On Monday night Exeter City aim to end an eight-year absence from League One, and in doing so hope to banish memories of their 2017 and 2018 Play-Off Final defeats.
Current Exeter City manager Matt Taylor was part of Paul Tisdale’s coaching team for those losses to Blackpool and Coventry City, but on Monday he’ll be taking his place in the Wembley dugout as manager for the first time, hoping to lead his side to victory.
As well as the agonising Play-Off defeats in recent years, Taylor of course has experienced plenty of highs with the Devon club. He made more than 150 appearances for the Grecians as a player, winning back to back promotions during his time, most notably being a part of the side that won promotion to the Football League in 2008.
“As a player you don’t really take much of the game in, you’re just so focused on getting the job done and making sure you come out as the winner at the end,” he explains.
"I was incredibly nervous at the start of that game I remember that much,” he says, recalling the 2008 Conference Play-Off Final.
“That game wasn’t much of a spectacle from what I can remember, we scored in the first-half and then pretty much defended for the second-half, it’s not until you’re with the family and friends that you realised what you have achieved.
This will be Exeter’s third League Two Play-Off Final in four seasons, with the Grecians falling at the final hurdle twice previously. Taylor hope this time will be different, however.
“I have tried my best not too look back at the win that day or the two last defeats in the previous Play-Off Finals,” he admits.
"This is a totally new group of lads, who are determined to make their mark in the history of Exeter City Football Club.”
Taylor’s side have had less than a week to prepare for Monday’s Wembley Final, and he’s hoping that the short build-up will help the club end their Wembley hoodoo.
With the game being played behind closed doors, it will be a strange affair for all involved, but Taylor has been keen to point out that it is another day at the office for his players.
“Playing at Wembley without the fans there will be totally different,” he continues.
"We trained at our stadium on Saturday which is around 8,000 capacity mark, Wembley Stadium has 80,000 more seats!
“But the players have to understand that nothing is going to change, the pitch dimensions are the same, everything is the same in what we are asking from them and nothing changes from what I set out to do from day one when I was appointed as the manager of the club.
“We have a team of really good people, really good players and all I want is for them to go and attack it. Anyone who has been involved with Exeter understands that we have a recent history with Wembley, and I want to make sure that we’re not going to be left wanting at the end of this one.”
Monday night’s Play-Off Final kicks off at 7.30pm and can be watched live on Sky Sports. The action can also be followed on Twitter via @SkyBetLeagueTwo.