Boreham Wood and Rochdale vie for EFL return at Wembley in 2026

Boreham Wood and Rochdale face off at Wembley on Sunday to decide who earns promotion to the EFL.

Promotion final showdown Boreham Wood and Rochdale will settle who joins the EFL when they meet at Wembley in the National League promotion final. The Wood, formed in 1948, have never featured among the top 92 clubs but reached the final twice, falling 2-1 to Tranmere in 2018 and losing 3-2 to Notts County after extra time in a later showdown. Rochdale have spent three seasons outside the EFL after their 102-year spell ended in 2023. ## Garrard drives Wood’s push Luke Garrard, now in his second spell managing Boreham Wood, oversaw both near misses in previous finals. The former Wood player has managed over 500 matches across two spells and left the club after relegation following the loss to Notts County. He described the demotion as painful and revealed he took time away to reset before returning. 'Two years ago relegating Boreham Wood really hurt me. This is my club. I left and there were some dark times in the six months not having a job,' he shared on a football podcast. 'It was a reset for me, I went away and worked at my craft, spoke to a lot of good managers and when I returned my language changed, there was a different mindset. I was very negative in the build-up to the relegation season but when I returned 16 months ago the mindset was all about getting back to the National League.' His return in September 2024 quickly produced silverware, securing promotion by beating Maidstone 1-0 in the National League South final. ## Wood’s season aims shift Garrard stated before this campaign that the side had the quality to win promotion. 'I said it from the start of this season we have enough to get promotion,' he explained. 'I worked it out that we’d have won three leagues in the past 12 or 13 years with the 90 points we got. What went on with Wrexham and Notts County was incredible to see. Rochdale and York having a proper ding-dong on the last day of the season and to achieve what they did was incredible.' Boreham Wood progressed past Forest Green Rovers 1-0 in extra time before edging Carlisle 2-1 after another 120 minutes to book their Wembley spot. ## Garrard’s Wembley focus With promotion on the line, Garrard wants to focus solely on winning at Wembley. 'Our aim was to be successful in this second part of the season and we’re two thirds of the way through that now. I don’t want to be talking about we got 90 points, I want to go to Wembley and win now,' he said. 'There are going to be households who are excited, mums and dads, there are staff who are excited but we need to be calm, we’re going to Wembley for business. I don’t want any dramas on tickets, no dramas on Wembley and if anyone discusses it from Friday onwards they’re going to be fined because it’s another game of football but it happens to be at Wembley.' ## Rochdale chase EFL return Rochdale, relegated from the EFL in 2023, have navigated three knockout games to reach the final. A win at Braintree secured their title challenge into the final day, while victories over York and Scunthorpe followed to ensure a Wembley date. Manager Jim McNulty said the recent must-win games have shaped their approach. 'I would say the past three games have been exactly that because our game away at Braintree was must-win and so we’ve been in must-win scenarios for a few weeks now,' he told BBC Radio Manchester. 'I think that being accustomed to that in the past few weeks has certainly helped us going into what becomes now another must-win at Wembley on Sunday.' ## Penalty practice for Dale Three of the past five promotion finals have gone to penalties after 120 minutes. McNulty confirmed his team has rehearsed spot-kicks ahead of the final. 'Yes, we have, which is regular practise for anyone to go into a final. I’ve got nothing special to say about it though, other than the lads are just walking up, taking a pen and seeing what goes in,' he remarked. When asked where a Wembley win would rank among his Rochdale achievements, McNulty insisted it would sit at the top. 'Short answer, it has to be. Nothing will come close,' he added. ## McNulty eyes top prize Should Rochdale reclaim their EFL place, McNulty believes it will be the pinnacle of his time at the club. 'I feel very fortunate to be at the helm of the club during a period of such growth. We fully deserve to be where we are with earning the right for these sort of opportunities,' he stated.