Mat Sadler's play-off final message: Make our mark in Walsall history
Walsall boss Mat Sadler has told his troops to make life-lasting memories by etching their names into Walsall history with Wembley victory today.
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Walsall will be roared on against AFC Wimbledon in the League Two play-off final as their supporters travelled en masse to the national stadium with a spot in League One at stake.
The Saddlers are aiming for a first Wembley victory at just the second attempt having only made their debut appearance there 10 years ago.
Head coach Sadler, whose side surrendered automatic promotion on the final day, will keep club history talk out of his pre-game message - but will urge his players to round-off the campaign with the ultimate memory and in doing so carve a chapter of Walsall folklore.
"I probably won't mention that (history) - because I don't think that has a bearing of what the game is," Sadler told the Express & Star.
"The game has to be the thing I focus on the most, the opposition, how we want to play, how we want to affect the game, the match-ups, I will focus on all of that.
"But for sure I will speak about creating memories, because that's what we are here to do.
"If you're very lucky you might have a career of however-many years and you don't have the chances to create special memories as we have already done.
"We will do that, we want to do that. The other stuff is not for me to talk about, but of course we want to lay down our mark."
Walsall have been in the fourth tier for six seasons since relegation at the end of 2018/19. Last season's finish of 11th was their best effort since relegation.
A rollercoaster campaign saw the Saddlers squander a 15-point advantage to fourth in League Two in the second half of the campaign.
The play-off semi-final two-legged success over Chesterfield saw Sadler's side recover from missing out on automatic promotion to Bradford in the final seconds of the regular campaign, despite winning at Crewe.
"I read something online saying if you go down in folklore if you win," Sadler added. "And those things are true. I wrote in my programme notes the other night that we can make nights to be remembered.
"The group have the opportunity to do that and have that. I think for me I just want us to be remembered as that team group, and not an individuals group. We share and speak about those things."
