Which is better?

[Tin Monkey]

Winning the League, or winning the play-offs?

I ask this not because I feel jealous of the exposure gained by Play-off winning teams, but because it seems all out of proportion to what has actually been achieved. These teams haven't won a League, in fact very often they weren't even runners up.

When we won the Conference there was a fair amount of exposure, but last week Radio Lancashire had a Morecambe story running every single day and on every programme they had. In addition to that, Morecambe also had a game at Wembley and a nice trophy to collect at the end. In some ways, it could be argued that winning the title is now the less desirable outcome to a season.

Any thoughts?

[AccyMad]

Know what you mean TM, but I'd rather gain promotion by winning the league anyday. Plus it means we can still have bragging rights over the Shrimps cos we did it before them in the proper way and not through the back door

[Alvin the chipmunk]

What looks better TM? Winning the league after only 3 years, or spending 15 years there to win the play-offs? Also, "Conference Champions 05/06" looks a lot better on the club honours list. But I take the point about Wembley.

[maccawozzagod]

its a nice, albeit expensive, day out for the fans, and no doubt the board would enjoy hobnobbing around the exec boxes at Wembley (do they do sausage rolls?) but,

after we won the league and Hereford won the play offs it was widely conceded that they made next to nowt on the gate receipts etc as the money is pooled between all the teams in the league after expenses have been taken out. You are likely only to make money on the home leg of the semi-final and then only on programmes etc as that money is also pooled.

Personally I'd enjoy a day out at Wembley to watch Stanley but could do without spending over a hundred quid!

Title every time please.

[Alvin the chipmunk]

I dont know if they do sausage rolls, but if they did I don't think Eric would fancy paying a fiver for it.

[maccawozzagod]

especially not when he only eats half of it (see sig)

[harwood red]

I think I would go for the glory of winning the league, especially if as macca says the gate receipts are pooled..

Plus, although Morecambe may have had a fair amount of exposure since their promotion I doubt they had as much national exposure as we did..

question is ..... Is that cos we're accy stanley...the biggest small club in the world and the history that goes with it or because we were the champions??

[Kiwi John]

Was thinking along similar lines myself TM. I understand its every players dream to grace the Wembley turf, so it seems strange that a degree of mediocrity is rewarded in the form of playoffs there...kinda cheapens the prestige of making the cup final..

[Oldgobbin]

"Conference Champions 05/06" looks a lot better on the club honours list."
I quite agree Alvin. Unfortunately on the Fishy site honours list it just isn't there! The last thing we won according to that is the Marsden Trophy in 2004-2005!!!!!

[cmonstanley]

winning the league is better because it will always be in the history books plus i dont want to be part of the extortion racket called wembley would they reduce prices because there would be less demand .i think not


eric whalley loyal no1

[Zero]

Champions is best but play off winners is definitely better than second automatic promotion spot.

To think you`ve spent all season to become runners up then 6th place get all that glory.

[Morecambe_Red]

winning the title is better for your nerves.

but the feeling when the final whistle went at Wembley and seeing your team go up to the Royal box is unbelievable.

[Chimer]

I just wonder how many more people might have jumped on the bandwagon if it had gone via Cardiff (perhaps not as many as for a Wembley final) - I know on principle you are scornful about bandwagon jumpers , but some might have stuck it out and pushed the gates up for the following season.