EFL stories: A Wembley hero, the unlikely loanee and a Wrexham icon

Myles Hippolyte on his Wembley winner for AFC Wimbledon

It was a moment every kid who loves football dreams of, scoring a winning goal in a big game at Wembley.

It is no surprise that Myles Hippolyte has revisited his strike for AFC Wimbledon in last season’s League Two play-off final from time to time – the only goal in a 1-0 win over Walsall.

“Funny enough, I was watching it back just yesterday!” he says. “I was literally scrolling on Instagram and it came up.

“What a feeling it was. I actually I can’t describe it. And the thing was, I cherish that moment because I’d been there a season and a half ago in the final with Stockport.

“I was on the bench and I came on in the second half and then extra-time. before we ended up losing it on penalties.

“So it was a complete kind of opposite feeling. I started, got the goal that secured promotion. The feeling was so different.

“It’s something that come the time when I have kids later down the line, I’ll be able to show them back as a memory of what I’ve achieved.”

Hippolyte also laughs when he’s asked about whether or not he would have preferred a more comfortable win.

“At the time I think I would have preferred us to put the game away!” he adds. “About three or four-nil. But to score the winner in the end was massive.

“I had a feeling before that it would be our day, and that I would score. We all as a club had a heightened feeling that it was our time. That led us to be even more successful on the pitch that day, and everything came to plan.”

Joe Taylor: I didn’t expect to go out on loan but it worked out well

Joe Taylor always expected to be scoring goals in League One this season, he just didn’t expect he would be doing it on loan from his parent club.

“Football’s a mad old game,” the striker – currently on loan at Wigan Athletic from Huddersfield Town – tells Sky Sports. “If you’d have asked me at the start of the season that I’d be going out on loan in January, I would have probably laughed. But football can change overnight and it did in my case. If I’m being honest, it probably worked out better for me.”

Taylor, 23, scored four goals in 19 appearances for Huddersfield in the first half of the campaign. Since moving to Wigan, he has managed nine in 14.

“I struggled at the start of the season to really find that form, whether that was through being unlucky or not having the opportunity,” he says. “But coming here, I’ve really hit the ground running and I’m really pleased with my form.

“One thing I’ve always said is that I’m at my best when I’m playing regular football, 90 minutes week in, week out. Here, I took my opportunity when it came and never really looked back.”

Having the backing of the manager helps. Even if I don’t hit the levels one week, it’s about having that trust to go again in the next game.

“Early in the season I had to bide my time and I probably didn’t take my opportunity when it came. But coming here, knowing I’d play more minutes, put my mind at ease. I knew if I worked hard the goals would come, and thankfully they did.”

Ben Knight: I considered giving up football before joining Cambridge

There was a spell before joining Cambridge United last summer where Ben Knight considered packing it all in completely.

Injuries had blighted the end of his journey with Manchester City, and a spell in Spain at Real Murcia had turned very sour.

“I got to a point where I wasn’t sure if football was for me anymore,” he says. “I’d had injuries and setbacks and I just wasn’t enjoying it.

“There was a period where I was at home with nothing lined up and I didn’t know what I was going to do. I was considering other careers and trying to work things out.

“But I told myself I’d give football one last go. I knew I had ability and if I didn’t try, I’d regret it. Thankfully it worked out, but it easily might not have. When I went back into training, I just thought I’d give it everything and try to enjoy it again.”

Knight moved back to his hometown of Cambridge and initially linked up at the end of last season with Neil Harris’ side just to train and stay fit. He impressed so much he was offered a contract, and has been one of the standout players in League Two this season as they aim for promotion.

“I’m really pleased with how things have gone,” Knight says. “At the start it was something completely new for me because I’d never played in League Two before. I always knew it was going to be a challenge because it’s not necessarily a league that suits the way I like to play.

“It’s about learning and adapting, whether that’s picking up second balls or being in the right areas. You can do nice things on the ball, but ultimately you need to score goals, and I’ve managed to do that.”

Ollie Palmer: Wrexham changed my life and shaped me as a person

Ollie Palmer had high hopes when he moved to Wrexham in January 2022, but he wouldn’t have expected quite how much it changed his trajectory.

“It wasn’t as easy to sign for Wrexham then as it might look now,” the now-Swindon Town striker says. “The club wasn’t what it is today and it was a real risk dropping down to the National League.

“I was playing in League One, close to home, and everything was pointing towards staying. Even my agent wasn’t sure. It was a big decision and it nearly didn’t happen.

“But I spoke to Phil Parkinson and he sold me the vision of the football club, where they wanted to go and what they were building. No one really knew how it would turn out at that point.

“It was a gamble, but it turned out to be the best decision I’ve made in my career. I loved every single second of my time there. It was an unbelievable journey.”

Three and a half years later, Palmer left as a legend of the club. He scored on his debut, and again on his final appearance in August. His 46 goals helping towards three consecutive promotions. Now he has a Wrexham clothing brand, a following around the world and even had a cameo in the latest Deadpool movie.

“It definitely changed my life, but it also shaped me as a person,” he says. “Being around the people at that football club, the players, the staff, the owners, you learn so much. Not just about football, but about how to carry yourself and how to treat people.

“I was more involved in the community than I’d ever been before. That came from being around people who genuinely care and want to make a difference. It made me want to do more and be better in that sense.”

Jack Payne on his EFL journey

Jack Payne may only be 31, but he already registed more than 500 career appearances, playing in the Championship, League One and League Two.

“It’s been an interesting career with plenty of ups and downs,” the Colchester midfielder reflects. “Of course there have been times where I’ve felt I could have played higher, but a lot of it comes down to timing and opportunity.

“When you look at how many good players aren’t even in the EFL, it puts things into perspective. I’m grateful to be where I am.”

The vast majority of his appearances have come at League One and Two level, although he was involved in Huddersfield’s promotion-winning campaign from the Championship in 2016-17.

Colchester is the 10th club of his career, and the sixth permanent one.

“It’s easy to look back and think about what you could have done differently, but I try to focus on what I have achieved,” he says.

“If someone had told me at the start of my career what I’d go on to do, I’d have been over the moon. I make sure I reflect on that and recognise how fortunate I’ve been.

“I want to play for as long as I possibly can. I still love the game and still get that feeling before matches. If anything, I probably appreciate football more now because I’ve seen how quickly it can be taken away. I just want to keep performing well and give myself the best chance to keep playing.”

Saturday on Sky Sports+ (all 3pm unless stated)

League One

Blackpool vs Burton
Exeter vs Leyton Orient
Reading vs Wigan
Stockport vs AFC Wimbledon
Wycombe vs Port Vale

League Two

Harrogate vs Notts County (12.30pm)
Barnet vs Cambridge
Barrow vs Bromley
Bristol Rovers vs Accrington
Colchester vs Walsall
Crawley vs Gillingham
Crewe vs Oldham
Newport vs Shrewsbury
Salford vs MK Dons
Swindon vs Fleetwood

Showcase