Cricketers miss out on final day

Tuesday 12th May 2009, 12:09PM BST.

Football won’t stop play on the cricket field when Shrewsbury Town head to Wembley on May 23 – with the full Marston’s Shropshire Premier League programme proceeding as scheduled.

League officials cancelled all matches when Town last got to Wembley two years ago, in order to free up players who also support the club to attend the match.

But that precedent has not been followed this time as the league has since expanded to 14 teams and it was deemed impossible to re-arrange the games.

“We just haven’t got any room to manoeuvre because we’re already playing on two Sundays,” said league chairman Robinson.

“We started a week earlier and we’re finishing a week later and we couldn’t see where we could fit another game in without asking the teams to play on another Sunday, which we didn’t think was fair.

“It will affect some clubs more than others, but it’s all swings and roundabouts.”

Robinson is himself a huge Town fan and will be in London for the big match against Gillingham as Shrewsbury go gunning for promotion.

But he will be keeping close tabs on events at Quatt that day, where his own club Oswestry will be playing.

“My being at an Oswestry game doesn’t make that much difference,” added Robinson. “I will be in constant touch that day to get the cricket score while I’m at the game.”

View more: Marston's Shropshire Premier League news.