The Clarets enjoyed a brilliant season in National League South, finishing second behind runaway champions Yeovil Town.
Hopes were high they could build on that achievement by winning the play-offs, but an agonising 3-2 home defeat after extra-time against Braintree Town in the semi-finals saw their season come to an abrupt end.
While the Iron, who finished fifth, went on to gain promotion to Non-League’s top flight, Simpson and Co. were left with that feeling of what might have been.
“It was incredibly gutting and knocked everyone for six, including me,” Simpson told The NLP. “It was similar to when we lost to St Albans in the playoffs last year, but this was even more of a draining feeling. We thought it was our year.
“When things are good you find the energy, but when it ends you hit a brick wall and feel exhausted.
“It took me a lot longer than I thought it would to get over and to feel like I had the energy to go again. I also needed the belief that we could do it again – and do it better.
“Now I’m certainly re-energised and each day I’m getting more and more excited for the first day of pre-season.”
Denne historien er fra May 26, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra May 26, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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I'M READY FOR A NEW PROJECT
LEAGUE One, League Two, National League John Coleman doesn't care. He just wants to manage a club with scope for 'doing an Accrington'.
BEARNE'S DOUBLE IS A PITMEN TRIUMPH
HEDNESFORD Town marched on as this tie was settled in the first 21 minutes with a glut of goals in favour of the Pitmen.
STAG-DO SPOILED BY LIAM DOUBLE
AFC Totton and Basingstoke played out an entertaining draw at The Snows Stadium.
FOALLE'S THERE AT DEATH TO STEA IT!
A GOAL with almost the last kick of the game from Jack Foalle saw Ashton's unbeaten start to the season go up in smoke at Hurst Cross after they had hit the post in each half.
TUDORS STAY TOP THANKS TO AJAYI!
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN secured a crucial victory over Slough Town that solidifies their position at the top of National League South.
MOLS ON ROLL AS NASH GO SECOND!
CURZON ASHTON moved up to second place after doing a job on former boss Adam Lakeland and his King's Lynn Town side at the Walks.
REAL DEAL HEED KEEP PILING ON THE POINTS
GATESHEAD scored early in each half to strengthen their position at the top of the table after they stretched their unbeaten start to the season to seven games.
JOSH JOY DELIGHTS DAGGERS BOSS BEN
JOSH UMERAH marked his first league start for Dagenham & Redbridge by grabbing the goal that ensured a share of the spoils at Maidenhead.
DOGGED DALE WILL NOT BE MOVED!
ROCHDALE cruised to victory with a superb first-half performance which settled the age-old debate as Dale's immovable defensive object blunted Aldershot's previously irresistible attacking force.
SPITFIRES BACK IN THE GROOVE
EASTLEIGH bounced back from their last-gasp defeat at Gateshead last weekend as they edged past lowly Tamworth in a lackluster affair at the Silverlake.
