“Make their place our own” says club captain Matty Fenton, as he urged the travelling ’74 support to get behind their side once more as they make the journey south to face off with Atherstone Town in the playoffs this coming Saturday.
It has been a stark contrast to last season for the Green Army, with Chris Herbert’s side comfortably finishing inside the playoff positions for the Midlands Football League Premier Division at the first time of asking since being relegated 12 months prior. Fenton was quick to praise the management staff and their work in rapidly changing the fortunes of the club.
“The management staff have pulled together a great set of lads and that’s been the key difference this season. The lads we have now have all bought into what we want to achieve as a club and we’ve got the foundation now to build on that and keep progressing together.”
Having occupied a position within the playoff places for the large majority of the season, Fenton spoke of the ongoing preparation ahead of Saturday’s showdown against an opponent that have been a thorn in 1874’s side so far this season.
“We’re calm as a squad, we’ve been preparing for this game for a couple of weeks now and we all understand the magnitude of the fixture for the club and ourselves as a team.”
“The last 2 fixtures against Atherstone have been painful in two different ways but revenge is what we want for both and we have a perfect opportunity to go to their place and inflict that on them this weekend, in a way they couldn’t do to us in the league.”
“Adrenaline will be high come matchday for both teams but we have the experience to deal with this and channel it in a way we play our best style of football.”
“We’ve learned a lot about the fixture at their place a couple of weeks back and the style of play they want to play. We’ll expect the same again from them, which was a physical battle, but this time we already feel more prepared.”
“Look, no excuses from last time we faced them at their place but the reverse fixture at our place was much more of a reflection of the two sides.”
“We’ll go their fully focused on what we need to do as a team and carry out our game plan and deal with style of play much more effectively like the home fixture.”
With this weekend’s fixture arguably being the most important in recent years for 1874, a large away following of over 200 members of the Green Army is expected to descend on Atherstone, with two sold out coaches, plus many other fans travelling South to support the side on Saturday. Fenton urged the ‘74 fans to all stand united and get behind the side from the first whistle as they look to book themselves into the playoff final next Saturday.
“You guys have been great on the road all season. You’ve been with us through the highs and picked us up from our lows. But come Saturday we need every single one of you together in the stand with the drum banging and your loudest voices with you.
“Out sing the Atherstone fans, cheer every tackle and make their place ours from minute one. We have the best fan bases in the league and must use that on Saturday! See you all then. CMON 74!!”