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How Our Predecessors Fared
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With the Daggers on the brink of being the twenty-second Conference
team to gain promotion to the Football League, DiggerDagger.com
takes a look at the twenty-one teams that have gone before and how
they fared after promotion. As we will see, the fortunes have
been mixed to say the least:
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1986/87 - Scarborough
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 After
beating Barnet to the GM Vauxhall Conference title with a 6 point
winning margin, Scarborough were promoted to the Football League
Division 4.
They finished their first season in the League in a respectable
12th place and, the following season made the Division 4 Play-Offs,
mixed fortunes in the following eight seasons saw them flirt with
relegation in some seasons and maintain a respectable mid-table
position in others.
The 1997/98 season saw another Play-Off appearance, but the following
season saw a last minute goal from Carlisle United's on-loan goalkeeper,
Jimmy Glass consign Scarborough to their first ever relegation.
Despite finishing in a respectable 4th place in their first season
back in the Conference, Scarborough's next few seasons were unremarkable
and they were relegated to the Conference North at the end of the
2005/06 season.
This season has been another poor one for The Seadogs and they
look likely to be relegated once again.
Daggers
v Scarborough 2003
Seasons in league : 12
Subsequent promotions
: 0
Subsequent relegations : 2 (likely to soon be 3)
Highest
finish since promotion : 5th in Football League Division 4 (1988/89)
Lowest
finish since promotion : Current Season (2006/07)
Where they
are now : Conference North
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1987/88 - Lincoln City
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 In
1987/88, Lincoln became the first team to bounce straight back into
the Football League from the Conference having been relegated the
season before.
Since their single season in the Conference, Lincoln have survived
well in the Football League and, apart from the 2000/01 and 2001/02
seasons, have not really threatened to be involved in a relegation
battle.
In 1997/98, The Imps won promotion to Division 2 (Now League
1), but only lasted one season in the higher league.
Despite this, they have also made the League 2 Play-Offs in each
of the last four seasons and look like doing so again this term.
Seasons in league : 19
Subsequent promotions
: 1
Subsequent relegations : 1
Highest finish since promotion
: 23rd in Football League Division 2 (1998/99)
Lowest finish
since promotion : 22nd in Football League Division 3 (2001/02)
Where
they are now : League 2
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1988/89 - Maidstone United
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 In
1988/89, Maidstone United won the GM Vauxhall Conference for
the second time, having been denied promotion in 1983/84 under the
old re-election rules.
Despite making the Division 4 Play-Offs in their first season,
financial problems beset the Kent side and in 1992/93, they folded.
In recent years, Maidstone Invicta, the club that rose from the
ashes of the defunct club have taken on the Maidstone United
name and are steadily climbing their way back up the pyramid. This
season, they look like securing promotion from the Ryman League
Division One South.
Seasons in league : 3
Subsequent promotions
: 0
Subsequent relegations : 0
Highest finish since promotion
: 5th in Football League Division 4 (1989/90)
Lowest finish since
promotion : 19th in Football League Division 4 (1990/91)
Where
they are now : Folded - New club in Ryman League Division One
South
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1989/90 - Darlington
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 In
1989/90, Darlington became the scond club to win am immediate return
to the Football League after relegation to the Conference.
Their single season in non-league seemed to do the Quakers good
as they were crowned Champions of Division 4 the following season,
although they only managed one season in Division 3.
Since then, Darlington have established themselves as a constant
League 2 team, making the Play-Offs twice.
Seasons in league : 17
Subsequent promotions
: 1
Subsequent relegations : 1
Highest finish since promotion
: 24th in Football League Division 3 (1991/92)
Lowest finish
since promotion : 20th in Football League Division 3 (2000/01)
Where
they are now : League 2
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1990/91 & 2004/05 - Barnet
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 Barnet
have the distinction of being the only club so far to have been
promoted twice from the Conference.
Their inintial promotion in 1990/91 saw them make the Football
League Play-Offs and, the following year, the Underhill side
managed to secure automatic promotion to Division 2.
However, financial problems surrounding then Chairman, Stan
Flashman, led to most of the squad having their contracts nullified
and the Bees were relegated back to Division 3.
Subsequent seasons saw the Hertfordshire side make the Play-Offs
twice before they were relegated back to the Conference at the end
of the 2000/01 season.
After making the Conference Play-Offs in 2003/04, the Bees romped
to the Conference title the following season.
Their first season back in the League saw them finish in 18th
place, with a similar looking finish on the cards this season.
Daggers
v Barnet 2003
Seasons in league : 10 / 2
Subsequent promotions
: 1
Subsequent relegations : 2
Highest finish since promotion
: 24th in Football League Division 2 (1993/94) / 18th in League
2 (2005/06)
Lowest finish since promotion : 11th in Conference
(2002/03)
Where they are now : League 2
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1991/92 - Colchester United
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 After
losing out to Barnet in 1990/91, Colchester United ensured their
stay in the Conference would only be two seasons when they pipped
Wycombe Wanderers to the title the following season on goal difference,
winning the FA Trophy in the same year to complete a non-league
"double".
The Us soon re-established themselves as a Football League side,
making the Play-Offs in 1995/96 and again in 1997/98, this time
winning promotion to Division 2.
In 2005/06, they were runners-up in League 1 and won promotion
to the Football League Championship.
This season, they look on course to secure a mid-table slot.
Seasons in league : 15
Subsequent promotions
: 2
Subsequent relegations : 0
Highest finish since promotion
: Current Season (2006/07)
Lowest finish since promotion : 17th
in Football League Division 3 (1993/94)
Where they are now : Championship
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1992/93 - Wycombe Wanderers
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 After
being pipped to the title on goal difference by Colchester United
in 1991/92, Wycombe repeated the U's feat of the season before,
winning the non-league double and promotion to the Football League
in 1992/93.
Their impact on the Football League was immediate, with the Bucks
side winning the Football League Division 3 play-off at the first
attempt.
The 2003/04 season, however, saw Wanderers finish bottom of Division
2 and relegated to League 2 following the restructure of the Football
League. Last season saw them miss-out on promotion, despite
making the Play-Offs and this season, they look well in contention
to make the Play-Offs once again.
It is in the cups, however, that Wycombe have really shone, losing
to Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final in 2000/01 and to Chelsea
in the Carling Cup semi-final in 2006/07, having held the Premiership
champions to a draw at Adams Park in the first leg.
Seasons in league : 14
Subsequent promotions
: 1
Subsequent relegations : 1
Highest finish since promotion
: 6th in Football League Division 2 (1994/95)
Lowest finish since
promotion : 10th in League 2 (2004/05)
Where they are now : League
2
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1996/97 - Macclesfield Town
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 Having
been denied promotion to the Football League in 1994/95 due to their
Moss Rose ground not meeting the Football League requirements by
the deadline, the Silkmen were promoted two seasons later when they
beat Kidderminster Harriers to the Conference title.
Like Wycombe, their impact on the Football League was immediate
with them finishing as Division 3 runners-up in their first season
and sealing promotion to Division 2.
However, their time in Division 2 was to be brief with them ending
the 1998/99 season rock-bottom of Division 2 and relegated back
to Division 3 where they have stayed ever since.
Seasons in league : 10
Subsequent promotions
: 1
Subsequent relegations : 1
Highest finish since promotion
: 24th in Football League Division 2 (1998/99)
Lowest finish
since promotion : 20th in Football League Division 3 (2003/04)
Where
they are now : League 2
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1997/98 - Halifax Town
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 After
flirting with relegation from the Conference in 1996/97, The Shaymen
won the Conference title in 1997/98 and promotion back into the
Football League.
Their stay in the League was to be relatively short-lived, however,
lasting only four seasons before suffering relegation back to the
Conference at the end of the 2001/02 season.
In 2005/06, a 4th place finish in the Conference earned them
a play-off berth, but they were unable to attain promotion again
and, this season, look set to drop out of the Conference into Conference
North.
Daggers
v Halifax Town 2004 (c) Simmo
Seasons in league : 4
Subsequent promotions
: 0
Subsequent relegations : 1 (likely to soon be 2)
Highest
finish since promotion : 10th in Football League Division 3 (1998/99)
Lowest
finish since promotion : 19th in Conference (2003/04 - This season
looks worse)
Where they are now : Conference
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1998/99 - Cheltenham Town
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 Having
finished runners-up to Halifax in 1997/98, Cheltenham Town went
one better the following year and secured promotion to the Football
League.
In 2001/02, The Robins secured promotion to Division 2 through
the Play-Offs, but they were relegated the following season.
Last season saw them secure promotion to League 1 through another
Play-Off and they look like they are just about on course to remain
in League one for next term.
Seasons in league : 8
Subsequent promotions
: 2
Subsequent relegations : 1
Highest finish since promotion
: 21st in Football League Division 2 (2002/03)
Lowest finish
since promotion : 14th in League 2 (2004/05)
Where they are now
: League 1
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1999/00 - Kidderminster Harriers
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 After
gaining promotion in 1999/00, Kidderminster spent five unremarkable
seasons in the bottom rung of the Football League, rejoining the
Conference for the 2005/06 season.
This season is again unremarkable with Harriers occupying a mid-table
berth.
Seasons in league : 5
Subsequent promotions
: 0
Subsequent relegations : 1
Highest finish since promotion
: 10th in Football League Division 3 (2001/02)
Lowest finish
since promotion : 15th in Conference (2005/06)
Where they are
now : Conference
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2000/01 - Rushden & Diamonds
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 There's
not much that is left to be said about Max Griggs' bankrolling of
Rushden & Diamonds and his subsequent exit. However, suffice
to say that Rushden started their Football League career well.
In their first season, they missed out on promotion, losing in
the Play-Off final.
The following season, they won Division 3 and were promoted to
Division 2.
However, since then, things have not been so rosy. Money
man Max Griggs has pulled-out from the Club and they have faced
a series of poor seasons, being relegated from Division 2 to the
newly renamed League 2 in 2003/04.
The following season saw them just avoid relegation back to the
Conference, but they could not avoid the drop at the end of 2005/06
and have spent 2006/07 trying to re-establish themselves as a quality
side.
Seasons in league : 5
Subsequent promotions
: 1
Subsequent relegations : 2-
Highest finish since promotion
: 22nd in Football League Division 2
Lowest finish since promotion : Current
Season
Where they are now : Conference
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2001/02 - Boston United
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 Following
their highly controversial promotion to the Football League, Boston
have had a turgid time in the Football League.
Four points deducted in their first season, manager banned from
football, then returning and a seemingly never-ending stream of
bad press and financial difficulties have dogged the Pilgrims since
their promotion.
This season, it is looking increasingly likely that some form
of justice will be done with the Daggers swapping places with the
York Street side.
Seasons in league : 5
Subsequent promotions
: 0
Subsequent relegations : 0 (1 hopefully to come)
Highest finish since promotion
: 11th in Football League Division 3 / League 2 (2003/04 and 2005/06)
Lowest finish since promotion : Current
Season
Where they are now : Staring relegation back to the
Conference in the face
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2002/03 - Yeovil Town
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 Following
their promotion to the Football League at the end of the 2002/03
season, Yeovil Town have established themselves as a solid Football
League team.
An eighth place finish in their first season, they won League
2 the following year to secure promotion to League 1 and consolidated
this with a mid-table finish the next season.
This season, the Glovers look well on course to obtain a Play-Off
berth.
Daggers
v Yeovil 2003
Seasons in league : 4
Subsequent promotions
: 1
Subsequent relegations : 0
Highest finish since promotion
: Current Season (2006/07)
Lowest finish since promotion : 8th in Football
League Division 3 (2003/04)
Where they are now : League 1
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2002/03 - Doncaster Rovers
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 After
relegation to the Conference at the end of the 1997/98 season, Doncaster
took four seasons of rebuilding, improving their finishing league
position each season until, in 2002/03, they finished 3rd and joined
the Daggers in the inaugural Conference Play-Offs. Their golden
goal was enough to see them promoted in place of the Daggers and,
since then, they have gone from strength to strength.
Their first season back in the league saw them romp to the Division
2 title, gaining promotion to the newly renamed League 1.
They have finished in upper mid-table in both seasons since their
promotion and look like doing so again this term.
They also won the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in 2006/07, the last
major domestic English cup final to be contested in Cardiff following
the completion of Wembley Stadium.
Daggers
v Doncaster Play-Off Final 2003
Seasons in league : 4
Subsequent promotions
: 1
Subsequent relegations : 0
Highest finish since promotion
: 8th in League 1 (2005/06)
Lowest finish since promotion : 1st in Football
League Division 3 (2003/04)
Where they are now : League 1
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2003/04 - Chester City
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 After
missing out on promotion through the Play-Offs in 2002/03, Chester
went one better and won the Conference in 2003/04.
The Blues struggled in their first season back in the league
but consolidated in mid table the following year and look like doing
the same again this term.
Daggers
v Chester City 2003
Seasons in league : 3
Subsequent promotions
: 0
Subsequent relegations : 0
Highest finish since promotion
: 15th in League 2 (2005/06)
Lowest finish since promotion : 20th
in League 2 (2004/05)
Where they are now : League 2
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2003/04 - Shrewsbury Town
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 Having
won promotion back to the Football League via the Play-Offs, Shrewsbury
also struggled in their first season back.
However, a top ten finish in their second season was a massive
improvement and, this season, they are in with a chance of reaching
the League 2 Play-Off.
Shrewsbury
Town v Daggers 2003 (c) Simmo
Seasons in league : 2
Subsequent promotions
: 0
Subsequent relegations : 0
Highest finish since promotion
: Current Season (2006/07)
Lowest finish since promotion : 21st
in League 2 (2004/05)
Where they are now :
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2004/05 - Carlisle United
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 After
winning promotion through the Play-Offs, Carlisle won League 2 the
following season and, this season, have consolidated well in League
1 and even stand an outside chance of making the Play-Offs. 
Carlisle
United v Daggers 2004 (c) Simmo
Seasons in league : 2
Subsequent promotions
: 1
Subsequent relegations : 0
Highest finish since promotion
: Current Season (2006/07)
Lowest finish since promotion : 1st
in League 2 (2005/06)
Where they are now : League 1
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2005/06 - Accrington Stanley
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 Accrington
have struggled to adjust to life in League 2 since their promotion.
However, even though they are not safe from relegation, they
look like they should avoid the drop.
Accrington
Stanley v Daggers 2004 (c) Simmo
Seasons in league : 1
Subsequent promotions
: 0
Subsequent relegations : 0
Highest finish since promotion
: Current Season (2006/07)
Lowest finish since promotion : Current
Season (2006/07)
Where they are now : League 2
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2005/06 - Hereford United
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 The
Bulls have fared better than Accrington, despite having to have
won promotion through the Play-Offs and look safe to consolidate in mid-table this season.
Hereford
United v Daggers 2005 (c) Simmo
Seasons in league : 1
Subsequent promotions
: 0
Subsequent relegations : 0
Highest finish since promotion
: Current Season (2006/07)
Lowest finish since promotion : Current
Season (2006/07)
Where they are now : League 2
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