Soldiers show their support for Shrews

Shrewsbury Town fans serving in Afghanistan have taken their football shirts with them to show their support while out serving in the Middle East.

Some of the soldiers have sent pictures back to their loved ones proudly showing them their colours.

One of those serving in Afghanistan is Rebecca Warren, 26, and a nurse with the Hospital Squadron serving at Camp Bastion.

Mum Wendy, 48, from Edgebold, near Hanwood, said her daughter would have gone to the Gillingham match on Saturday if she had been in the UK, but she went out to Afghanistan in March and is not due back until August.

Her brother Peter, 28, will be going to Wembley though, while Rebecca is being kept in touch through her family.

Wendy said: "She's been a Shrewsbury Town fan all her life and goes to all the home matches when she's home.

"She would have definitely gone to Wembley if she was back and she's really disappointed to be missing it."

Rifleman Scott Empson, from Bicton Heath in Shrewsbury, has taken a signed shirt with him to Helmand Province after he was presented with it before the Wycombe match in December.

The 19-year-old and a group of people from Shrewsbury, who are part of 4 Mercian and are at Camp Bastion on a six-month tour of duty, will be watching the game live.

Scott's dad Nigel, a 44-year-old season ticket holder, said: "I spoke to him on Saturday and he said they had purchased a TV between them to watch things and will hopefully be watching the match."