Kitman Pete Downward hanging out the shirts

Final preparations were being made today ahead of Shrewsbury Town’s crucial play-off home game at the Prostar Stadium tonight – with the club hopeful of a sell-out.

Staff were busy ensuring everything runs smoothly for the first-leg tie with Bury, with the ticket office working non-stop to cope with huge demand for tickets. Shrews general manager Jon Harris said he was confident the crowd would be a Prostar record.

He said at lunchtime that just under 9,000 tickets had been sold for the match with about 350 left.

Tickets for Town fans for the away leg at Bury on Sunday had sold out.

Mr Harris said supporters could be the club’s 12th man as the Shrews aimed to book their spot at Wembley for the final.

He said: “The place is looking as good as I have ever seen.

“It looks magnificent and it’s a credit to everyone.

“The ticket office has not stopped since Sunday and nobody has had a day off since the game at Dagenham.

“The supporters are our 12th man and it’s crucial. It’s important that they stick with the players.”

Meanwhile Gordon Sorfleet, press officer at Bury Football Club, said he expected the club’s tickets for tonight’s game to sell out.

He said: “We have not got many left. We expect to sell all 1,700 before tonight.

“For Sunday, we expect a sell-out at 11,000.

“It’s hard to say how many we have sold but tickets are going very fast.”

Shrewsbury Town supporters today said they had been gripped by play-off fever as they prepare for the match.

Thousands of fans have spent the last few days queueing at the club’s stadium in order to secure their tickets.

Roger Groves, chairman of supporters group ShrewsTRUST, said the atmosphere was already building up in the town.

He said: “I went down to the stadium on Tuesday and got some tickets and there was a buzz about the place.

“I think it’s put a smile back on everybody’s face and that expectation of possibly getting back to Wembley again.”

By Russell Roberts