Huddersfield Town v Nottingham Forest
The Sky Bet Championship Play Off Final
Sunday May 29th - 16:30 ko
at Wembley Stadium

Huddersfield Town travel to London to the Empire Stadium, Wembley on Sunday afternoon for the Championship Play Off Final against Nottingham Forest. They say the prize for this is the biggest prize in football, a place in the Premier League and a chance to play next season on such iconic grounds as Old Trafford, Anfield, Stamford Bridge and Turf Moor the Big Yellow Skip at Bellend Road.

Forest are the media darlings at the moment and favourites to win promotion, based purely on the fact that they have a slightly higher average attendance than us and that they won the European Cup over forty years ago. The fact that Town finished above them in the league, actually won our semi final instead of needing a penalty shoot out and Forest have a history of choking when it comes to the Play Offs, seemingly have no bearing on the outcome of this match.

Town are unbeaten now in nine matches, seven of which have been victories. We have a magnificent Play Off record, winning it four times, a record that only Blackpool can better.

Us Huddersfield fans are regular visitors to Wembley. We know what it's all about. Most of the Forest fans there on Sunday will be going there for the first time as it's thirty years since they last went there. That was the 1992 League Cup Final when they lost to Man United. It's changed a bit since then.

But sure, Forest are the favourites to win. 

Anyway, the Town players and staff have been having a jolly holiday tough training camp, out in Portugal, ahead of the big game. Here is head coach, Carlos Corberan, giving his thoughts on how it's all going........

He now had three of his Derby League title winning side with him at Forest in Archie Gemmill, John O'Hare and club captain John McGovern and before they clinched the title, they had won the League Cup for the first time when a John Robertson penalty won it for them against Liverpool, in a replay at Old Trafford after a 0-0 draw at Wembley (no penalty shoot outs yet, kids).

They won the Charity Shield at the start of the next campaign, beating FA Cup holders Ipswich Town 5-0. They went 42 games unbeaten in the League, a record that was later topped by Huddersfield Town (let's not go there ), the record run being ended by Liverpool, who were by now big rivals. And it was the men from Anfield who took the title that year with Forest finishing as runners up. Before that though, they retained the League Cup by beating Southampton 3-2 at Wembley with two goals from Garry Birtles and one from Tony Woodcock.

Liverpool had won the European Cup for the two previous seasons and so the runners up Forest qualified as an extra competitor. Luck had it that the two were drawn together in the first round (not such a complicated draw in those days, kids) and the Forest went through, beating the holders 2-0 on aggregate after winning the first leg at the City Ground 2-0 with Birtles again on target as well as full back Colin Barrett, whose career was cut short, shortly after by a crippling knee injury.

Forest went on to win the European Cup, keeping the title in the country, by beating Malmö in the Final. A famous goal by Trevor Francis sealed it in a 1-0 win played at Munich's Olympic Stadium, a diving header at the far post where he landed on the concrete shot put circle, handily placed just behind the goal. No health and safety concerns for the over paid prima donnas back then, kids.

Head to Head



Town lead the head to head with 25 wins to Forest's 20, with 17 draws.

So this will be the fourth game against Forest this season and undoubtedly, the most important one. The first one was really early in the season, played at the John Smith's with Town in the unusual feeling of being in the top 6 after a marvelous 3-0 midweek win at Blackpool.

Forest on the other hand, were in a right old state. One point from the first seven games and had just sacked manager Chris Hughton. Steven Reid had taken over as caretaker, with rumours coming out that droopy eyed, Play Off failure Steve Cooper was soon to take the job on.

It was all Town for the first twenty minutes, but then following a loose pass in an attacking position, Brennan Johnson took the ball at speed down the right wing, crossed and Lewis Grabban headed in. A classic counter attack.

Town came back strongly and Harry Toffolo had a great chance but his shot was saved by Brice Samba, back in the team after Ethan Horvath dropped a clanger in the midweek defeat at home to Boro.

So the Trees led at the break and were 2-0 up shortly after. Ryan Yates had a shot from the edge of the area. Lee Nicholls dived and saved it but with the ball still in play, ex Town star Joe Lolley shot towards goal and via a deflection off Nicholls, the ball ended up in the net.

Town's best chances came from corners, taken by Sorba Thomas. Two in particular should've found the net but Tom Lees and Ollie Turton headed wide.

The Terriers dropped down to 7th, but the Trees remained rooted to the bottom of the table. How long will it stay that way?

That was Forest's first back to back defeats under Cooper and in the New Year, we both started our Cup runs which would end up with us meeting for the third time this season in the 5th round on a Monday night in March. Town beat Premier League giants Burnley away and our close neighbours Barnsley at home, whilst Forest had home wins against the reserve teams of Arsenal and Leicester City.

With the cup tie being chosen for coverage on ITV4, both teams played on Friday night. Forest got a draw at Bramall Lane, which had moved them up to 8th in the league, with Ryan Yates getting the equaliser deep into injury time. Town had gone second, yes second, ahead of Bournemouth, in what was becoming a very surreal season. We beat Peterborough 3-0 with ridiculous ease.

Tom Lees scored twice in that match, wearing a protective headband after receiving a bad gash against Cardiff a fortnight earlier and he made it three goals in two in the 13th minute against Forest, heading in from a Danel Sinani corner.

We were looking good to make it to the quarter finals for the first time in 50 years, but then Sam Surridge leveled up in the 29th minute following up after Naby Sarr had made a great tackle only for the ball to run into his path and he shot past Jamal Blackman. The arsehole then went and did the sushy finger thing in front of the Town supporters. Wanker!

They were 2-1 up before the interval when Yates scored with a header from a free kick, but the second half was all about Town looking for an equaliser with Danny Ward coming close twice. But the Stumps missed the two best chances of the second half as their crowd started singing songs about playing Liverpool in the next round, as if Liverpool were their rivals, when actually, the two hadn't met for over twenty years. Embarrassing!

Even more embarrassing was the firework display at full time. Tinpot! 

So, it's two wins for them and one for us. The one that really matters though, is on Sunday at Wembley.

Previous Play Offs:

The play-offs were first introduced to the English Football League in 1987 and have been staged at the conclusion of every season since. The first three play-off seasons saw the finals also being conducted over two legs, on a home-and-away basis. Since 1990 the winners of each division's play-off competition have been determined in a one-off final.

Nottingham Forest: have entered the Play Offs four times previously and never won promotion. This is the first time they have made it to a final.

2002/03: 2nd tier; semi final, lost to Sheffield United 4-5 on aggregate (home 1-1, away 3-4).

2006/07: 3rd tier; semi final, lost to Yeovil Town 4-5 on aggregate (away 2-0, home 2-5).

2009/10: 2nd tier; semi final, lost to Blackpool 4-6 on aggregate (away 1-2, home 3-4)

2010/11: 2nd tier, semi final, lost to Swansea City 1-3 on aggregate (home 0-0, away 1-3).

2021/22: 2nd tier; semi final, beat Sheffield United 3-2 on penalties after 3-3 on aggregate (away 2-1, home 1-2)


Huddersfield Town: have entered the Play Offs nine times, winning promotion four times. Only Blackpool with 6 promotions have a better record.

1991/92: 3rd tier; semi final, lost to Peterborough United 3-4 on aggregate (away 2-2, home 1-2).

1994-95: 3rd tier; semi final, beat Brentford 4-3 on penalties after 2-2 on aggregate (home 1-1, away 1-1).
Final at Wembley, beat Bristol Rovers 2-1.

2001/02: 3rd tier; semi final, lost to Brentford 1-2 on aggregate (home 0-0, away 1-2)

2003/04: 4th tier; semi final, beat Lincoln City 4-3 on aggregate (away 2-1, home 2-2).
Final at Millennium Stadium, beat Mansfield Town 4-1 on penalties after 0-0.

2005/06: 3rd tier; semi final, lost to Barnsley 2-3 on aggregate (away 1-0, home 1-3).

2009/10: 3rd tier; semi final, lost to Millwall 0-2 on aggregate (home 0-0, away 0-2).

2010/11: 3rd tier; semi final, beat AFC Bournemouth 4-2 on penalties after 4-4 on aggregate (away 1-1, home 3-3).
Final at Old Trafford, lost to Peterborough United 0-3.

2011/12: 3rd tier; semi final, beat Milton Keynes Dons 3-2 on aggregate (away 2-0, home 1-2).
Final at Wembley, beat Sheffield United 8-7 on penalties after 0-0.

2016/17: 2nd tier; beat Sheffield Wednesday 4-3 on penalties after 1-1 on aggregate (home 0-0, away 1-1).
Final at Wembley, beat Reading 4-3 on penalties after 0-0.

2021/22: 2nd tier; semi final, beat Luton Town 2-1 on aggregate (away 1-1, home 1-0)

1. Chilly Ribs
   
2. Alain Dennis
   
3. Missy Rangoon
   
4. Snake Project
   
5. Claim Renewal
   
6. Children Cherish Sport
   
7. Enviable Kink
   
8. Workhand Toiler
   
9. Undefiled Fetish
   
10. Bread Sword
    

https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/article/no...es-a-hibee

Hibs sign up Nonan Kenneh on a pre-contract deal. He is a midfield player, 19yoa, who is on Leeds Utd's books, never played a 1st team game for United although listed occasionally on the subs' bench. Seems to have played all his football in the club's youth teams and played in England U19 and U23 teams.
https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/article/ex...han-kenneh

Top scorer Davis Keillor-Dunn and captain Carl Piergianni are among 13 players leaving Oldham following their relegation from the Football League.

They have been released at the end of their contracts at Boundary Park.

So have Dylan Bahamboula, Kane Badby, Ousseynou Cisse, Raphael Diarra, Dylan Fage, Jamie Hopcutt, Kyle Jameson, Christopher Missilou, Tope Obadeyi, Danny Rogers and Callum Whelan.

The club remain in contract talks with Nicky Adams and Jack Stobbs.

Midfielder Trey Turner, 18, has been given a new one-year deal.

Keillor-Dunn, 24, scored 17 goals during a miserable season for the Latics, which ended 116 years of league football and also means they are the first former Premier League team to drop into non-league since its creation in 1992.

While local rivals Wolves and Villa have opted to raise season ticket prices for the 2022/23 campaign, the Baggies have frozen all adult tickets.

Plus - under their 'Next Generation' scheme, Albion have launched a series of initiatives to attract younger supporters.

They include season tickets priced at £23 – £1 a game – for anyone 16 or under, while season tickets for fans aged 17 to 19 are £99.

I might be a tad too old for this but credit to Albion for taking this approach

We now know who's coming down.
Norwich - Watford - Burnley
Anyone who's thinking about promotion next season we have to overcome these 3 teams never mind any Championship sides.
IMO promotion is gong to be more of a challenge then this season.
It's imperative we gain promotion as we will suffer a £50 million income reduction after next season (parachute payments end).

The last time PNE, Blackpool, Burnley and Blackburn were in the same league, add to that heady list Wigan as well

Lancashire Police at this very moment

Heres the new prediction league with slight changes in the rules to make it possible for this thread to make a difference in the BML at the end of the season and the new BMPL the following season.



Pub league one


1. Championes 1st Correct position only     

2. Automatic 2nd Correct position        Wrong position i.e. top 2 positions only  


3. 3rd Correct position    Wrong position i.e. only in the playoffs 

4. 4th Correct position    Wrong position 

5. 5th Correct position      Wrong position 

6. 6th Correct position      Wrong position 


7. Play off winner     

8. Play off loser     

Note for the playoff final points you have to pick 2 different teams 




9. Wednesdays Final position       




10. 21st Correct position        Wrong position 

11. 22nd Correct position      Wrong position 

12. 23rd Correct position      Wrong position 

13. 24th Correct position        Wrong position 




14. Putrid corruption premier league Winners 

15. Putrid corruption premier Relegation Choose one team any position   


16. Championship Winners      

17. Championship Relegation Choose one team any position   


18. Pub league 2 Winners   

19. Pub league 2 Relegation Choose one team any position     


20. Nationwide league Winners       





21. Fa Putrid Insurance Cup Winners 

22. League Putrid Insurance Cup Winners 



Closing date July 28th Season starts on the 30th saturday or possibly a Friday night game on the 29th.

If the League cup starts before this can still be predicted on the 28th as lets face it nobody is going to predict a pub league team winning it 

York City secured promotion back to the National League with a 2-0 win over Boston United in the National League North playoff final.

Goals from Lenell John-Lewis and Maziar Kouhyar were enough to secure promotion for John Askey’s side in front of a sell-out crowd at the LNER Community Stadium.

York came into this playoff final off the back of a seven-game unbeaten run and they were full of confidence heading into the game as they looked to utilise home advantage.

Since securing their place in the playoffs, Askey’s side had carried their run of momentum established into the playoffs as wins over Chorley and Brackley Town had ensured that the Minstermen qualified for the final as the highest-ranked side.

Askey made no changes ahead of kick off from the side that featured against Brackley Town last time out, as John-Lewis shook off a thigh injury sustained last weekend to ensure he started up top for the Minstermen.

Boston came into this game hoping that they could go one better and secure promotion after they were defeated in the playoff final two years ago against Altrincham, as they travelled up to North Yorkshire also full of confidence after only suffering one defeat in their previous nine games.

Paul Cox’s side secured their place in the playoffs on the final day of the season and wins over Kidderminster Harriers and AFC Fylde ensured they would feature in their second successive playoff final.

Cox named only one change from the side that secured a 2-0 win over AFC Fylde on Sunday afternoon. Former York striker Jake Wright Jnr was brought into the starting eleven to feature up front alongside top-scorer Danny Elliott, as loanee Ntumba Massanka dropped onto the bench.

The Minstermen couldn’t have made a better start at the LNER Community Stadium as they took the lead after only five minutes. A long-throw into the penalty area by Scott Barrow from the left-hand side was controlled excellently inside the penalty area by John-Lewis, he turned and let the ball drop to his feet before unleashing a powerful effort across goal into the bottom-right corner to score his sixth goal in his last seven appearances.

Boston captain Luke Shiels went close for the visitors moments later with an acrobatic effort but his strike flew well over the bar, before City skipper Paddy McLaughlin turned inside onto his left foot from the right-hand side to unleash a curling effort towards goal for City, but it also curled well over the bar as the Minstermen looked to double their lead early on.

Elliott was unable to steer an effort towards goal as he shot narrowly wide of the target after the home side had failed to deal with a long-throw into the area by Femi Seriki, before McLaughlin fired over the bar again for the Minstermen moments later, this time from distance.

Clayton Donaldson was inches away from doubling the Minstermen’s lead seven minutes before half-time as he controlled the ball superbly on the right-hand side, he cut inside onto his left-foot and curled the ball towards goal, but he was denied by the crossbar as the ball flew out of play for a goal kick.

John-Lewis also went close again for City as the clock approached half-time, but his strike went well high and wide of goal as the Minstermen ensured they lead heading into the break.

Boston started the second half brightly and had the second period’s first chance on goal. A corner from the left-hand side was played into the area and towards the back post towards the head of Shiels, but he was unable to capitalise as he headed well over the bar.

The visitors looked very much on top in the early exchanges of the second half and they had appeals for a penalty turned away by referee Matt Corlett just after the hour mark after midfielder Paul Green fell to ground inside of the York penalty area, before Elliott went close a minute later as he had a curling effort towards goal deflected wide for a corner by a red shirt.

With fifteen minutes to go, substitute Matty Brown was unable to divert his header goal-bound as he rose high to meet a free-kick into the area from Maziar Kouhyar, before Peter Jameson produced a brilliant low save to deny Shane Byrne from levelling the game for Boston as he tipped a low free-kick away for a corner.

The game was put to bed by the Minstermen with four minutes to go as they doubled their advantage. Kouhyar won the ball on the right-hand side of play, he drove forward into the penalty area and produced an effort on goal, which beat Boston keeper Marcus Dewhurst at his near post.

City held on for victory, which sees them secure promotion back to the National League for the first time since suffering relegation to the sixth tier in 2017.



York City: Jameson (GK), Dyson, Kouogun, Sanders, Barrow (Brown 71’), Wright, Hancox, McLaughlin ©, Kouhyar, John-Lewis, Donaldson

Unused Subs: Whitley, Woods, Willoughby, McKay

Goals: John-Lewis (5’), Kouhyar (86’)

Yellow Cards: Kouogun



Boston United: Dewhurst (GK), Seriki, Shiels ©, Garner, Ferguson, Byrne, Abbott (Massanka 60’), Green, Dimaio (F.Preston 83’), Wright Jnr (Hanson 75’), Elliott

Unused Subs: Duxbury, Wright Snr

Goals: N/A

Yellow Cards: Abbott



Attendance: 7,448

Referee: Matt Corlett

Former England and Chelsea defender Gary Cahill is leaving Bournemouth.

The 36-year-old, whose contract expires this summer, arrived on a free transfer from Crystal Palace last year and made 22 appearances for the Cherries, but has not featured since January.

He won 61 England caps as well as two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League while at Chelsea.

But he found his chances at Bournemouth limited once Liverpool's Nat Phillips joined on loan.

Bournemouth are still in talks with Republic of Ireland forward Robbie Brady after his deal also came to an end.

The club have exercised options to extend the contracts of Brooklyn Genesini, Jake Scrimshaw and Sam Sherring, but Brennan Camp, Ryan Glover, Connor Kurran-Browne and Luke Nippard are being released.