Here’s my column from last week’s Leader. It forms part of the paper’s comprehensive pre-match coverage every Friday, featuring interviews, an in-depth look at the opposition and lots of statistical analysis. All content in the column (c) www.leaderlive.co.uk.

Don’t mention Wembley. I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it.

All talk of whatever Wembley is called these days since they pulled the towers down is banned from now until the end of the FA Trophy. When the final whistle is blown at the Trophy final, irrespective of whether we’re there or not, we can talk about it. Until then, keep schtum.

I accept this will take a great feat of concentration, not to mention an obscenely obstinate streak. But there are around a million reasons why we mustn’t mention Wembley, and here are all five of them:

1. Superstition: I don’t believe in superstition, in fact a couple of seasons ago I abused the favour The Leader grant me in handing me a chunk of Friday’s sports section to launch into a deeply profound explanation of how luck doesn’t exist and all superstition is mere bunkum, practised by the weak and the desperate.

But forget all of that: if tying a rabbit’s foot to my black cat and enticing him to go for a stroll under a ladder helps us with the Trophy and get promoted, I’ll do it!

I might even try not shaving until the season ends, a classic football technique which would segue neatly into the state of depression I’ll descend into if we fail to go up.

2. Distraction: we’re trying to get promoted here, can’t people understand that? Going to Wembley would be brilliant; going to Wembley but then failing to get back into the Football League would be awful.

3. Hubris. The bookies have made us favourites for the trophy, and the logic stacks up perfectly. We’re in the title chase and have been for two consecutive seasons, have amassed a ridiculously huge points total last season for a side that didn’t go up.

Furthermore, we’ve avoided Grimsby Town in the semi-finals, and we’ve got a two-legged tie coming up against opposition which plays in the division below us. So logically, we’re favourites. But once we start believing that, we’re in trouble!

4. Complacency. I’m delighted by how the season has gone, delighted by where we’re at. But taking anything for granted would be a huge mistake. There’s a celebratory air around at the moment, and I’ve overheard more than one conversation (that would be two, to be honest) about booking hotels in London for the FA Trophy weekend. Call me a killjoy, but I want that to stop right now!

5. Mind games. I remember us going to Peterborough for a fourth round replay in the FA Cup and hearing them announce the arrangement for the fifth round tie on the PA. We punished them for their presumptuousness and won 4-2. Reading did something similar to us in 1957: the players heard it and pulled off the win that ensured we got to lose to the Busby Babes, not them. Let’s not give Gainsborough a similar motivational tool.

So relax and enjoy the coming weeks. Just please don’t mention Wembley.