Hello! It’s the end of season two for the Retirement Home and whilst this will be the end of the adventure for some of these veterans of the game, others have one more chapter to write. Can we mount a promotion challenge from this midtable position? Our form has improved since I moved the wingbacks back to full back and Ian Rush remembered a time when he used to be on of Europe’s best forwards.

17 games to go then, starting with a trip to York…

It gets off to a tremendous start as we go behind after just two minutes. Drinkell does equalise which sparks an entertaining second half but it finishes all square.

A home game with Stoke is more our sort of thing. Once Stoke go down to 10 we go into overdrive and run out 4-0 winners. The comeback is on.

Plymouth are flying high but we play a canny match, taking the lead 15 minutes from time thanks to Rushy. I’m about to start patting myself on the back for the perfect away performance but then we concede twice in a minute. Little John, he always tells the truth.

Hull are third and like I said last week, everyone who came up last season seems to be better than us. As if to prove a point, we run out 5-0 victors here as we approach something like form.

The boys are really back in town. Quinn Drinkell is an amusing combination of names in hindsight and it’s a treble for the Micker. Come on!

Struggling Southend are next up and they take a shock lead but Micky, he’s so fine he blows my mind. Chamberlain wins it. Hey Micky!

Wycombe engage us in a bit of a tussle but that doesn’t bother us. Bakero scores at both ends just for the craic and Rush nabs a late winner. Cans on the bus.

Unfortunately when you have an angry Aussie in your ranks he collects the odd card. This red card puts us up against it at home to Burnley and despite Quinn’s best efforts, we have to settle for a point.

Wrexham are in the running for the playoffs and our form means we might be soon. Bakero’s injury ends his season but old man Marwood and the mighty Quinn seal us the points.

Fulham have dropped off to 12th but I still expect a tough game at the Cottage. I am wrong, for a change. Quinn and Rush are at their devastating best and it’s the most handsome of wins.

All that good work is undone by a home draw to relegation threatened Northampton. Barry Gibb with the goal but will our playoff hopes be staying alive?

A dull draw at Rotherham keeps our unbeaten run but does little for our league position.

Four again at home to Port Vale. Things are looking up.

We’re only one point outside of the playoffs. It’s three points really as Bristol Rovers have two games in hand.

Our hopes are dealt a further blow by Luton. Rush got us off to the perfect start but a disaster of a second half leaves our hopes in tatters.

Who wants to see four great minutes of action?

That sets us up nicely for a grudge match with Bristol Rovers. We need to win against a team I am frankly sick of seeing. On the plus side, they have sold Sean Devine to Spurs and only have Gary Penrice as a replacement. He would feature quite highly in my tache discussion from last week. Nicky Law heads a late winner to send our hopes right down to the final day.

It’s not in our hands though.

3rd placed Carlisle are a tough opponent but they have nothing really to play for. Ian Rush thrives on such weakness.

Preston can only draw! We’ve sneaked into the playoffs at the last chance and will have to try and topple Plymouth over two legs.

A win at Home Park will help that a great deal.

Mick Quinn gets his 39th and 40th goals of a remarkable season. We’re going to Wembley!

Naturally, Bristol Rovers are waiting for us. Our 5th meeting of the season is by far the most important. They keep Quinn quiet but Rush’s 28th of the season sets up a ridiculous win.

We’re going up! How? I don’t know. We came into form at the right time for sure. Holloway takes manager of the year which he is welcome to.

A whole host of players call it a day though Cockerill is probably the only one I would call a regular.

Worryingly, the board pump in no extra money so we’ve got £400k to mount a challenge in Division 1. Can Quinn make the step up? I really don’t know. Bakero’s injury isn’t getting any better either, which is a bug I’ve seen before. It’s a back strain but I guess at his age, it won’t get better any time soon. I need to find a replacement for him and let’s just hope John Barnes fancies it. See you next week for the latest recruitment drive.