London Stadium is set to be named the venue for this season’s National League Play-Off final, London Football Scene understands.
The ground, home to West Ham United, is expected to be announced as the chosen host of the non-league showpiece event next week as officials enter the final stages of discussions.
The 2021/22 league season is due to end on Sunday May 15, with the Eliminators, the first phase of the Play-Offs, scheduled to start ten days later on Wednesday May 25.
These one-game shoot-outs are then followed by the semi-finals where the winners of those matches will travel away to face the sides who finished second and third in the table.
The winners of those semis will then face each other in the final, on Saturday June 4 or Sunday June 5, for a place in the Football League.
Last season’s National League Play-Off final was held at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate where Hartlepool triumphed over Torquay 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in extra-time.
Before that, Wembley had held every Play-Off final from 2007 through to 2020, apart from the 2011 final which was held at Manchester City’s City of Manchester Stadium.
And although England’s Nations League games against Italy and Hungary are being played at Wolves’ Molineux and not Wembley, the home of English football has not been chosen this time.
However, the inaugural ‘Finalissima’, where European champions Italy face South American champions Argentina, will take place at Wembley on Wednesday June 1 instead.
Soccer Aid is also taking place at the London Stadium a week later, on June 12, with the National League Play-Off Final seen as the perfect preamble for the charity event.
The National League Play-Off schedule…
Wednesday May 25 – Eliminator A – 5th v 6th
Thursday May 26 – Eliminator B – 4th v 7th
Saturday May 28 – Semi Final – 2nd v winner of Eliminator A
Sunday May 29 – Semi Final – 3rd v winner of Eliminator B
Saturday June 4/Sunday June 5 – Play-Off Final at London Stadium
At the moment, Stockport County lead the National League, eight points clear of second-placed Wrexham with FC Halifax Town in third.
Solihull Moors, Chesterfield, Notts County and Grimsby Town currently occupy the other Play-Off places.
‘LONDON FOOTBALL UNITES FOR UKRAINE’
Liaising with the UK Ukrainian Sports Supporters Club (UKUSSC) and the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB), London Football Scene has launched ‘London Football Unites for Ukraine’ – a fundraising campaign to provide as much relief to those in need.
We are urging all the Capital’s clubs, players and fans to raise as much money as possible for British-Ukrainian Aid (registered charity No. 1164472).
Please visit our JustGiving Page to give as much as you can and look out for more events and fundraising activities over the coming few weeks.
London Football Unites for Ukraine: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/londonfootballunitesforukraine