Shrewsbury Town fans set season ticket sales record

Loyal Shrewsbury Town fans have put their play-off disappointment behind them – with season ticket sales racing along at record pace.

Town had planned to be inviting supporters to a League One club next season, only for those hopes to be dashed by Torquay United in the play-off semi-finals.

But that setback has not dampened interest in the club, with ticket office manager Sean Evans reporting a roaring trade.

"We've sold about 2,200 at the moment, not including the Sovereign Club, which is well up on where we were last year," said Evans, who has also been rushed off his feet dealing with enquiries for the Elton John concert at the Greenhous Meadow on Sunday.

"We're very happy with that figure and things are looking very positive.

"Our fans have always been very loyal, no matter what league we are in, and they are proving that once again.

"We got a real boost from the feelgood factor of Graham Turner's return last summer and that still seems to be there," he added. "We had a decent season and we were just unlucky we didn't make it at the final hurdle."

Shrewsbury finished up with over 3,000 season ticket holders last season, though that figure included fans who took advantage of half-season and three-game offers in the latter stages of the campaign.

And Evans added: "At the moment we're probably at about 2,450 if we include the people who have signed up to the Sovereign Club.

"We would like to think we can get somewhere around the figure we had last season and we would just like to encourage people to come in and get their season tickets as soon as possible."

By CHRIS HUDSON