Fans face mile walk to see Shrews play

It has been announced there will be no coach parking close to the stadium for Town fans for the April 8 match after all the available spaces were snapped up by rivals Lincoln City.

Coaches, including those organised by local supporter's pubs, will instead be parked on another official Wembley car park at an industrial estate just under a mile away from the ground - and fans will have a 10-15 minute walk to the stadium.

The Shrewsbury Town Official Supporters Club said on their Facebook page: "We, as the Official Supporters Club, have had information that, as it stands, no Shrewsbury Town supporters coaches will be parking at Wembley Stadium.

"We have only found this out today. We will be parked on an industrial estate approximately one mile walk to the stadium. This applies to all coaches including one's organised from pubs.

"Lincoln have all the coach parking at the stadium. There is restricted parking due to work being carried out. We want to let people know who may have difficulty walking that distance."

Fans have taken to social media saying that this puts them at a disadvantage to Lincoln City supporters who have had an head start after securing their place in the final a month before Town's win over Yeovil.

But chief executive of Shrewsbury Town, Brian Caldwell said he had spoken to officials at Wembley and was hopeful that a solution could be found.

"When I first heard about this I contacted Wembley and asked them what was going on," he said. "They explained to me that this is one of the official car parks and is 0.8 of a mile from the ground. It is a 10-15 minute walk. I know that for some this will be problematic and so I have asked if there is possibility of a drop-off and pick-up point. Hopefully there will be some common sense.

"The decision about car parking is taken for logistical reasons."

Meanwhile scheduled works to the rail line between Shrewsbury and Birmingham New Street, which was due to get underway on the morning of the match, has now been postponed.

Arriva Trains Wales had arranged for replacement bus services to be laid on for the cancelled 8.10am, 9.09am and 10.20am services but Network Rail has now agreed to cancel the work and trains will be running as normal. There is also the option to travel to London via Crewe.