WEMBLEY 2020: First Wembley trip will be so special for 'excited' Adams

For everything he's achieved in 15 years as a professional footballer, there's still one thing missing from Nicky Adams' otherwise immaculate CV: an appearance at Wembley Stadium.

The 33-year-old has won numerous promotions, claimed league titles and played just shy of 600 senior games during his long and highly successful playing career, and yet the opportunity to walk out at one of the world's most iconic stadiums has always eluded him.

On Monday evening, however, that will finally change.

"Obviously it'll be a special moment," says Adams. "When you're a young boy growing up, playing at Wembley is a dream especially in a professional game and in a final.

"It'll be a huge occasion. The only downside for myself and the lads is that we know how good our support is and we know that they would have gone there in thousands and thousands.

"It's disappointing not to have them with us but we know they'll be watching on television so we've just got to go there and give it our all for them and I'm sure they'll know we'll do that after Monday.

"But it doesn't matter if there's going to be no-one there, it's Wembley, it's the pinnacle of English football, it's one of the most famous stadiums in the world and we're going there to play in a final so it doesn't get any better.

"It's especially special for myself because I've never played at Wembley before. I've always lost in semi-finals so I'm just so excited to get there. I can't wait!"

The fact that someone as experienced as Adams has never played at Wembley is proof of just what a rare and privileged honour it is.

But while Cobblers players are understandably excited for Monday's League Two play-off final, even if it is to be played behind closed doors, they also know there's a job to be done.

"In the build-up to the game you can be excited that you're playing at Wembley but when we get on that pitch, it's all business," Adams added.

"We know the task, we know how difficult it's going to be and we're under no illusions. Anyone that knows us we'll be aware that we won't go into it half-hearted, we're a hard-working group and it doesn't matter if we're playing at Wembley or if it's at the park, we want to win that game.

"It's the same mentality, nothing changes, so we'll go there and give it our all and hopefully we can get the result we all want."

To reach this stage, the Cobblers staged one of the most remarkable comebacks in play-off history when beating Cheltenham Town 3-0, overturning a 2-0 deficit from the first leg to book a meeting with Exeter City.

Adams, who had a hand in two of the three goals at Whaddon Road, continued: "It was a special night for everyone involved and one of the best in the club's history. We can't be more pleased with what we did.

"I don't think many gave us a chance, especially with Cheltenham's defensive record, but we always believed, even after losing the home game on Thursday.

"There wasn't too much in that game so we said to ourselves to go there with confidence and anything can happen and as it turned out it was a very special night for everyone at the club. The lads worked so hard and they deserved it."