In that time they have won a grand final in 2009 and had a number of heartbreaking close shaves.

On Sunday, the club has its best chance of promotion yet.

Maitland host fellow first division ­heavyweights Valentine at Cooks Square Park with the winner to all but seal entry into 2015’s National Premier League.

With four rounds remaining the teams are level on 48 points but Valentine’s superior goal difference sees them in front in the race for ­promotion.

It is a game Maitland must win.

Promotion would be that much sweeter for three Magpies – the Broadley brothers Justin, Chris and Ryan.

The brothers have served the club since they began playing football in under 6s and Chris, 26, said promotion was about giving back to the people who have done the hard work behind the scenes.

“What promotion means to me is more doing it for people like Paul and Margaret Osland,” he said.

“They saved the club when they got relegated all those years back and there are a lot of other people who have done the hard yards for us.

“People like (president) Chris Rafferty do so much for the club and want to get us back to the top so badly.  As a whole team I think that’s what we want.”

Maitland has been out of the top flight of Northern NSW football since the club was relegated in 2002.

The Broadley brothers make up the heart of Maitland’s midfield and will need to be at their best against Valentine who are looking to bounce straight back to the top division after relegation in 2013.

Both teams have lost just the once this season, with Maitland claiming the three points in round three (2-1) before Valentine exacted revenge with a 4-0 drubbing in round 10. 

The competition has been a two-horse race for most of the season and while the three points will not guarantee promotion a win would make it almost impossible for the loser to recover from.

Broadley said he was confident of getting the right result.

“They’re a quality side, they’re probably the best side I’ve played against in first division,” he said.

“Everyone as a team has got to be on, if we play our best we’ll go a long way to getting it done.”

The club is also expecting a big crowd for the Magpie’s Old Boy’s Day, with president Chris Rafferty hoping an army of supporters will help get the team home.

“Hopefully we get a big crowd along for Old Boy’s Day and we get the right result,” he said.

“I don’t remember it ever coming down to one game like this, it’s very exciting and I think it would be great for the Maitland community to have a team back in the top division.”

Kick off is at 2.30pm.