Gillingham

[Chicken Balti Pie]

Only needing a point, 1-0 up in the 88th minute.

Unbelievable.

I firmly believe that day was the catalyst for our non-league days, who knows where we’d be had we stayed up that day.

Whilst chastening and painful, dropping down to NL probably helped us more than we could imagine. It allowed us to rebuild, get a few seasons challenging at the top end of a league which builds crowds and momentum as well. No one wants to end up down there but look at Luton, Lincoln and Leyton Orient. Two are established league one sides now and one had a season in the premier league

[upthemaggies]

Whilst chastening and painful, dropping down to NL probably helped us more than we could imagine. It allowed us to rebuild, get a few seasons challenging at the top end of a league which builds crowds and momentum as well. No one wants to end up down there but look at Luton, Lincoln and Leyton Orient. Two are established league one sides now and one had a season in the premier league

Oxford are the other major success story after dropping into tier 5. Wrexham, Bristol Rovers, Stags and Cambridge have all returned to tier 3 without yet making their next move one way or the other.

It hasn't worked out so well for Tranmere, Carlisle, Grimsby and Hartlepool - the latter pair returning to tier 5. It was a disaster for York and Torquay who ended sinking even deeper than tier 5 after coming back up to tier 4.

[slack_pie]

Oxford are the other major success story after dropping into tier 5. Wrexham, Bristol Rovers, Stags and Cambridge have all returned to tier 3 without yet making their next move one way or the other.

It hasn't worked out so well for Tranmere, Carlisle, Grimsby and Hartlepool - the latter pair returning to tier 5. It was a disaster for York and Torquay who ended sinking even deeper than tier 5 after coming back up to tier 4.

Stockport as well. They've risen three steps up the ladder in recent years, albeit by spending significantly more than most of the clubs around them.