Glory, pain – and lots more on the way!

IF a week is a long time in politics, then a year is almost an eternity in football. As the year draws to a close, some of last season’s highs and lows have receded into the memory.

It’s easy to forget the ecstasy of Brighton and Huddersfield fans on reaching the Premier League or the pain of Blackburn supporters on succumbing to relegation from the second tier on the final day of the campaign.

It was relief for Mark Warburton’s Nottingham Forest, Harry Redknapp was jumping for joy at keeping Birmingham up.

Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United bagged an incredible 100 points to win League One, while Coventry were among those who dropped into the bottom tier.

Portsmouth nipped in to pinch the League Two title on the last day of the season, while there was incredible drama at the other end of the table. Leyton Orient’s League tenure had already come to an end and it looked as though Newport County were going to join them in the National League.

But then Mark O’Brien popped up with a superb last-gasp winner against Notts County to save the Exiles – and send devastated Hartlepool down.

This season, Wolves have looked a class act in the Championship, while Bristol City stunned Manchester United in the Carabao Cup and now wait to take on Manchester City in the semi-finals.

Wigan lead the way in League One, but Shrewsbury – tipped by most as relegation fodder – have been one of the stories of the season. Paul Hurst’s men enter 2018 in second place and look as though they are in it for the long haul.

Apart from yesterday’s 4-0 defeat at Port Vale, Luton have been irresistible in League Two, while Kevin Nolan continues to revive Notts County.

There’s been so much to savour, but the good thing is there’s a lot more to come. With a new year comes new hope, new optimism and new ambition. At least until tomorrow afternoon…