Rochdale v York City: Stuart Maynard keen to experience the real promotion deal

Both in the visitors section which will house City's 1,500 contingent in the Willbutts Lane Stand at Spotland – an allocation which could have been sold several times over – and among the 4,000-plus watching at a special big-screen viewing event back at the LNER Community Stadium.

It has all the tantalising potential to be a day to savour with people right at the heart of it, as it should be.

That this has been no ordinary title race this season, allied to the context of York's story over the past 10 years – just two years ago, they were battling to avoid dropping into the Northern Premier League – would make promotion truly special.

Stuart Maynard's previous taste of promotion was not the real thing, in truth. If York are the team standing following their epic shoot-out at Rochdale, then he will have the full experience.

Back in 2019-20, he was one half of the management team at Wealdstone, who were promoted to the National League.

It was not achieved on the pitch. Covid put paid to that, with the National League South title decided on points per game instead at a time when football was closed down and stadiums were empty.

Maynard recalled: “It was a very strange feeling getting promoted with Wealdstone.

“Even when we got the trophy, you couldn't really cheer and celebrate. We were all in masks, so it was a strange time to be involved in football.

“It would be an incredible feeling to be able to enjoy it with the family, supporters, the team and everyone together. It brings a different feeling.”

Maynard's time in the capital with the Stones might also have provided him with some valuable perspective ahead of York's date with destiny.

It again relates to those tough Covid times, when football largely operated without spectators in the 2020-21 campaign.

He stepped up to manage the club on his own after the exit of Dean Brennan late on in that campaign.

The pressure on finances at non-league clubs at that time was particularly acute. Some players at Wealdstone had to be placed on furlough with the club unable to operate with a full playing squad. Management was a hard gig back then.

Maynard continued: “There's different pressures. I always believe the biggest pressures are those that you put on yourself and the demands that you put on yourself and the team – when you get a group of players that have those same ambitions and put the same demands on themselves. We've got a group of players that are so honest that when they perform to where they believe that it's not the level that we all want to be at, they accept it and they come in training next week and work incredibly hard.”

Maynard has been busy making memories in his eventful time at York so far. The biggest one will hopefully arrive at Rochdale.

One of his most vivid arrived in his side's very unfortunate FA Cup exit at Barnsley in November. It proved a catalyst, according to the boss.

It was a day when York were unfortunate not to progress against a rival 44 places higher than them in the league pyramid. Despite defeat at Oakwell – on a day when visiting fans provided half of the crowd – Maynard's Minstermen announced themselves.

He continued: “I believe that we've created a lot of memories this season and that goes back to Barnsley away. I thought the lads on the day against a League One side performed like a League One team and deserved to win that game.

“And I think from that moment on, I think that created a real, real belief.”

A Buckinghamshire man, Maynard and his family have found a home up north. The shirts he spots in his adopted city are York ones as opposed to Leeds United – even if there might also be a few of those dotted around this weekend.

It's a story which surely has several chapters still to write at a club on the up, and he wants to be the author.

Maynard, who was appointed last August, added: “I believe that we're a massive football club and we've seen that with our support.

“I think it's over 4,000 now that we have sold just to come and watch the game on a big screen as we couldn't get more away tickets at Rochdale.

“It shows how far the club's come since the owners have come in and what an incredible job they've done on and off the pitch.”