Key events
Smoke from pyrotechnics covers the Wembley pitch as both sets of players prepare for the national anthem.
The teams are out! Kick-off is just a few minutes away!
There is a huge crowd at Wembley this afternoon – despite the ongoing travel chaos around London today. Due to closures on the Jubilee Line and Metropolitan Line, Wembley Park station – the main travel hub for the home of English football – has been closed meaning most fans have had to either get to the stadium through Wembley Central or via car/coach/bus.
That hasn’t stopped them, however! Wembley Stadium is rocking!
Darren Royle was at Wembley when Mark Hughes broke Oldham Athletic hearts in 1994, scoring a 120th-minute equaliser in an FA Cup semi-final. Now, the CEO is looking forward to one of the biggest games in the club’s history.
The stage is set. Kick-off is just 20 minutes away!
Our very own Dominic Booth spoke to Southend United head coach Kevin Maher this week ahead of today’s final.
As always, I want to hear from you! Where are you watching/reading from? Are you on your way to Wembley? And who are you backing to win this afternoon? Feel free to send me an email.
For Southend United, the last four years have been filled with torment and turbulence. Until last summer, the club came dangerously close to collapsing altogether amid what felt like never-ending takeover talk. But in July, under-fire owner Ron Martin finally sold the club to a consortium led by Australian businessman Justin Rees. Now, 11 months later, Southend are finally on the verge of a return to the Football League.
Team news
Oldham Athletic starting line-up: Matthew Hudson, Reagan Ogle, Mark Kitching, Tom Pett, Manny Monthé, Mike Fondop, Joe Garner, Charlie Raglan (C), Corry Evans, Vimal Yoganathan, Joe Pritchard. Substitutes: Tom Donaghy, Shaun Hobson, Tom Conlan, Jordan Rossiter, Jesurun Uchegbulam, Kian Harratt, James Norwood.
Southend United starting line-up: Nick Hayes, Gus Scott-Morriss, Nathan Ralph (C), Jack Bridge, Noor Husin, Harry Taylor, Cav Miley, Ben Goodliffe, Tom Hopper, Keenan Appiah-Forson, Charley Kendall. Substitutes: Nathan Harness, George Wind, Macauley Bonne, Josh Walker, Joe Gubbins, Leon Chambers-Parillon, Oli Coker.
Preamble
Oldham and Southend are 90 minutes away from returning to the Football League. It would be an incredible achievement for either club, having both come back from the brink. In recent years the clubs’ very existence has been threatened, so to be at Wembley is a huge achievement.
The Latics breezed through the playoffs, winning their two matches against Halifax and York by a combined score of 7-0. They have found form at the right time and possess a lot of experience among their ranks. From Charlie Raglan to James Norwood, there is no shortage of quality in the squad, not to mention young loanee Vimal Yoganathan.
Southend, on the other hand, snook into the final playoff spot, proceeding to require extra-time to eliminate Rochdale and a penalty shootout at Forest Green. Things have not been easy for the Shrimpers but they are used to doing things the hard way and it should put them in good stead for this game.
Let’s hope for a cracker.
Kick-off: 3pm BST.
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