Brackley and Kettering gear up for final matches of season
Brackley Town's chairman said the club did not deserve promotion from National League North if they could not beat bottom side Farsley Celtic.The two clubs meet at Brackley's St James Park on Saturday for the final match of the season.Chairman Francis Oliver said the players maintained the belief they could be champions this time around, having faltered in the play-offs numerous times before.At the other end of the county, Kettering Town are also hoping for promotion from Southern League Premier Division Central when they entertain Banbury at Latimer Park, but it comes against a run of poor results.
Brackley are used to being the bridesmaid not the bride, reaching the play-offs in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024 but failing to win promotion.This time, they are hoping for a triumphant walk up the aisle to the National League, ideally qualifying for promotion by topping their table.Oliver said: "The players have believed all season that they were going to win the league, so I don't think the play-offs are going to come into it."If we can't beat Farsley Celtic, we don't deserve it anyway."
He said the 2024 final was a classic example of Brackley's "so near and yet so far" curse. "Everybody was confident - we'd beaten Boston twice in the league - but things just happen in a match and it just turns."We let a goal in straight on half-time and didn't turn up in the second half."The team are currently second in the table, level on points with Kidderminster Harriers but with a much poorer goal difference.Oliver said he had checked the weather forecast for Saturday and was planning to take his lucky umbrella.
Meanwhile, Kettering Town's quest for promotion sees them welcome Banbury United to Latimer Park.They are second in their table, three points behind Bedford Town.Fans have found themselves sticking with their team in sickness and in health this season.Kettering fan and photographer, Peter Short, said: "They've allowed a nine-point lead just to evaporate, that's where the frustration lies, but a lot of people are overly critical. "No time for that now - there's an opportunity to win a league, it's full positivity from now until five o'clock Saturday."
If Kettering end up in the play-offs their games are likely to be played at home, but Short said that might not work in their favour."Richard Lavery and a few members of the playing staff [think] the famous Latimer Park surface isn't their favourite and maybe playing away might serve them better, but a lot of people in Kettering would love to roar their team over the line at home."
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