Allan Campbell remembers it vividly, Luton’s 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield in last year’s Championship Playoff semi final.
Twelve months on the Scottish midfielder has helped his side go one step further after overcoming Sunderland in the second leg at Kenilworth Road. And that’s why Campbell is desperate to get into the top flight with the Hatters, in what he says is the biggest game of his life.
Ahead of today’s second tier winner takes all tie at Wembley this afternoon against Coventry, he exclusively told Record Sport : “It would mean the world. I came to England two years ago now to prove myself and to try and get to the English Premiership, to be one game away from it is special. It’s probably one of the best leagues in the world. So, if next season I can be part of a team that’s playing in that, that would be brilliant. Last year we got into the Playoffs but we got beat in the semis. This year we had a goal of trying to get promoted and going one step further because of how close we came last year. Hopefully we can end on a high and get promoted.
“It was really hard, you put so much into the season and to be so close to getting into the final game, it was hard to take. You just wanted to get back on the park and work hard.
"Try to get into the same position, thankfully we did that this year and went one step further and got into the final. I’ll definitely be up there, second to that would probably be the Scottish Cup final that I was played in.
"This has got a lot more riding on it, I would say. To get the Premiership how much that means to the club, the players and the fans. To know you’re one game from getting into the top league in the world is massive. It will be one of the best games with one of the biggest crowds, so it should be good day all round.
“Definitely, it’s a final, anything can happen. There’s no luxury of a second game, it’s 120 minutes and penalties, if it goes to that. It all comes down to one game. That’s what makes it exciting and special for the fans. I’m sure that will create a great atmosphere in the stadium and hopefully we can thrive off that and get the win.
“It would be brilliant. You see these boys playing every week and doing really well. You can only aspire to get to that level and perform at that level. I think that’s one thing they are doing brilliantly.
"They’re playing in the Premiership but they are really impacting the games and being massive parts of their teams being successful. They are the ones you look at and you want to try and emulate.”
The former Motherwell man is humble but he doesn’t shy away when it comes to backing his own abilities. That’s what helped him move on from the Steelmen in 2021, after four years of first team experience, having come through the youth ranks at Fir Park, alongside the likes of David Turnbull.
A decision which would be fully vindicated if he’s a Premiership player next year. Whatever happens though, it’s not a move Campbell is about to regret, he went on: ”To come through with good friends of mine in David and Jake and play every week them was brilliant because we had came up through the age groups and we got the the chance to play in the first team which was always class.
"It was difficult when I left Motherwell because that’s all I really knew at the time, I had been there since I was only nine. I knew everybody and everybody knew me.
"I loved it there, they gave me so much. I just came to that time when I felt I needed to take that next step in my career and go and challenge myself. Take myself out of my comfort zone.
"The opportunity came up to go England and I felt as if it was the right time to come and improve myself. To say I’m one game away is brilliant. I’m looking forward to the game and hopefully I can get there.
“I believe in myself, I’m confident that I’m a good player, I work hard. I believe when go up to the next level, I can challenge myself and do well against the players I’m playing against.
"I had been at Motherwell for four years and I was just ready for that next stage in my career and see how I could do at this level.”
Campbell will be well supported at Wembley with almost his entire immediate family flying to the game. But instead of being apprehensive going into this sort of do or die fixture, Campbell, who is fully fit in the build up to the game, insists that the bigger the incentive, the better.
He said: “I’ve got 17 family members flying from Glasgow and supporting me at Wembley, so it’ll be a good day for them and hopefully we’ll top it off with a win. Mum, Dad, cousins, a lot of my family really. .
"My Dad drove me everywhere at Motherwell. To be fair, he’s traveled here a lot too. I am fully fit and raring to go. Thankfully, I’ve not had any major injuries this season. I got a bad one in my ankle last year that set me back a bit.
"Since I came back in I’ve done a lot of rehab on my ankle and I still keep on top of that now. A little bit, you just want it to be game day. Nerves because you want it to end well.
"It’s more excitement. You look forward to these games as a player and you want to be playing in the games that matter. I know I’ll be ready when that whistle goes.”
