What would you choose? Relegation/Survival v FA Trophy Final Win/Loss

[Peter macdonald]

Re the last question, “Aldershot Town defeat Woking in the SF to reach Wembley for the first time and then win the FA Trophy Final but suffer relegation”. An immediate comparison that came to my mind is Wigan Athletic. In 2013 they won the FA Cup beating Man City but were relegated from the PL the same season. They now play in league 1 (division 3 in old money). Although it’s at a much higher level than us I wouldn’t want us to suffer a similar fate insofar as not getting back up. So, to me it’s avoid relegation and treat the Trophy as a bonus, whatever the outcome.

I wonder if Wigan fans value that day out over the following league seasons? I remember a few of them not caring too much about relegation at the time.

Wigan are a traditional lower league club who punched well above their weight for a good few years. In their position I think I'd have taken the glory of an FA Cup win over PL survival.

I'd say the same with us if we were miraculously in the championship. I'd take an FA Cup for relegation back to 3rd tier. But the NL is the minimum level we should be competing at so I wouldn't entertain the idea of relegation to regional football for a less glamorous trophy win at Wembley.

Good post but we’re going to do both!

[Triggers Broom]

I wonder if Wigan fans value that day out over the following league seasons? I remember a few of them not caring too much about relegation at the time.

Wigan are a traditional lower league club who punched well above their weight for a good few years. In their position I think I'd have taken the glory of an FA Cup win over PL survival.

I'd say the same with us if we were miraculously in the championship. I'd take an FA Cup for relegation back to 3rd tier. But the NL is the minimum level we should be competing at so I wouldn't entertain the idea of relegation to regional football for a less glamorous trophy win at Wembley.

Good post but we’re going to do both!

We won't be getting relegated but I'm not counting any chickens re Saturday given the number of times we've bottled big games in previous trophy semis and playoffs. But win on Saturday and I might just get a semi

[Peter macdonald]

Wigan are a traditional lower league club who punched well above their weight for a good few years. In their position I think I'd have taken the glory of an FA Cup win over PL survival.

I'd say the same with us if we were miraculously in the championship. I'd take an FA Cup for relegation back to 3rd tier. But the NL is the minimum level we should be competing at so I wouldn't entertain the idea of relegation to regional football for a less glamorous trophy win at Wembley.

Good post but we’re going to do both!

We won't be getting relegated but I'm not counting any chickens re Saturday given the number of times we've bottled big games in previous trophy semis and playoffs. But win on Saturday and I might just get a semi

I will risk the great grandmother of hangovers if we win due to not drinking much in the last 8 months or so but I won’t care about that

[stevieshot]

I've been tee-total for nearly 20 years, but if we get to Wembley, I will have a few. It's been my dream for well over 50 years. And I've suffered enough heartache.

[dougoftheshots]

In 1955 my dad took me to watch my first Aldershot game at the age of 4 so its always been a dream to one day watch an Aldershot team at Wembley so now being at the age of 74 i pray to god that my 70yr wait will be over and i can say i saw the shots at Wembley .

[Peter macdonald]

In 1955 my dad took me to watch my first Aldershot game at the age of 4 so its always been a dream to one day watch an Aldershot team at Wembley so now being at the age of 74 i pray to god that my 70yr wait will be over and i can say i saw the shots at Wembley .

A good omen is Newcastle went 70 years without winning a domestic trophy till the other day

[Mytchett shot]

Survival all day long but I think that’s a certainty now. Getting to Wembley for some of us older supporters has always been a ambition and for me personally the final is on Saturday, if we did get through to the final I would obviously want us too win but it would be a day of enjoying the fact we are playing there, I would not be disappointed if we lost but will be devastated if we lose Saturday

[Sean Chambers]

Losing the semi would be worse than the final I think

Most definitely especially to them.

Beg to differ. I think most of us would prefer to lose the SF rather than the Final.
We don't have much to shout about, but our 100% record at Wembley (4 wins out of 4) is something we're very proud of

I get why your mob would prefer that option as you have played there and want to keep that record.

[Aldershot]

I'd personally rather see an FA Trophy win at Wembley over NL survival. I could understand it if was Premier League survival and the glamour of playing big sides, but in reality it'd just be switching the likes of playing Braintree and Tamworth. At the end of the day, this is a one-off opportunity to see The Shots win at Wembley, those moments live in the memory forever. I feel like when the new club was set-up the ultimate goal was to reach the Football League one day, and once that was achieved, it was a case of what now? This is something else to try and attain. Then hopefully one day we might see The Shots push for promotion back to the Football League, although sadly I feel it's unlikely under the current ownership.