Boreham Wood's Garrard can't argue with 'football Gods'
Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard tells BBC Three Counties Radio the 'footballing Gods' wanted Rochdale to secure a deserved promotion.
Luke Garrard lines up for the national anthem before the National League promotion final [Getty Images] The 'footballing Gods' have spoken and it's Rochdale, not Boreham Wood, who will play in the EFL next season. The Wood's long-standing boss Luke Garrard was hugely emotional at Wembley after their dramatic penalty shootout defeat by Dale, who came from 2-0 down with 12 minutes remaining to equalise in the dying seconds of added time before winning 3-1 on spot-kicks . The 40-year-old said he didn't think he could "look his children in the face" after coming so close to ensuring the first promotion to the Football League in the club's 78-year history.
Wood's second promotion final defeat at Wembley comes eight years after their first, when Garrard's side were stung by 10-man Tranmere, though he told BBC Three Counties Radio this defeat hurts even more. He said: "I thought I liked Wembley but I'm not a fan of it. I've been here twice now and not been victorious.
"It hurts because I felt I was an imposter the last time I was here. I didn't believe we could be successful, I didn't believe we had enough on the pitch to go and win against Tranmere. "That wasn't the case with this one, so it actually probably hurts a lot more.
" Asked to describe his feelings, Garrard said: "Heartache, heartbroken - I don't know what else to say. "The team have been excellent all season. They have given this club, me, the town, everything all season – I am so proud of the group.