Just One Thing: Marlon Harewood on West Ham's play-off drama


When it comes to West Ham United's play-off drama, Marlon Harewood is well-placed to talk of the highs and the lows which come with the Football League's end-of-season promotion shootout.

Harewood was involved in both the Hammers' play-off campaigns from the Championship in the 2003/04 and 2004/05 seasons, and we caught up with him to discuss his experience, which ended with glory against Preston North End at Cardiff in 2005.

He said: "Play-off games are more hyped, more exciting and once you’re there you want to win it.

"That night against Ipswich [the 2004 semi-final], the fans were amazing and I can remember it like it was yesterday. Everyone was roaring, the atmosphere afterwards was really good and Matty Etherington’s goal was indescribable.

"It was a happier ending in 2005. I scored against Ipswich, who we had again in the semi-finals, and it was a great feeling.

"We knew were going to get promoted against Preston in the final, because the atmosphere around the lads was ‘we’re not going to let this go again’."