The Bees won the Nationwide Conference by 12 points there nearest rivals Hereford United play local rivals Stevenage Borough in the Nationwide Conference play off first leg on Monday. Paul Fairclough was in charge of Stevenage Borough when they won the Nationwide Conference in 1996 but they were rejected entry after failing a ground inspection.But now he is up in to the Football League with the Bees and is confident of a good League 2 season.
He told BBC Sport:"There is no point in entering a race if you are not going to try and win it," Fairclough told BBC Sport.
"Obviously there are more places for promotion than in the Conference so your chances are that much better."
Fairclough added: "We'll give it the very best shot we have got. We are not going in there to make up numbers.
"The prime example was Doncaster - they were on a roll and they kept that going. Yeovil were unfortunate as well. It is about keeping the momentum going.
"And I am very confident most of my players will be able to cope with the step up but there will have to be tweaks, perhaps in one or two areas."
"The Conference is a very sophisticated league now, people don't understand that," he added.
"It has sophisticated clubs, team, coaches, managers, chairman, boards. A lot of them are on a par, if not perhaps better run, than many League clubs.
"York came into the Conference and found out how professional it is. It is not the easiest League to win and that is why I am so proud of the players."
Paul has done an amazing job at the club. In 2003/2004 after Martin traitor Allen left to
"Obviously there are more places for promotion than in the Conference so your chances are that much better."
Fairclough added: "We'll give it the very best shot we have got. We are not going in there to make up numbers.
"The prime example was Doncaster - they were on a roll and they kept that going. Yeovil were unfortunate as well. It is about keeping the momentum going.
"And I am very confident most of my players will be able to cope with the step up but there will have to be tweaks, perhaps in one or two areas."
"The Conference is a very sophisticated league now, people don't understand that," he added.
"It has sophisticated clubs, team, coaches, managers, chairman, boards. A lot of them are on a par, if not perhaps better run, than many League clubs.
"York came into the Conference and found out how professional it is. It is not the easiest League to win and that is why I am so proud of the players."
Paul has done an amazing job at the club. In 2003/2004 after Martin traitor Allen left to
save League 1 side Brentford from relegation to League 2 Paul tookover and took us in the play offs where we lost after drawing 2-2 on aggregate to Shrewsbury Town and after losing in a penalty shoot-out. But this season the Bees wernt even tipped for the Play offs and no Bees REALLY thought we were going up. I remember Steve Percys comments at Farnborough Town when we drew 0-0 "Its going to be a long winter" sure Steve.
Paul added......
"Back at Stevenage it was a case of ground restrictions, the nuts and bolt were not right," said Fairclough.
"It was a bit of a sham. It was a hollow victory winning that Championship because although we took it to the High Court it was something of a façade to appease supporters."
But Fairclough can finally look forward to managing in the Football League.
"It is very, very special," he said.
"It has been a nine year wait for that and is an absolutely fantastic moment for me and my family."
"Back at Stevenage it was a case of ground restrictions, the nuts and bolt were not right," said Fairclough.
"It was a bit of a sham. It was a hollow victory winning that Championship because although we took it to the High Court it was something of a façade to appease supporters."
But Fairclough can finally look forward to managing in the Football League.
"It is very, very special," he said.
"It has been a nine year wait for that and is an absolutely fantastic moment for me and my family."