Marc Tierney has already played in one historic Shrewsbury Town victory over Gillingham this season – now he is hoping to witness another at first hand.

Tierney was part of the Shrewsbury team which inflicted a 7-0 hammering on the Gills in September, before completing his switch to Colchester in November.

But the popular left-back still takes a very close interest in events at the Prostar Stadium.

And, having been thrilled to see his former club first reach and then progress in the play-offs, is now hoping to be at Wembley for the League Two final.

“We have already begun preparations for next season with work in the gym so I will have to check the training schedule,” said the 23-year-old.

“But I’m hoping for a bit of leniency because I really want to be there for the big day.

“It’s really strange when you have spent half a season with a club because you still feel part of it.

“That was certainly the case when I watched the two games against Bury on the television, so I want to be there for the moment if the lads beat Gillingham – which I’m confident they will.

“I still keep in touch with a lot of the lads so I’m chuffed for them, I’m chuffed for the manager and I’m chuffed for the fans.”

Tierney’s own Wembley experience proved a bitter-sweet moment, the thrill of playing at the national stadium overshadowed by defeat for Town against Bristol Rovers in the play-off final two years ago and his own late sending off.

“That was a really disappointing day and was very hard to take,” added a player who was named Colchester young player of the year, and finished runner-up in the main award despite spending just five months in his new surroundings.

“But there was one part of the day which lifted the gloom. It was a real moment of despair when I got sent off but I looked around and saw all the Shrewsbury fans clapping me off the pitch and it was a real lift.

“My message to the Shrewsbury lads this time would be just to play their normal game.

“They have got to final because they deserve to. People have asked a lot of questions of them.

“They were asked whether they could beat Dagenham and yes they could.

“They were asked if they could beat a very strong Bury side over two legs and yes they could.

“Now they will be asked if they can beat Gillingham at Wembley and they have to have that belief.

“It would be great if they could for the club and for me personally because I would love to come back to the Prostar with Colchester next season and say a proper goodbye because I didn’t really get the chance.”