Football League will benefit from two former members going up from the Conference

By Steven Oldham

Conference champions Luton Town could break through the 100 point barrier in this weekend's last game of the season away at already-relegated Hyde.

Having already wrapped up the title and scored 101 goals, a three digit points total would be the perfect way to bookend their season (neatly against the bottom placed club).

It is the sort of romp to the championship that many have expected of Luton for several seasons since their relegation to non-league five years ago.

Few in the football world begrudge Luton their success, a famous old Football League name for nearly 90 years before their recent demise.

The battle to join them in League Two next season is far from over though with Cambridge United, Grimsby Town joined in the playoffs by two from FC Halifax, Gateshead and Braintree Town.

Reaching the playoffs is an achievement for any team - but it's even more impressive for Halifax and Braintree should they make it, who remain part time and have eclipsed bigger names such as Barnet and Wrexham this season.

In recent years, the Skrill Premier has become a bit of a graveyard for former Football League teams who've fallen on hard times.  As well as Luton, the likes of Cambridge, Grimsby, Wrexham, Lincoln, Hereford and Barnet have failed to bounce back in to the 92 in quick fashion.  Indeed, Hereford are in grave danger of being relegated once again sitting in the bottom four with one left to play.

This is why I'm glad this season two of the old names are set to contend for the second promotion slot.  Recent years have seen many clubs making their Football League debuts rising from the Conference, including Stevenage, Crawley, Fleetwood and Dagenham & Redbridge.

While these clubs are well-run, professional outfits who have earned and consolidated their places, they lack the Football League history of these clubs who have clashed many times over the years albeit in a higher division than they currently lie.

If Luton thought five years was bad enough, Cambridge have been attempting to rejoin the Football League since relegation in 2005.  Twice beaten playoff finalists, this will be the first time in five seasons they will be competing in the end-of-season showdown.

It is also likely the clubs already operating on professional status will stand a better chance of survival in League Two, rather than jumping from semi-pro to full time over the summer.  This would probably prove too big a leap for the part-timers in such a short space of time.

One pitfall of the bigger clubs leaving is the drop in attendances that will be felt by all Conference sides next season - none of the clubs in contention for relegation to the division attract as sizable a crowd as Luton.  While The Hatters may not think this is a good thing, their stay in non-league has boosted many club's bank accounts in recent years.

It's not a foregone conclusion that either Cambridge or Grimsby will make the final either - United have lost three straight games while Town tripped up against likely semi final opponents Halifax last week.

Putting the stats aside however I feel the Football League will be richer for having two of it's old members back next year rather than one.  Which one, should they reach the final, is anyone's guess.

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