Sunday: Brackley Town v Harriers

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RUSS Penn has spoken of “special moments” as he prepares to lead his team into a first ever Promotion Final on Sunday.

Harriers travel to Brackley Town for a 3:30pm kick off knowing that one of the two sides will be celebrating promotion to the National League come the end of the day.

It caps a stunning end-of-season run for the Reds, who go into the challenge on the back of eight successive league victories.

Harriers aren’t happy to just be there, though – Penn has said the focus remains clear.

He reflected: “It has been a mammoth season with lots of emotion and lots of ups and downs, but the last two months have been fantastic.

“We want to finish the job off now. We’re not coming on Sunday to make the numbers up; we’re going to win the game.

“We’re confident but we’re also very respectful as well.

“It’s down to the lads. I just manage them – they’ve churned out results and performances for the last ten weeks because we didn’t get the rub of the green in a couple of the draws we had before the Farsley game.

“It’s just gone bit by bit, better by better.”

The team will arguably assess the full season once it has concluded, according to the gaffer, but there’s little denying the last couple of months has changed the complexion of 2022-23 completely.

But Harriers are also preparing for their biggest challenge of the season against arguably the toughest opponent possible.

Brackley, perennial play-off challengers, have had another superb season and are consistently one of the toughest nuts to crack in National League North.

The boss knows that, too. Of his team’s season, he added: “We’ve gone from one extreme to another.

“You’ve got to be judged at the end of a season, and it has been a good season if you look at the league table and you look at where we are now, one game away from getting promoted.

“It is our toughest game of the season on Sunday, no doubt about that.

“I respect Gaz [Dean] and their group a lot, they have a lot of good players and they’ve been in this position before.”

Sunday’s Promotion Final at Brackley is sold out for all supporters – Harriers know they’ll be backed superbly by 700 away fans.

That’s nothing new, particularly in these play-offs, with huge numbers travelling to Alfreton and King’s Lynn so far.

“They have done all season,” says Penn of the way fans have got behind their team. “Our away support has been very good and our home support has been fantastic as well.

“They’ve stuck with us through the rough times, but this is what we’re in the game for – it’s special moments now.

“We’re one game away from the prize and we want everyone supporting us, there and back at [Aggborough], and wherever they’ll be watching.

“Hopefully we can do it for them.”

Kick-off on Sunday is at 3:30pm and the match will be broadcast live on BT Sport.

TICKETS AND ENTRY

This match is sold out. Do not travel to Brackley without a match ticket as none will be sold on the day.

Please arrive as early as possible ahead of kick off as queues are likely. Turnstiles open from 12noon.

Screenings of the match at the Aggborough Suite and Harriers Arms at Aggborough have also sold out.

PARKING

There is no car parking available at Brackley for supporters due to the increased presence of officials, broadcast crew and other guests.

Brackley report that there is an industrial estate five minutes’ walk from the ground: Oxford Road, Brackley NN13 7DY. This is next to the fire and police station.

The town has limited parking but up to three hours only, as does Tesco which is minutes from the ground.

Some on-street parking is available near the ground, too, but with all of the above, please park responsibly and with consideration to residents and restrictions in place.

SUPPORTER CONDUCT

We know that the overwhelming majority of our supporters on Sunday will travel to support their team responsibly.

However, we again reinforce our message from throughout this season in support of The FA’s campaign against misconduct at matches.

There is a zero tolerance for behaviour of this kind, including but not limited to discriminatory chanting of any kind, throwing objects towards the pitch, entering the field of play at any time and the use of pyrotechnics. All of these acts are a criminal offence.

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