Former Bluebirds defender Semi Ajayi is intent on living the Championship dream again.
The big Nigerian was described as ‘the new Sol Campbell’ by an Arsenal fans website when he was at the Emirates under Arsene Wenger, but he has struggled to make the big breakthrough.
He failed to make a first team appearance for Cardiff City, while he was relegated from the Championship with Rotherham United last season.
Today, though, he is on a mission to help the Millers bounce straight back.
Ajayi, a 6ft 5ins centre-back who is quick, strong and powerful in the air, is in the Rotherham squad for their League One play-off final against Shrewsbury Town at Wembley Stadium.
He has scored five goals in 41 appearances for Rotherham, who finished fourth and were eight points adrift of three-placed Shrewsbury.
Champions Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers, who include ex-Bluebirds Craig Conway and Peter Whittingham in their squad, were the top two and gained automatic promotion.
When Ajayi signed for the Bluebirds from Arsenal in 2015 we chatted in the club shop at Cardiff City Stadium and said: “I’m a ball playing centre-half and enjoy being in possession.
“I’m composed with the ball and look to play it out to team-mates.
“But there is far more to my game than that. I am physical, aggressive and athletic. I go in to win the ball in the air and on the ground.
“It was disappointing not to break through to the first team at Arsenal, but it’s not easy at a big club like that.”
Ajayi, 24, found it equally tough to earn a first team call with Cardiff and moved on last year.
Yorkshire club the Millers are focused on an immediate return to the Championship after relegation, while Shrewsbury have not been in the second tier since 1988-89.
The Shropshire club have lost on their previous four trips to Wembley, the most recent of which was April’s Checkatrade Trophy final.
“We wanted to win the Checkatrade Trophy final and put our name in the history books,” said manager Paul Hurst. “We wanted automatic promotion this season and just fell short.
“When we perhaps lost our way slightly in the two semi-final games against Charlton, we stayed strong and put bodies on the line.
“We have good people who work hard and commit to the shirt. And that’s what we have to do again on Sunday.”
Managers Paul Warne and Hurst were teammates at Rotherham between 1999 and 2005.
Match stats:
1 Shrewsbury play in their third Football League play-off final, having lost in 2007 and 2009 (both League Two).
2 Rotherham are also involved in their third play-off final, losing against Dagenham in 2010 and winning after penalties in League One v Leyton Orient in 2014.
3 Shrewsbury have played four, lost four at Wembley Stadium. Brentford are the only team to lose more often on every visit to Wembley are Brentford (five defeats in five matches).
4 Rotherham’s only victory from three visits to Wembley (D1 L1) came when they beat Shrewsbury in the Football League Trophy final during April 1996 when current Shrews’ manager Paul Hurst was playing for the Millers.
5 Hurst has managed two previous play-off finals at Wembley. He was in charge of Grimsby Town in the Conference when they lost on penalties against Bristol Rovers in May 2015 and went back a year later, winning 3-1 against Forest Green.
The League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday features Coventry City v Exeter City (3pm).
Exeter return to Wembley a year on from losing against Blackpool in the League Two play-off final.
The Grecians have spent the past six seasons in the fourth tier.