Neil Baker and Jon Underwood look back on promotion with Slough Town FC

The pair were brought to the club in May 2013 after the departure of Steve Bateman, and charged with the task of building a squad capable of promotion.

They got off to a sluggish start with one win from four matches, and followed that with an early exit from this year’s FA Cup.

That was until striker Edward Smith, signed by Bateman in the summer of 2012, inspired The Rebels to a 4-0 win at Rugby Town.

An impressive run of one defeat in 13 matches between September and November saw Slough climb into third position in Division One Central.

But, the wheels came off in the run up to Christmas after five losses in six games, including a ‘capitulation’ against Beaconsfield SYCOB.

That prompted changes to the squad, and The Rebels eventually secured a play-off spot with victory on the final day of the regular season.

Slough were ‘fearful’ of Rugby in the semi-finals, according to the management duo, though they had no cause for concern after a 3-0 win at Butlin Road.

The victory set up a final with Kettering Town, and many thought the promotion dream was over as The Rebels trailed by two goals at half-time.

But a second-half performance indicative of their fighting spirit left a 2,300-strong crowd at Latimer Park stunned.

Slough recovered from two goals behind to win 3-2, ending a 24-year wait for promotion and a return to the Southern Premier Division.

“The play-off final was the end of a full season’s hard work and it was our biggest high and best day in football,” said a jubilant Underwood.

“I also think back to the start of the season and the win at Rugby. It came when we were having a bad or indifferent start.

“It was obviously a big game and Ed Smith had a great day, he got all four goals. I think that gave us the belief that we could beat anyone in the league.” Baker commented: “We put in a great performance and Ed introduced himself to the lads we brought over because, at the time, I don’t think they’d actually seen a lot of him.

“He hadn’t had a prolific pre-season or anything like that. I think that game alerted everyone that this lad can score goals as well.

“But I think the best performance was Potters Bar away. We turned up and weren’t sure the game was going to be on. The pitch was really wet and the ground staff had done a fantastic job.

“We beat them 3-0 and I have to say on a really tough pitch our intensity, work rate, and our quality all over the pitch was absolutely fantastic.” In one of the most competitive divisions in the country, only two points separated the top five teams with three matches remaining.

And the Slough supremos have paid tribute to Rugby and rivals Beaconsfield, who enjoyed another successful year under now-Burnham boss Gary Meakin.

Underwood admitted: “Beaconsfield done the double over us and I’ve got to say in those two games they completely out-played us.

“Maybe they raised their game because it was a local derby against Slough. We saw them at other times in the season and they didn’t play so well.

“But if you judged them on two games against us, I think they were definitely the best side.” Baker added: “Rugby absolutely tore us to pieces in the 2-1 defeat at our place. I thought they were excellent.

“I think that’s probably why we went into the play-offs a little bit fearful of what they could possibly do to us, but obviously the rest is history.” The season was not without its low points however, most notably a Boxing Day defeat to Beaconsfield and exiting the FA Trophy at the hands of nine-man Merthyr Town.

“The one that sticks out for me is Beaconsfield at Christmas,” bemoaned Underwood. “We had a pretty terrible December but in that game, especially in the second-half, we absolutely capitulated.

“Defensively we looked terrible and shot of confidence. That was probably the match that really prompted us to start making changes to the squad.

“We already had it in mind but the second-half was so poor. We were a million miles away from that performance at the end of the season.” Looking back to the FA Trophy, Baker lamented: “One of my lowest moments was actually in the Merthyr game, even though the Trophy probably isn’t the biggest priority of the year.

“For us to have a penalty at 1-1 with five minutes to go and them having two players sent off, you’re thinking we’re going to win the game.

“But to miss the penalty, and then to concede against nine men was a low point for me.” The pair have also heaped praise on Rebels’ background team as preparations for a shot at shot at Southern Premier football get under way.

Underwood explained: “Trent [Phillips] is someone that I knew from the past. He came down on the basis that we would see how it went and he just fitted in straight away. He’s a positive guy.

“Trent is very professional when he needs to be and has a laugh also. He is a really good and important part of the changing room.

“We could sit here all day talking about Kevin, everyone knows how good he is. He is very committed, very professional and is just a lovely man as well.” Baker added: “Mark Betts came into the fold after a couple of months and he helps do the little things in and around the changing room.

“If we need to bounce anything off him we do and he’s helped me out a few times, so he has been a good addition.

“We’ve got a really good background team and are absolutely delighted with it to be honest. There are some great people around the club and they make our life nice and easy.” **SEE Friday’s Observer for all the latest sports news and action including a look ahead to the new Southern Premier Division season** **FOLLOW the Observer on Twitter at @Observer_sports**