Jack Bonham wants to help Wanderers end years of frustration by winning promotion from League One, writes Pete Oliver.
The Whites are heading to Wembley for the play-off final on Sunday-week as they aim to get back to the Championship for the first time since 2019.
Steven Schumacher’s men face a stiff test against local rivals Stockport County but after two near misses in the play-offs in the last three years (including one final defeat) Bonham hopes it will be a collective third time lucky.
“Obviously you want to be in the top two and secure automatics when you do,” said the Wanderers’ keeper, whose superb performance at Bradford City helped Wanderers come through their semi-final shoot-out to set up next weekend’s decider.
“It's a tough way to go through the play-offs and we're over the first hurdle. It’s going to be another tough game, we’ve no doubts about that, but we know the quality in the squad and how we can perform on the day and I think we'll do that and, hopefully, come away with promotion.
“It's going to be a great day for the fans and everyone involved at the football club and hopefully we can make sure it is a great day and get over the line and relieve a lot of frustrations that I think have been around the club for a long time. That is our goal.”
Bonham has been an ever-present since joining Wanderers from Stoke City in January and produced one of his biggest performances yet in the second leg of the semi-final at Bradford where a second successive clean sheet helped the Whites complete a 2-0 aggregate victory.
And the 32-year-old can now look forward to the prospect of playing at Wembley for the first time in his career after he and the Whites’ back line kept Bradford at bay before Xavier Simons’ struck a late winner.
“I was delighted for everyone and especially the back four,” added Bonham, who made the second of two huge saves just moments before Simons' clincher to earn the Player of the Match award at Valley Parade. “To deal with that sort of barrage for the whole game and not really give up many chances was unbelievable.
“The team spirit can't be questioned. We've seen that in the comebacks we've had this season and especially in games like the other night we just dig in. It's not always the nicest football and you just have to find a way to win and we did that and we're off to Wembley.
“The job hasn't finished for us, though. We know that we're half way there and the next game's the most important but, hopefully, the team spirit can push us through that one as well.”
Wanderers have been allocated just over 36,000 tickets for the final, with all the information of how to buy available HERE