Supporters' Parliament chairman Roger Groves: Let's make Wembley a Shrewsbury celebration
Supporters’ parliament chairman Roger Groves wants Shrewsbury fans to make Sunday’s play-off final ‘a celebration’ as they bid to end their national stadium hoodoo.
Ticket sales for the shoot-out with Rotherham for a place in the Championship went beyond 8,500 over the weekend.
Town are expected to pass the 12,000-plus supporters that followed Paul Hurst’s men to the national stadium for the Checkatrade Trophy final defeat last month.
This time, the club have an initial allocation of 20,000 tickets and hope as many supporters will cheer Hurst’s side on.
“I said it during the build-up to safe standing and it applies now, it is a great time to be a Shrewsbury Town supporter, I really think it is,” said Groves, who has watched Town fall to defeat on each of their four previous Wembley visits.
“The club are in a good position, off the field we’re in a great position, on the field we are where most other clubs would love to be.
“The press has been great, it’s been very positive and lots of it. It’s one more game. Whatever anybody can do to get there – I urge them to do so. These chances don’t come around that often. We’ve got to grab it and make it a celebration.
"We’re better placed on the pitch, it feels like we are geared up for it more.”
Groves, together with joint-chairman Mike Davis and the rest of the supporters’ parliament were the instigators of the club’s historic safe standing initiative, which was backed by the club and CEO Brian Caldwell.
Town fan group Bring Back The Loggerheads have pushed, alongside the club, to make Wembley blocks 111 and 112 vibrant and vociferous sections of Town backing.
Groves added: “It’s a great initiative and Brian has again backed it. I hope last time did not put people off, where it was fragmented with people standing. There’s a place there for everybody, if you want to sit and not jump up and down. Like safe standing – it gives another choice.”
Groves has delved deep into omens that backs Hurst’s side to reverse Town’s Wembley curse. “I said a Rotherham final would be a great way to go up,” he said. “There’s the Paul Hurst connection.
“Previously there’s been Nigel Jemson at Rotherham, Richard Walker for Bristol Rovers, Simeon Jackson for Gillingham, each team had a recognised goalscorer, I don’t think they’ve got that man.
“In the two games against Charlton we turned it on again. Paul got us in the right place.
“I feel it’s going to be our time.”
