Nicky Featherstone will be hoping to help Hartlepool United progress to the semi finals of the National League play-offs for more reasons than you might expect. 

The 32-year-old will no doubt be a part of the starting XI for tomorrow's eliminator against Bromley at Victoria Park. 

A sell out crowd will be in attendance at the Vic and part of the crowd will be Nicky Featherstone's mum. It will be an extra special day for her as she watches on from the stands on her birthday. 

Featherstone admitted he won't be watching Notts County vs Chesterfield this afternoon as he'll be paying a visit to his mother.

"It’s my mum’s birthday on the Sunday so I’ll probably have to see her on the Saturday after training.

"She’ll be at the game so it would be nice to get a win. It was my brother’s birthday on Thursday and my little boy’s birthday next Tuesday so hopefully we can celebrate the week with a positive result on Sunday.

"For me it’s not massively important, I know a lot about both those teams that we’ve played this season.

"For the gaffer it’s a completely different thing because he’ll be the one that has to prepare us further down the line if do manage to get passed Bromley."

Featherstone has featured 38 times for Pools this season and has spent seven seasons at Victoria Park where he's earned the reputation among the fans as the 'non-league Xavi'. 

He demonstrates a composed figure in the heart of the midfield and he's expecting that his team mates will be similarly relaxed before the game. 

"I haven’t got the impression that anyone is nervous leading into the game" Featherstone said.

“It might change when the game gets closer but in terms of how they’ve been around the place and how they’ve trained, there’s no real nerves.

“I think people are excited. It’s nervy playing knowing that you have to stay up so this is a good pressure. This is one you look forward to and you’re only three games away from achieving something quite special."