Jon Nolan wants to feel the promotion buzz again as Shrewsbury target Wembley joy
Jon Nolan is desperate for a repeat of the promotion buzz with Shrewsbury Town in a ‘life-changing’ bid for the Championship.
Town’s midfield star played 90 minutes under Hurst with Grimsby Town at Wembley in May 2016 as the Mariners climbed back into the Football League.
But Nolan has also sampled national stadium heartache as Shrewsbury failed to perform in April’s Checkatrade Trophy.
Nolan, one of Town’s League One play-off semi-final heroes, added that joy and heartbreak are ‘polar opposites’ and that three previous Wembley outings should serve him well in an attempt to orchestrate one final Shrewsbury win.
“This will be my fourth time playing there,” said the 26-year-old 10-goal midfield man. “What will help me is that I’ve won the play-offs there and I know how good that feeling is, going into the changing rooms with such a buzz afterwards.
“I’ve said that to a few of the lads and the gaffer told us the other week, that it will change our lives.
“When I got promoted, it was only from the Conference, but it was unbelievable for days and weeks afterwards. You’re in that changing room after the game after losing and no one speaks to each other.
“Then you go upstairs to the room, the suite, and all your family, everyone, is miserable.
“When you win, everyone is buzzing.
“To get promoted from League One to the Championship would be an unbelievable achievement.”
Nolan added with a smile: “Hopefully that can rub off on all of the rest of the lads. With it being my fourth time there, I don’t think there will be too much of an aura for me.
“I won’t be star-struck by the whole situation, which I think will stand us in good stead really.”
A number of Championship sides have shown interest in Town’s player of the season, who was also included in the League One team of the season.
Sunderland and Ipswich are known to be keen on the schemer’s services, while Leeds are also reportedly impressed.
Nolan struggled to settle in two-and-a-half years at Lincoln that included a loan at Wrexham. But he hopes to be a second tier player in blue and amber.
He added: “I have aspirations to play at the highest level possible. I definitely believe I could play in the Championship. Hopefully that can be achieved here.”
