Liam Shephard is living the dream and that dream is getting closer and closer to becoming a reality.

The 24-year-old Forest Green Rovers right-back is primed and ready for the League Two promotion play-offs, starting with the semi-final first leg at Tranmere Rovers tomorrow evening (7.45pm).

Shephard is in his first season at the club after joining from Peterborough United in the summer and said: “When I signed promotion was always the aim, either way, whether automatic or through the play-offs.”

Mark Cooper’s side fell just short of the top three but after last season’s difficulties which saw them battling against relegation in what was their first season in the Football League, it has been a remarkable turnaround.

“It’s an amazing achievement,” said Shephard.

And of course the best may yet be to come because if Forest Green do beat Tranmere the club and their supporters will enjoy a big day out at Wembley in the play-off final on Saturday 25th May.

“Everyone that I speak to says that the play-offs are the best way to go up,” continued Shephard. “I’ve never played in them before and I can’t wait to experience them for myself.

“I want to feel the atmosphere, the stress; I’m looking forward to it, I’m excited.”

Forest Green finished the campaign in fifth place, one point and one place ahead of Tranmere, who they have already beaten twice this season.

Shephard was on the scoresheet in the 3-1 win back in October – “It was a lucky goal, I followed in a penalty and it went in off my shin,” he laughed – and was also in the side that won 1-0 in Birkenhead on 19th April.

A similar result in Liverpool tomorrow would suit Forest Green just fine, of course, but whatever the result – and Liverpool and Spurs showed  this week that nothing is impossible in football! – Shephard knows the importance of the club’s fans come the second leg on Monday (7.45pm).

“They’re our 12th man,” Shephard said. “When we’re under the cosh we’ll need our fans to help pull us through.”

The New Lawn is sure to be rocking for the club’s final home game of the season as they look for a play-off final place at the home of English football for the second time in two years.

They got into the Football League via the play-offs in 2017 – they beat Tranmere 3-1 in the final – and if they were to get there this time it will be another first for Shephard because he has never played there before.

The two-times capped Wales Under-21 international, who came through the youth ranks at Swansea City, has been to the stadium twice, however, most recently when the Swans won the League Cup with a 5-0 win over Bradford City in the days when Michael Laudrup was manager.

“They’re my second club,” said Shephard, who had three loan spells with Yeovil Town while he was on Swansea’s books, clocking up close on 60 games.

The second League Two semi-final play-off sees Mansfield Town, who finished the season in third place, take on Newport County.