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Next Game: Banbury Away On Friday March 29th Kick-Off 3.00pm

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Everything you wanted to know about the Play-offs.

This edited article comes from BoroGuide:

Everything you wanted to know about the playoffs, but were afraid to ask.

Who's in them?
Hereford, Carlisle, Aldershot and Stevenage. Hereford finished second by virtue of a single point and so earn the right to play us over two legs with the perceived advantage of being at home in the second leg.

When are they?
The first leg is at Broadhall Way on Monday 2nd May at 5:00pm, with the return at Edgar Street, Hereford, at 7:45pm on Friday 6th May. The other semi-finals take place on the same days, and the winners then meet at the Promotion Final in Stoke at 7:45pm on Saturday 14th May.

Which games are being televised?
Boro's game at home to Hereford will be televised live on Sky Sports. Once the results of the first legs are known then Sky will make a decision as to which second leg to screen, depending on which game looks tastier. In the past they have shown both legs of one game once, and another time shown one leg of each semi, so it's not set in stone. The final will definitely be televised, again on Sky.

Home Leg - What's the cost?
This game is treated as a cup tie, and therefore Season Tickets, Supporters' Association discounts and discounted Family Admission will not apply. To sit down will cost £15 adult and £12 concessions, with the North and East terrace costing £12 adult, £8 concessions or £6 for U'14s. The same prices apply to Hereford supporters - the seated Buildbase stand will cost £15 adult and £10 concessions.

Away Leg - What's the cost?
According to the Hereford Official Site, the cost to sit is £15 adult and £10 concession, or to stand is £12 adult and £6 concession. We expect that Boro' fans will be sited in the traditional little corner of the Len Weston Stand (seats and terrace, view obstructed), as well as one half of the Meadowbank End (Blackfriars - ed), which you may remember standing on in the FA Cup match of 1997. Confirmation still awaited though.

What away goals / extra time rules are there?
In the event of a tie after 90 or 120 minutes of the second leg, away goals will not count double. Any extra time required following an aggregate draw will be a normal 15m each way affair with no silver or golden goal rules. Instead the tie will go to penalties if no winner is determined after extra time.

What about suspensions?
The playoffs act as a mere extension of the season, and therefore suspensions will still apply. Any outstanding suspensions will be served, and so Albert Jarrett will be banned for the first leg but available for the second. Boro' have no players who risk further suspensions for accumilated yellow cards, and so the only concern surrounds red cards picked up in the playoff games themselves, and these will be treated as per normal with suspensions following dismissal taking immediate effect.

How is the revenue split between the clubs?
From confguide.com, "for the semi-finals, the net gate receipts are divided equally among the participating clubs, after deduction of allowable expenses and an unspecified levy to the Conference. For the final, the clubs act as agents for the Conference, and ticket fees go to a central pot. The money left after expenses and a levy for the Conference is split between the participating clubs. TV income is accounted for separately, and goes straight to the Conference."