Stuart Maynard, manager of York City, and Jimmy McNulty, boss of Rochdale, have led their teams to impressive performances in the National League. When Rochdale meets York City in their National League final-day decider on Saturday, the outcome will not only determine the title winner but also significantly affect both clubs' futures.

Over 45 matchdays, the two teams have outperformed their competitors in the fifth tier of English football, engaging in a fierce race where dropped points have been rare. With just one game left, leaders York are two points ahead with an exceptional total of 107, while Rochdale benefits from home advantage at their packed 10,249-capacity Crown Oil Arena (12:30 BST kick-off).

Last weekend, Rochdale was nearly out of the title race but secured a dramatic 99th-minute winner against Braintree, which kept their hopes alive and disheartened York players, who watched a live stream of their match after defeating Yeovil. This historic face-off marks the first time two teams with such high points totals have contended in a winner-takes-all final-day situation for a spot in the English Football League.

The title winners will receive the trophy and earn promotion to League Two, while the runners-up must regroup and compete through the demanding six-team play-offs. The stakes in the National League are high; historically, winners enjoy a brighter future, while runners-up often face negative consequences. Unfortunately for the second-place finishers, the introduction of the play-off system in the 2002-03 season has seen only six of the 23 second-placed teams promoted.

Several notorious stories highlight the challenges faced by high-performing runners-up who miss out on the title and subsequently fall in the play-offs to lower-ranked teams. For instance, in 2003-04, Hereford finished second with a 17-point lead over third-placed Shrewsbury, who got promoted through the play-offs. Hereford struggled for promotion through the play-offs in successive seasons before finally earning a place in 2005-06.

After finishing with 98 points, Wrexham faced subsequent years of mid-table struggles after losing out in the play-offs. Similarly, York experienced disappointment after finishing with 96 points last season, only to be eliminated by Oldham, who were well behind in the standings.

While the psychological hurdle of narrowly missing promotion is daunting, the turnover of players in the fifth tier complicates the rebuilding necessary after a close defeat. Conversely, winners of the National League typically see substantial success after promotion, with none relegated straight back to the fifth tier in the years since the reorganization. Indeed, 24 of the 43 promoted clubs have reached League One or higher.

Despite their enchanting campaigns, neither York nor Rochdale has quite set a record for the top two teams in National League history. Their combined 212 points this season trail the 218 points achieved by Wrexham and Notts County in 2022-23. In that season, Wrexham won the title with 111 points, while Notts County barely emerged victorious from the play-offs.

The challenge of regaining focus and momentum after a near miss cannot be understated, as outlined by Sam Slocombe, a former Notts County goalkeeper now turned coach.

The National League's new 3UP campaign aims to secure additional promotion opportunities for its clubs to League Two, an initiative backed by all 72 national clubs, along with the Football Supporters' Association. Advocates for change believe another high-stakes title race with over 100 points at stake strengthens their case. However, any modification to the promotion quota would necessitate a majority vote from EFL clubs, a notion met with skepticism.