It’s Wembley here we come for Shrewsbury Town fans
Coaches are booked, train seats reserved – now the wait is on for tickets for Shrewsbury Town’s cup final tie at Wembley to go on sale.
Fans were delighted with Tuesday night’s win against Yeovil Town and thousands are now preparing for their trip to the national stadium on April 8.
Around 20,000 fans are expected to turn out in force to support their favourite team as they take on League Two side Lincoln City.
Final details are still being thrashed out by the club with regards to when tickets will go on sale along with provision for the team with hotels being booked and travel to arrange.
Lincoln, who secured their place in the final a few weeks ago, have already sold more than 15,000 seats at the 90,000 capacity stadium.
The Checkatrade tournament has come in for criticism as several Premier League teams have fielded their U23 sides in the past two seasons.
But Shrews manager Paul Hurst has consistently put out a good side against the opposition and has enjoyed a “fairy tale season”.
Roger Groves, from the Supporters Parliament, urged Town fans to get behind their club and enjoy a good day out in the capital city.
He added: “I was at Tuesday night’s game and it was great.
“There was a good turnout which was nice and better than expected.
'Fairy tale season'
“We have enjoyed a fairy tale season so far and to make it to the final is fantastic.
“I know that some people have not been comfortable with the format of the Checkatrade trophy but the Town manager has put out a stronger team each time.
“Everybody should go and support the club, that is the most important thing and everybody wants the club to win.
“I have already booked my train ticket and I know that many other people have done so as well.
“This is great news for the club and will bring in a lot of revenue.
“I know that Lincoln have already sold almost 20,000 tickets in just five days.
“We will be sending as many fans as we can. I know that the official supporters club and the Away Travel Club will be running coaches as will some of the local pubs.
“Previous times we have been to Wembley, special trains were laid on but I don’t think that will be the case this time.
“It is hard to judge how it is going to be. It is Wembley, it is a final and Paul Hurst wants to see as many supporters there as he can.
“This is our team and that is as much as we can do. We are asking supporters to come along on the day.
“It will be a hard-fought match. There is not a lot in it.
“The big pitch at Wembley will suit our style of play.
“The manager is taking each game seriously. He seems to be very well prepared. It is between two traditionally lower league teams. Facing an U21 team would have de-valued the game.”
Val Sheppard-Evans, director of Longmynd Travel Ltd will be providing the transport for the team and within hours of the club winning its decider match the phone had started ringing with bookings for her other coaches.
By yesterday lunchtime she had already filled seven 53-seater buses. “It’s early days yet,” she said. “I am anticipating that we will sell out many more.”
NCB Motors of Wem provide a fleet of coaches for the official supporters club and is anticipating to send approximately 20 to London.
“We have been doing this since around 1985 and we see some familiar faces each time,” said director Paul Brown.
“We are not the only coach provider and we know that groups of people will also be clubbing together to hire their own to get there.”
The Imps await
Lincoln City say they expect to take an army of 25,000 fans when they meet Shrewsbury Town at Wembley on April 8.
The Imps continued their winning streak by beating Chelsea Under-21s in a dramatic penalty shoot-out last month and secured their trip to London for the final of the Check-a-Trade trophy.
Tickets are selling fast and the club is confident they will be given a greater allocation should demand outstrip supply.
The Imps chief executive Liam Scully said: “While our initial allocation will be 25,000, we’re confident we can go back to Wembley and the Football League and ask for more. And I’m confident they’ll be able to provide us with those tickets. I’m very confident that everyone who wants to go – provided they buy at the right time and go through the right processes – will have that opportunity.”
The side, managed by Danny Cowley, grabbed the attention of the footballing world last season when they knocked Premier League Burnley out of the FA Cup before losing to Arsenal in the quarter finals.
