League One play-off final: Stockport and Bolton aim to end relegation from the second tier

Stockport are preparing for their second trip to Wembley this season Defeated by Luton Town In the final of the Virtu Trophy last month.

“It’s definitely beneficial,” Challinor believes. “It doesn’t mean you just turn up and win the game because you got there six weeks ago.

“But all the routine of everything you do, whether it’s traveling by bus, whether it’s seeing the stadium for the first time, whether it’s driving down to the stadium to get to the changing rooms, we’ve experienced that.

“So if it’s new, it’s not something we have to go through again without knowing.”

To continue the full circle theme, Challinor’s first game in charge of the club was against Bolton in the FA Cup, when they drew 2–2 and later won a replay at Edgley Park – a feat made all the more impressive given that his side were in the National League at the time.

“To start my career here in November 2021 with an FA Cup tie, now to face Bolton in the play-off final at Wembley, there are always things in football that are linked, it’s kind of key.”

“In the five years I’ve been here we’ve had some great fights and competitions, obviously with local rivalries.

“We were a few steps behind them, we caught up. But there are two really, really good teams who deserve to be where they are, both of which have match winners between them.”