We agreed to write this article the day following our play-off second leg, and it dawned to me that if we lost, I’d have to muster some comforting words while I was on the floor, writes OxVox chair Paul Peros.

I was one of the unfortunate individuals who missed out on a ticket despite being primed and ready at 3:45pm on a laptop. 1,300 tickets were sold in just a few minutes.

To be honest, the reasonable part of me thought that regardless of what happened in the game, this season was a fantastic one for the club in terms of advancement. Having waited on the terrace at Forest Green after the game last season, expecting for results to go our way, there is little doubt that we have exceeded most people’s expectations this season.

Also, since the middle of the season, we’ve seen a significant shift in how the team and its supporters connect. Since the fans’ forum brought everyone together and thoughts were freely expressed, we have seen a convergence of club and supporters.

The club has greatly improved its communication and understanding of fans, and committed supporters have worked tirelessly to improve the atmosphere at games.

At the same moment, Des and the team began to shift into gear. We can now see the plan, and we actually like it. The stadium is also moving forward, with the lease having been negotiated and signed as of this writing.

So everything is well, and there are many benefits regardless of the outcome. However, football isn’t quite like that, is it?

For many of us, it means so much that rationality becomes illogical. The mind wanders, and dreams arise. I would have rebounded and remained stoic over time, but football offers so much joy to so many people in Oxfordshire that I needed one of the pinnacle footballing experiences. Your team is competing at Wembley.

On Thursday morning, I awoke with a scratchy voice, a heavy head, and a tremendous smile, knowing that 36,000 fans from the city, county, and beyond would embark on trains and coaches and head to the capital next Saturday.

Seasons like this, weekends like Exeter, when we clinched the playoffs, and nights like Wednesday night energise our fanbase. A trip to Wembley Stadium captivates the attention of the entire country. The city’s colours will be yellow and blue. There will be a spring in our step, and the wonderful shared experiences that we enjoy as supporters will spread throughout Oxfordshire.

This club is extremely essential to many people, as well as to the entire county. We are on the verge of the Championship, with the new stadium tantalisingly close. Fans will travel to the game by train and public transport, and we will proudly represent Oxford.

It’s amazing to picture going to home games in the same way and arriving at a contemporary, enclosed, all-electric stadium that upholds the Oxfordshire values of quality and innovation. Perhaps having a dream isn’t so horrible after all.