This season the Football League stepped out of the shadow of the Premier League and put on a dramatic and enthralling show for all to enjoy.
While there may be play-off finalists and winners yet to be decided, the dust is starting to settle on a dramatic nine months across the Championship, League 1 and League 2.
MK Dons striker Izale McLeod had a particular interest in the goings on in League 2 as his former side Barnet finally lost their battle to hold on to their Football League status.
Much like Wigan in the Premier League, Barnet had become synonymous with a late surge of form to catapult them to safety after a season of scrapping around at the wrong end of the table.
In fact, McLeod had been at the heart of their survival in the 2010/11 season when he scored the winner against Port Vale on the final day to secure their safety and the following year he was in the side when they pulled off the great escape again – avoiding the drop on the final day of the season for the third year in a row.
Midway through the 2012/13 season former Ajax and Spurs midfielder Edgar Davids took over at the Bees and hopes were high amongst the supporters. However, the Bees, who headed into their final game against Northampton outside the drop zone, finally lost their fight.
A 2-0 defeat away at Sixfields condemned Barnet to start the 2013/14 season, in their new home The Hive, in the Blue Square Premier League.
McLeod, who was on the bench for the Dons at Stevenage that day, heard the news as it filtered through and the Dons forward admits he is saddened by the thought of Barnet not playing in the Football League next season.
He said: “We were at our game and had the scores coming through and to hear that Barnet had been relegated was sad news. I think this season was probably their best season for being out of the bottom two for the majority of the year; normally they are in the bottom two and escape.
“It’s sad but I am sure they will bounce back and all the best to them next year. Obviously they have left Underhill now and they would have been hoping to start at their new ground on a high, but they have a great facility there now and it is a new start for them.
“I am sure the Chairman there and everyone else at the Football Club will push to get straight back into the Football League.”
