The final stages of the 2023/24 campaign dared Solihull Moors supporters to dream.
In the space of just seven days, thousands of Moors fans descended on Wembley on two separate occasions, all dreaming of seeing their side secure a historic first ever promotion to the English Football League and lift the FA Trophy.
Solihull’s fifth-placed finish in the National League last season booked them in the play-offs. After defeating Halifax Town and Barnet 4-2 and 4-0 respectively, Moors were presented with their greatest opportunity to reach the Football League in the form of a Wembley showdown with Bromley.
Coincidentally, Andrew Whing’s side had shattered Bromley’s own dreams just weeks earlier, with an Alex Whitmore brace seeing them past the Lillywhites in the FA Trophy semi-final.
Therefore, there was plenty to look forward to for the Solihull faithful ahead of consecutive trips to English football’s showpiece venue. However, they were denied promotion by Bromley and silverware at the hands of Gateshead a week later, too.
The deja vu element of the back-to-back heartbreaks that Solihull suffered on Wembley Way is also present. Both matches finished 2-2 before going to penalties. Both times, Solihull were defeated.
“Sadly, we just fell short,” admitted Moors fan Michael Mulryan, who is known as ‘Statto’ among supporters.
“I was at Wembley for both the play-off final and the FA Trophy final. The play-off final (hurt) more so because the reward for that was Football League.
“Whereas the (FA) Trophy final felt like a consolation prize, it would’ve been nice to win it but it wouldn’t have changed much for next season. We’re still in the same league, we still enter the FA Trophy at the same stage.
“That being said, our aim at the start of the season wasn’t necessarily ‘we have to get promotion otherwise it’s a terrible season’.
“To see our team, my team at Wembley Stadium is something special. Not many people can say that about their club.”
Naturally, Solihull will be eyeing redemption next term.
In the absence of title-winners Chesterfield, who eventually lifted the league title with a 12-point cushion, the top-end of the National League is set to be more competitive. Numerous sides will fancy their chances and Solihull are in a good position to remain.
“What we’ve achieved will raise the expectation levels and it’s up to us to reach those,” he continued.
“I think next season, the play-offs is going to be the minimum requirement.
“(In the 2022/23 National League season) we had Wrexham and Notts County both with over 100 points. Chesterfield were on course to beat the record.
“Next season will be a lot closer. You’ve probably got six, seven or eight teams with their eyes on the title and 16 who think they can have a chance at the play-offs.”
Solihull have competed for promotion from the National League on a number of occasions.
They fell to the same fate at the London Stadium in June 2022, losing out to Grimsby Town 2-1 in extra time. Moors were also defeated by AFC Fylde in the 2018/19 semi-finals.
There will likely be a degree of impatience if Solihull continue to falter in their pursuits of Football League promotion. To do that, Mulryan believes that they will have to bolster their strength in depth.
Although the West Midlands outfit possess star quality through the likes of Callum Maycock and top-scorer Tahvon Campbell, a depleted squad meant that injuries proved increasingly detrimental deeper into the season.
But given just how close promotion and silverware was, the ARMCO Arena may be an attractive destination for prospective arrivals in the near future.
Mulryan said: “Hopefully, having reached the play-off and FA Trophy final, we can become a more attractive proposition for players.
“Potential players can see the real intent.
“We signed Richard Stearman at the start of the season mainly to act as a bit of cover and experience in the squad and he ended up playing the first 19 league games in a row, which probably wasn’t intended. But needs must with injuries.”
Mulryan believes that strength in depth is required next term, although he does not want quality to be sacrificed in the team either.
“I always think back to the baseball film ‘Moneyball’ about how you’ve got to use the budget correctly,” he said.
“You can’t just spend it on three marquee players and then have a pile of rubbish around you.
“We probably want a bit more quantity this season, but we don’t want it at the sake of quality.”
