No better way to get promoted than winning at Wembley, says Sullivan

DONCASTER ROVERS going head-to-head with Leeds United at Wembley was a premonition John Ryan had told the Yorkshire Post about several months earlier.

What is more, the Rovers chairman had also informed readers of this newspaper that it would be his own club who would prevail at the rebuilt national stadium and book a return to a level they had last graced half a century earlier.

It was to be hoped Ryan also took a punt at the Lottery that week as, come May 25, 2008, Doncaster did, indeed, fulfil his dream and clinch promotion to the Championship by beating Leeds in front of a 75,132 crowd.

James Hayter scored the only goal of the game 96 seconds into the second half to settle the first all-White Rose play-off final in favour of Sean O’Driscoll’s side.

Rovers were full value for their victory, even if it meant a season where Leeds had shown an amazing ability to overcome whatever was thrown their way would end in stomach-turning disappointment for the estimated 55,000 United fans who made the trip south. Nine months earlier, United had been hit with a 15-point deduction for failing to follow the Football League’s policy on insolvency when exiting administration.

A subsequent legal challenge failed to overturn the penalty, which is why Leeds found themselves in the play-offs when, in any other season, the on-field deeds of Gary McAllister’s side in 2007-08 would have been enough to clinch runners-up spot, a point behind champions Swansea City.

Doncaster’s season may not have been anywhere near as turbulent but it was, nevertheless, a dramatic affair with only a late stumble in form that culminated in a final-day defeat at Cheltenham Town allowing Nottingham Forest to claim automatic promotion.

It left Rovers, who finished third in the table and just two points adrift of Forest, to face Southend United in the semi-finals, who they then overcame 5-1 on aggregate to set up a Wembley showdown with Leeds.

NEIL SULLIVAN

DONCASTER ROVERS

“Winning an all-Yorkshire play-off final is a brilliant experience. The build-up to the game is quite intense and for me, personally, it was exciting because I was also playing against my old club.

“I lived nearer to Leeds than Doncaster and was aware that everyone was talking about it. I was getting it from both ends. Everyone wanted to talk about the game.

“As professionals, you want to treat all local derbies as ‘normal’ games but there is still that sense that it means a lot more to the people who live around you. They want the bragging rights.You knew about the other team because you had played them twice but there are also players you know in the other side.

“It is a fantastic atmosphere at Wembley when two local rivals are involved. It was definitely one of the highlights of my career because it meant so much to so many people.

“Unfortunately, one of the teams has to lose but you would rather be in the final than not. I was in the Leeds team that lost to Watford in the play-off final and, trust me, that was not a good feeling. You spend the whole season trying to get promoted and if you fall short at the final hurdle it is devastating. But there is no better way to get promoted.

“It’s funny that, like me, Ian Bennett could be playing in the final against his former club. I was with ‘Benno’ at Leeds and he is a great goalkeeper. He has worked really hard to get where he is and I hope he plays. He has done really well for Huddersfield this season but picked up a knock in the semi-final against MK Dons.

“People kept asking me about my former club before the game. I loved my time at Leeds, it was a fantastic club, and I had a great time there, but football moves on. You just want to do your best for the club paying your wages and for the supporters who pay to see you week-in, week-out.

“We had a great time after beating Leeds at Wembley. We all got back on the bus to Doncaster and went into town celebrating with the fans. There were a lot of sore heads the following morning.

“This League One play-off final is so tough to call. I know ‘Benno’ and I think it will be tough for Sheffield United against a natural-born goalscorer like Jordan Rhodes. I am going to sit on the fence. But, whichever team goes up, I think they will be a good addition to the Championship.”

NEIL KILKENNY

LEEDS UNITED

“I wasn’t at the club when the Football League hit us with a 15-point penalty as I only joined in January from Birmingham City. But it had created a spirit among the squad that meant we never gave up, no matter what barrier we had to overcome.

“It didn’t matter what it was – the 15 points, Dennis Wise leaving just after I had signed, or Gus Poyet doing the same a few weeks earlier – the lads just got on with it.

“Even in the play-off semi-finals, we were 2-0 behind during the first leg at home to Carlisle United but we still went through 3-2 on aggregate after winning the return 2-0.

“By the time we got to Wembley, Gary McAllister was manager and we had a big belief that it would be us and not Doncaster going up.

“On a personal level, it was strange to be playing Doncaster as I had come very close to signing for them before opting for Leeds. Sean O’Driscoll made it clear he liked me a lot.

“Doncaster also played some good football back then so I was tempted, especially when Sean said I would fit in perfectly. But then I spoke to Dennis and he convinced me to join Leeds.

“There was a little bit made about it being an all-Yorkshire final and I suppose it made things a bit different as there was an added rivalry. But we were just focused on ourselves. The size of Leeds United meant we were always going to take a lot of fans with us but to take as many as we did was amazing. The atmosphere was brilliant as we came out and we just wanted to repay that support by winning the game. Unfortunately, Doncaster got the goal through James Hayter. I was on the post and only a foot or so away as the ball flew into the net. I wish I could have read it, even though the header was a good one.

“We tried to get back into it but couldn’t. The final whistle blowing was an awful feeling. We lost again the following year in the semi-finals to Millwall and that was horrible. But, if anything, losing a final at Wembley is even worse.

“Leeds finally went up two years later and that was a sweet feeling. But I wish we could have won promotion at Wembley as there must be no better feeling.”