Third Time Lucky? Boreham Wood Chase Wembley Glory Against Fallen Giants Rochdale
The Wood have made a habit of heartbreak at Wembley, but Luke Garrard's resurgent side face former EFL stalwarts Rochdale in Sunday's National League promotion final with everything to play for.
Some clubs collect silverware. Others collect near-misses and cruel twists of fate. Boreham Wood, bless them, have turned the latter into something of an art form – but Sunday at Wembley offers a chance to finally flip the script.
The Wood find themselves back under the arch for the National League promotion final, squaring off against Rochdale in what promises to be a fascinatingly lopsided affair. On one side, you have a club that has never tasted life among the elite 92 EFL sides. On the other, a fallen giant nursing wounds from their unceremonious tumble from grace.
For Boreham Wood, this represents the third bite of the cherry – though previous attempts have left them with rather more pulp than fruit. The 2018 final saw them fall 2-1 to Tranmere, while 2023 brought fresh agony with a 3-2 semi-final defeat to Notts County. There's only so much character-building heartbreak a club can endure before you start wondering if the football gods have a particularly cruel sense of humour.
Enter Luke Garrard, who returned to the Wood dugout in September 2024 like a manager with unfinished business. His previous tenure ended in relegation, but sometimes football offers the most compelling redemption arcs to those brave enough to answer the call. That he's guided them back to Wembley suggests either remarkable tactical evolution or sheer bloody-mindedness – possibly both.
Rochdale's journey reads rather differently. Three years ago, they were still comfortable members of the EFL family after a remarkable 102-year stay. Then 2023 happened, relegation bit hard, and suddenly they found themselves mixing it with the non-league masses. It's the kind of fall that either breaks clubs entirely or forges them into something harder, more determined.
Their route to Wembley wasn't exactly straightforward either. A last-gasp equaliser by York City ensured Rochdale finished second, meaning they had to navigate the lottery of the play-offs rather than celebrating automatic promotion. Sometimes the scenic route makes the destination more meaningful.
Come Sunday, one club will taste the sweet relief of achieving their ultimate goal. Boreham Wood would finally crack the code that has eluded them twice before, earning their place among football's traditional 92. Rochdale would complete a three-year exile that must have felt considerably longer.
The beauty of Wembley finals lies not just in the destination, but in the stories that brought both sides there. One way or another, someone's long wait ends on Sunday.