NEWCASTLE UNITED may need to overcome Birmingham City today to boost their chances of a Champions League place, but the game of the day will not be occurring in the Premiership for once.

It is the Magpies' North-East neighbours Hartlepool United who take centre stage in what is the biggest match in the club's history.

And the region will no doubt be keeping a close eye on events at Nene Park to see whether it will be Pool or Rushden & Diamonds who lift the Third Division title.

Mike Newell's men should already have the League crown - for the first time ever - on show in the trophy cabinet. After all Pool were 14 points clear not so long ago.

But a slip-up in recent weeks has seen that lead wiped out and now Rushden, with a two point lead, hold the upper-hand.

There will be a packed ground in Northamptonshire this afternoon, with broadcasters and every national newspaper preparing to give the match a good show.

But, surprisingly, Sky TV have chosen not to beam the match live.

The satellite company, who have done wonders for football for more than a decade, would have made a killing had they chosen to broadcast the title head-to-head.

Nene Park only holds 6,441 - just over 1,600 of those are visting fans - so back in the North-East thousands would have opted to switch over to Sky Sports for that clash.

The Pool-Rushden clash may be the highlight of today's fixtures in this region but as it is the last day of the Football League season there are a host of other matches catching the eye in the lower reaches of the sport.

Darlington wave a fond Farewell to Feethams today and Mick Tait et al will be hoping to give the traditional old ground the perfect send off, by overcoming Leyton Orient.

Away from this region, though, there are a couple of small matters still to be decided.

Pool, Rushden and Wrexham have all secured promotion but the race is heating up to join that trio at a higher level. Bournemouth and Bury's play-off places have been clinched, with Scunthorpe all but assured to join them.

But for seventh place Lincoln, Torquay and Oxford still have work to do with the winner of the Lincoln and Torquay clash looking like clinching the final spot.

The Third Division is not all about glory. Take Shrewsbury's drop into football oblivion earlier this week when they succumbed to Conference football next season.

And today Exeter and Swansea will be aiming to avoid following in the Shrews' footsteps.

If Swansea avoid defeat to Hull, League status will have been preserved. If the Swans lose then Exeter need just a point from their game against Southend.

By the way, there is that small matter of Newcastle needing three points this afternoon to boost their chances of European football next season.

Three points could well be enough as fellow contenders Liverpool and Chelsea meet a week tomorrow.

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