Guiseley old hands at facing final-day decider

Nerve-shredding games at the end of a campaign with the season’s fate on the line have gone with the territory for the past decade for the Lions and it is very much a case of plus ca change tomorrow.

For four seasons from 2006-2010, the Nethermoor outfit were either competing for a Northern Premier League play-off place or the title, which was finally secured in 2009-10.

Then, for the next five seasons, it was about the Conference North end-of-season lottery, with Guiseley tasting play-off agony four times before a case of fifth time lucky with a historic first promotion to the National League at the end of 2014-15.

Last year’s late drama revolved around the club seeking to clinch their divisional status on the final day of the campaign and there will be a repeat dosage tomorrow.

Just as on the final day of 2015-16, two Yorkshire sides are also in the relegation mix, with Guiseley famously afforded joy last year at the expense of FC Halifax Town.

This time around, 20th-placed Guiseley – who entertain Solihull Moors – and York City are pitted in a five-way fight to avoid the drop along with Woking, Torquay and Braintree.

While it promises to be a tense afternoon both at Nethermoor and Bootham Crescent, where York welcome Forest Green, it is not really anything new.

Yet for Rogerson and everyone connected with Guiseley, a sense of perspective is required regarding contemplation of another white-knuckle final-day ride.

Back at the start of October, the club were at the bottom of the table and effectively ten points adrift of safety after no wins in their opening 13 matches – after picking up a pitiful tally of three points from a possible 39.

Few would have backed Guiseley to be out of the relegation zone ahead of the season’s finale, with Rogerson admitting that he would have gladly taken their current position if it was offered back in mid-autumn.

Rogerson, whose Guiseley side have fallen back into relegation trouble following a run of one victory in eight outings – after looking relatively safe at the start of April – said: “It’s still quite do-able and there are lots of positives still.

“And it is slightly better than last year in that if we win, that is it - whereas last year, we had to win and others had to lose.

“When you look back at where we were in October, going into the last game and being a point outside of the relegation zone and better than those below us, you would have taken it.

“It is nerve-wracking at the moment. But, hopefully, we will come out of it.

“After five years of (Conference North) play-offs, now we have this and it is always interesting this time of year, isn’t it?”

Almost 2,000 backed Guiseley’s great escape act in the final match of last term, a dramatic 4-3 win over Torquay, and the club are seeking another crowd boost in tomorrow lunch-time’s encounter (12.15pm kick-off).

Improvement in terms of crowd numbers has been steady, rather than spectacular, in their second season at this level, with the hope being that numbers will rise again in 2017-18 after a general upturn of fortunes under Adam Lockwood and Dave Penney.

The pair, who formerly worked together at Doncaster Rovers, have presided over a sterling transformation of the club’s fortunes since the autumn, when the Lions looked relegation certainties, even accounting for the season being relatively young.

Now it is about finishing off the job and – whisper it gently – consolidating next year and maybe enjoying a quieter end to next season. That is the hope.

Rogerson said: “We have had some fantastic days with Locky, and he and Dave have had a very creditable go at it. We are fairly confident we’ll get away with it.

“We are asking everyone who supports us to be there and willing us on and then I am sure we can get out if it.

“Looking back at where we were in October, not winning a game in the first two months was obviously not the best of starts.

“We have learned since and hopefully can kick on, but it is difficult as there are some huge sides in there and we are punching above our weight.

“We have not become fully established at this level yet, but if we can get a third season, hopefully crowds will go up again and things will slowly get better and we can make steady progress.

“Relegation is never nice and can have a horrible impact on the club. But if we stay up and see a steady increase in crowd numbers, I think there is a slow realisation locally that they have got a National League side playing one level below the Football League.

“Crowds are up about the 900 mark now. It hasn’t gone up dramatically from last season. But I suppose that, given the start, we have done well to maintain last season’s figure, perhaps.

“Hopefully, we can get a few more sponsors on board and move forward and consolidate.”