Before we get started lets have a little reminder about the save and the self imposed rules we are working with.
If you want to start from the beginning of the journey you can do so here.
Save Rules & Aims
Aims
To become a professional football team for the first time in the clubs history.
Become a League Club.
Win some major silverware.
Rules
Only Sign English Players
This may sound like an easier save rule, however I like the idea of limiting the scope of our signings.
Promote 3 Players a season from the youth intake into the first team squad.
This will focus the save upon developing the local lads to become the future of the club.
Fill the backroom staff with former players and legends along the way.
This will add a different twist when trying to improve the clubs standing. Developing staff as well as players.
It will come to no surprise to you all after reading the title of this episode that we find ourselves in the Playoffs.
The Conference playoffs are a little different. Comprising of 6 teams ( 2nd place down to 7th) The 2nd and 3rd placed teams automatically progress to the Semi Final as the other 4 teams enter into the "First Round"
This first round is a one leg match with Extra Time and penalties if needed.
So Lets see who we will be playing.
Vanarama National League Playoff First Round
Our preparation for the biggest game in the journey so far was less than ideal as we were rocked with some huge injury news.
With 23 goal contributions throughout the season so far Evans has been one of if not our best player and is a huge blow to our playoff hopes.
Less than ideal but we forge on and lets see if the teams season ends along with Evans.
OUR SEASON CONTINUES
An early goal blitz was enough to hold off a valiant fightback from Solihull Moors.
Vanarama National League Playoff Semi Final
We keep on upsetting the form guides this season as we find ourselves one game away from a trip to Wembley. Who stands in our way?
We drew and lost in the regular season to Bromley so we will be going into this game as underdogs again which suits us down to the ground.
Here we go.
MAIDENHEAD UNITED ARE WEMBLEY BOUND.
We just don't know when we are beaten! After coming from behind to take the game into extra time it took a last minute penalty from Hughes to send us to the home of English football!
Vanarama National League Playoff Final
Who would have thought it? After being tipped for a relegation battle at the start of the season. After losing possibly or best player just before the playoffs Maidenhead United would step out onto the hallowed turf of Wembley 90 minutes away from making it to the football league for the first time in their history.
But what a 90 minutes we will have to produce as we face off against Hartlepool United.
Once again we were going into a game as rank outsiders. Wembley will welcome 38,000 Non league football fans through its doors for this game of which 25,000 have made the trip from Hartlepool
But we've produced upsets before....
WE'VE DONE IT AGAIN - MAIDENHEAD UNITED ARE GOING INTO THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
Just incredible, We snatched a half time lead and held on for dear life until desperation for Hartlepool started to creep in and we punished them for pushing too far forward. Goals from Trevitt and Maloney (His first for the club) will live long in the memory of the 13,000 Maidenhead fans who made the short trip to Wembley.
Season Review
Well that is the end of a wonderful season, I hope to see you next time as we look towards preparing for our debut season as a professional football club.
Cheers
Panda
If you want to check out our other FM22 Save The Darmstadt Dream why not start from the beginning right here?
Or our most recent series, Growing up in Guernsey which you can start from the beginning here
