Shrewsbury Town boss Paul Hurst gees up Wembley youngsters
Most people never get to play on the hallowed Wembley turf but three Thomas Telford School pupils will be doing it for the second time this weekend, and they go with Paul Hurst's team-talk ringing in their ears.
Anna Bebb, 13, Anna Bloomfield, 12, and Anna Welch – who celebrates her 13th birthday on the day – are part of an eight-strong under-13s team defending the national Girls' Cup this Saturday before the Checkatrade Trophy final between Coventry City and Oxford United.
"It's a twice in a lifetime opportunity for them!" said team-mate Jada-Mia Lee, 12, who will be experiencing Wembley for the first time alongside Harmoni Chilton, 13, Courtney Castle, Sophie Phillips, both 12, and Freya Horler, 11.
All teams in the competition represent a Football League side and the girls will be wearing Shrewsbury Town kits on Saturday.
So it was only fitting the Salop boss gave them a rousing team-talk at Greenhous Meadow yesterday before the girls trained with Town players Kaiman Anderson, Shaun Rowley and Ryan Barnett, all of whom used to attend Thomas Telford.
"I told them to just try not to be too nervous about it," said Hurst. "Get to bed early, get some sleep, I'm sure there will be lots of excitement flying around. Enjoy it and try to remember it as much as possible."
Salop goalkeeper Rowley said: "The school has always had a reputation for good footballers. Me and Kaimen won the National Cup together when we were there. It's obviously run well."
