twat.

 

[leedsvaliant]

When we played MK Dons at their place, Dean kicked out at Smallwood off the ball and the ref missed it. Should have been sent off. He seems like a five star twat.

I want someone like him in our team....a proper twat who loves winding up the opposition and fans. We've missed that twat in our teams for a few years. I want 'win at all costs ' players, even if that means pushing the rules.

 

[GTFCfish]

I hate the play-offs. Enjoy.

Why have you never mentioned this before?

 

[DippyDon]

I want someone like him in our team....a proper twat who loves winding up the opposition and fans. We've missed that twat in our teams for a few years. I want 'win at all costs ' players, even if that means pushing the rules.

This sums him up to a tee. He's a wind up merchant plain and simple but still is young and needs to work on his temperament.

 

[クレイグ]

I want someone like him in our team....a proper twat who loves winding up the opposition and fans.

Carver There you go mate, time to leave the jobcentre behind.

 

[lordofthepies]

I want someone like him in our team....a proper twat who loves winding up the opposition and fans. We've missed that twat in our teams for a few years. I want 'win at all costs ' players, even if that means pushing the rules.

Harry McKirdy is probably available

 

[robsta1101]

Harry McKirdy is probably available

So is Harry Pell!

 

[Casey]

Thing is all three (Dean, McKirdy and Pell) would be worth having if they cut the crap. They probably wind their own teammates up as much as the opposition.

I'm told we are over 16k for Wembley. I don't really care as long as there are enough to mean we don't look too tinpot.

Casey

 

[jacobncfc]

I want someone like him in our team....a proper twat who loves winding up the opposition and fans. We've missed that twat in our teams for a few years. I want 'win at all costs ' players, even if that means pushing the rules.

You need to be smarter with it than Dean is, though. He just seems dim. When we played MK at our place it was at the end of our awful losing run and the crowd was fully ready to turn, he puts them 1-0 up and picks a fight with the Kop with his celebration for no reason and suddenly he's the villain and everyone is back behind Notts. Got to be able to pick your moments.

 

[Optipez]

You need to be smarter with it than Dean is, though. He just seems dim. When we played MK at our place it was at the end of our awful losing run and the crowd was fully ready to turn, he puts them 1-0 up and picks a fight with the Kop with his celebration for no reason and suddenly he's the villain and everyone is back behind Notts. Got to be able to pick your moments.

The bloke's a moron. He wound himself up in the end.
Lee Hughes was an absolute master at winding up the opposition but keeping his cool, he must have been horrible to play against. David Kelly was a total tosser but a good player, Dean isn't in the same league as that pair.

 

[Scum.]

Dean is fun to have in your side though. He was in the away end when we played AFCW as he was out injured. A fans favourite or villain depending on the side you are on.

 

[GTFCfish]

The bloke's a moron. He wound himself up in the end.
Lee Hughes was an absolute master at winding up the opposition but keeping his cool, he must have been horrible to play against. David Kelly was a total tosser but a good player, Dean isn't in the same league as that pair.

I remember Lee Hughes doing a steering wheel celebration in front of The Pontoon after he killed somebody whilst drunk driving, haha what a right joker he was, so remorseful, top guy.

 

[DippyDon]

Max Dean has also just turned 20. He's got the wind up merchant side down to a tee, just needs to work on his temperament and timing and you've got a shithouser for the ages.

My horrible little scouser.

 

[JJ1990]

Max Dean has also just turned 20. He's got the wind up merchant side down to a tee, just needs to work on his temperament and timing and you've got a shithouser for the ages.

My horrible little scouser.

You get take the boy out of Liverpool but you can't.....you get the rest.

We're close to 12,000 and Crawley are up to 16,000. Close to 30k isn't bad for 2 smaller L2 clubs.

 

[Optipez]

I remember Lee Hughes doing a steering wheel celebration in front of The Pontoon after he killed somebody whilst drunk driving, haha what a right joker he was, so remorseful, top guy.

He's a thug, great player but you wouldn't want your daughter marrying him.

 

[devilofajob]

Getting just a little bit excited now!
Which at my age is a bit of a novelty.

 

[Crewelad87]

Nerves and excitement really kicking in, after watching the league 1 game, I just prey we turn up. Don't mind losing as long as we give it a right good go. Bolton didn't look like they turned up today.

My 4 am alarm can't come soon enough. I honestly wish Crawley all the best aswell, let the best team win and hopefully both teams enjoy but the reality is that only one set of fans can truly do that.

 

[Casey]

Just about to leave.

Let's hope both teams turn up and we will.

Casey