Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury Town coaches can park closer to Wembley Stadium

Extra parking spaces for coaches have been found nearer to Wembley for Shrewsbury Town fans this Sunday.

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Lincoln City qualified for the Checkatrade Trophy final first and snapped up all the coach spaces at the stadium.

Salop chief executive Brian Caldwell today said spaces for the coaches have now been found less than half a mile away.

Town will have the backing of more than 11,000 fans as they bid to pick up silverware at Wembley.

The club said it was looking forward to the first of possibly two visits to the national stadium this season.

Now coach parking spaces have been found nearer the ground, so fans will not have to walk the 10 to 15 minute journey from an industrial estate to the ground, as initially feared.

Mr Caldwell said spaces for the coaches have been found 0.4 miles away from the ground.

He said: "They've managed to secure another coach parking area which they think will accommodate all our coaches.

"It's 0.4 of a mile away, originally they had spaces 0.7 of a mile away, so the new space is positive.

"It shouldn't be a huge problem now."

Town are currently second in League One, one point behind leaders Blackburn Rovers and ahead of Wigan Athletic, who have two games in hand.

Shrewsbury beat Oxford United 3-2 on Monday and Mr Caldwell said the players can now concentrate on Sunday's game, bringing home the club's first trophy since winning the third division (now League One) in 1993/4.

"As soon as the game finished everybody's attention turned to Sunday," he added.

Priority

"The league has been the priority. We didn't want the players thinking about Wembley when they've got important league games coming up first, but now they can concentrate on that.

"The players had yesterday off, but are back to it today.

"After Monday we've got almost a full week to prepare for Wembley, there's been a lot of work going on behind the scenes to make sure that everything is in place."

Meanwhile scheduled rail works on cup final day between Shrewsbury and Birmingham New Street have now been postponed. Arriva Trains Wales had arranged for replacement bus services to be laid on but Network Rail cancelled the work after the issue was raised.

Trains will now be running as normal and there is also the option to travel via Crewe.

Lincoln expect to take more than 25,000 supporters for the highly-anticipated clash in what will be their first visit to Wembley.

Shrewsbury Town's mascot for the last 24 years, Lenny the Lion, will also be making his way down to support the team.

Ron Millar, who owns Castle Banquet in Shrewsbury, said the shop will be open on Sunday morning for fans to grab a bite to eat before the journey down.

"I'm without a doubt going down on Sunday, I've been a few times before but we've never been lucky," he said.

"This is our season I believe. I'm absolutely looking forward to it.

"Kids always want pictures with Lenny, and even some parents ask for pictures with their child and say they had pictures with me as a kid.

"The shop will be open on Sunday morning for the fans to grab breakfast before the train down."

Lenny ready to roar his support

One familiar face will be heading down to Wembley with Shrewsbury Town fans this Sunday.

The club’s mascot for the last 24 years, Lenny the Lion, will be making his way down to support the team, while posing for photos with fans and giving out a bucket full of sweets.

Lenny the Lion, or Ron Millar, who owns Castle Banquet in Shrewsbury, said the shop will be open on Sunday morning for fans to grab a bite to eat before the journey down.

“I’m without a doubt going down on Sunday, I’ve been a few times before but we’ve never been lucky,” he said.

“This is our season I believe, there’s a lot of fans going down. I’m absolutely looking forward to it.

“All of my family is going down too. A lot of people will probably end up watching it on the TV but it’s not the same as at the ground. You wouldn’t have the same memories.

“Kids always want pictures with Lenny, and even some parents ask for pictures with their child and say they had pictures with me as a kid.

“The shop will be open on Sunday morning for the fans to grab breakfast before the train down.”