By Georgia Garnett
JOHNNIE Jackson felt this season’s EFL play-offs showed “English football in its best light” after a combined record attendance across the three finals – including 30,000 AFC Wimbledon fans at the League Two decider.
There was a 50,947 attendance at Wembley to see Wimbledon defeat Walsall 1-0 to return to League One after three seasons away.
A day earlier, there was a 76,193 attendance for Charlton Athletic’s 1-0 win over Leyton Orient in the League One showdown, after an attendance of 82,718 as Sunderland defeated Sheffield United 2-1 in the Championship play-off final.
“I just think there’s such an appetite for it. It shows you the types of teams, the clubs, the level that is outside the Premier League, and I think you’ve seen over these last few days, you’ve seen English football in its best light, I think,” Jackson said.
“To have 50,000 at a fourth-tier game, to see 30,000 Wimbledon fans here is nothing short of incredible, and it just shows you the power of football, and that’s why we all love it.”
Myles Hippolyte scored Wimbledon’s goal against the Saddlers as they joined Doncaster Rovers, Port Vale and Bradford City in League One.
Jackson said: “It was an unbelievable day, I’m so proud of everyone – to see Wembley full of blue and yellow, the support we had with 30,000 fans, that shows what this club is all about, so to be able to deliver and repay the faith that’s been shown in me to take this club forward, I’m so pleased.
“I’ve had successes as a player and a coach, but now to get that success as a manager, to be able to lead the team out here today was a privilege in itself, but to go on and obviously win the game, that was the icing really.”
Goalscorer Hippolyte was the subject of Jackson’s praise, securing his third goal of the season in what had been an injury-riddled campaign for the midfielder.
Jackson said: “I think it was his best performance in a Wimbledon shirt, to be honest – he’s a man for a big occasion, he enjoys being in these moments because he’s not afraid to express himself. So I’m really pleased for him.
“He was playing really well at the start of the season and got injured, missed a big chunk, took his time to get back in the team, to his level, but he’s arrived back at the highest level that he’s been at all season, just in time as in the last few games he’s been excellent and I think it culminated in the winning performance.”
Meanwhile, Jackson reckons his club has something unique as they set about trying to make an impact in League One.
He said: “What we’ve tried to do in the three years that I’ve been here is to continuously improve and we’ve done that – the first season was tough, it was a rebuilding job as the club had just been relegated, we just about stayed in the division. Then last season we finished tenth and sort of flirted with the play-offs, but didn’t quite make it.
“This season, we finished fifth and then we go and get promoted via the play-offs, so we want to try and strive to improve again next season. It’s difficult because you’re going up to a level and we certainly won’t be one of the big guns in that league as far as our resources, but what we’ve got here is we’ve got a spirit like no other. I know everyone thinks that about their club, but this club was born out of that spirit and adversity.”
