FC Halifax Town v Chorley: Halifax public urged to support Shaymen

FC Halifax manager Billy Heath and assistent manager Mark Carroll celebrating their progression to the play-off final (Pitcure: Callum Ronan)

Victory in the National League North play-off final at home to Chorley will ensure an instant return to the fifth tier for the Shaymen.

It would be a tremendous achievement for a side who saw off big-spending Salford City in the two-legged semi-final on penalties.

A crowd of 3,665 fans were present for that triumph last Sunday and Bosmworth is hoping up to 6,000 can be lured through the turnstiles for this afternoon’s promotion showdown.

“We had 3,100 of our fans at the Salford game and around 4,500 at the Bradford City FA Cup tie a couple of years ago out of a 8,500 attendance,” said the Halifax chief. “So, we really hope we can get another big crowd for what is a vital, vital game.

“If half of the 10,000 who went to Wembley (for last year’s FA Trophy final win over Grimsby Town) came along then that would be great. Chorley are expected to bring around 1,000 fans so we just hope the football fans of West Yorkshire can come along and boost the gate. It would be great to get across the 6,000 line but we will have to see what response we get on the day. We have certainly done all we can to promote the game.

“We want it to be like a cauldron. The fans can be the 12th man. They certainly were last week against Salford. Every little bit helps.”

Chorley’s involvement in the play-offs is down to Darlington, who finished fifth in the table, being disqualified from taking part due to their ground not meeting minimum standards for the National League.

The Lancashire club’s surprise win over Kidderminster in the semi-finals means a quick reunion for two clubs who met on the final day of the regular season, the Shaymen running out 2-0 winners.

“Chorley are a good side,” added Bosomworth, who along with fellow director Bobby Ham formed FC Halifax from the ruin of the old bankrupt club. “They will be cockahoop about getting through to the final and it is now a 50-50 chance for either of us to go up.

“These games are rarely pretty. There are always twists and turns, and the game can change on anything – a bit of brilliance, a mistake, a refereeing decision. It has been a long season and there have been a couple of low pints but now we have the chance to end on a massive high.”