The 2022 National League play-off final, known as the Vanarama National League Promotion Final for sponsorship reasons, was an association football match played on 5 June 2022 at the London Stadium between Solihull Moors and Grimsby Town. It determined the second and final team to gain promotion from the National League, English football's fifth tier, to EFL League Two. By finishing first in the 2021–22 National League, Stockport County gained automatic promotion to League Two, while the teams placed from second to seventh participated in the play-offs. The winners of the semi-finals competed for the final promotion spot for League Two. The losing play-off quarter-finalists were Notts County and FC Halifax Town. In the following round, Chesterfield and Wrexham were eliminated in the semi-finals.
The match was televised live on BT Sport 1 HD and BT Sport Ultimate. The coverage was presented by Matt Smith, while the commentary team comprised Adam Summerton and Kevin Davies. Radio commentary was provided by Switch Radio and BBC Radio Humberside.
Ticketing The National League were criticised before the game for their ticketing policy which resulted in a minimum ticket price of £40. Following complaints the league’s sponsor, Vanarama, gave £20,000 to both clubs to help supporters with costs. In addition 13,000 Grimsby fans were able to watch the game following intervention by the Mariners Trust supporters group which raised money for tickets.
Route to the final
Solihull won both regular season meetings between the two sides, 2–0 at home and 2–1 away.
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Details
GK 18 Joe McDonnellRB 2 James ClarkeCB 5 Callum Howe CB 6 Alex GudgerLB 14 Harry BoyesCM 4 Kyle Storer (c)CM 8 Callum Maycock RW 7 Joe Sbarra CAM 11 Ryan Barnett LW 19 Andrew Dallas CF 27 Kyle Hudlin Substitutes:GK 26 Jack MyattDF 12 Reiss McNally DF 22 Mark Ellis MF 15 Callum Reilly FW 24 Danny Newton Manager: Neal Ardley GK 21 Max CrocombeRB 32 Jordan CropperCB 6 Luke WaterfallCB 26 Andy SmithLB 22 Danny AmosCM 4 Ben FoxCM 28 Gavan Holohan RW 18 Érico Sousa CAM 10 John McAtee LW 15 Harry CliftonCF 29 Ryan Taylor Substitutes:DF 5 Shaun PearsonMF 17 Arjan Raikhy FW 25 Jordan Maguire-Drew FW 9 Tristan Abrahams FW 12 Emmanuel Dieseruvwe Manager: Paul Hurst
References