Fans of two non-league clubs have launched a petition after being hit with ticket caps for their promotion showdown at Wembley.
Southend United and Oldham Athletic are set to battle for a coveted place back in the English Football League in the National League play-off final on Sunday June 1.
Southend and Oldham fans dreaming of watching their local club at Wembley have been dashed by ticket restrictionsGettyHowever, the prospect of a historic big day out for supporters has already been ruined by news only 17,500 tickets are available for each team.
The Shrimpers’ have said they had sourced 28 coaches which had taken the ticket number up to 18,900, but there is no news from Oldham about any additional tickets for their fans.
It was anticipated they would each take around 30,000 fans to the Home of Football for the final.
The Owls last played a Wembley cup final 35 years ago, and although Southend last played there more recently, in 2015, it’s also a landmark game for the Essex club who were recently rescued from financial ruin.
Oldham’s route the final was a straightforward and emphatic one, the fifth-place side beating Halifax Town 4-0 in an eliminator before sweeping aside second-place York City 3-0 in the semi-final.
Southend’s route was far more dramatic. Finishing seventh in the league and securing the final play-off spot by one point, they needed an extra-time winner to defeat Rochdale 4-3 in their eliminator, before another nail-biting semi-final at Forest Green Rovers, where Southend edged it on penalties to spark wild celebrations.
Their promotion clash was expected to break the attendance record for the National League play-off final which current stands at 47,029 – a record which has stood for ten years.
But that record looks set to be left untouched thanks to ticket restrictions put in place due to rail closures on the London Underground.
Transport for London (TFL) have planned engineering works the weekend of the final which means Wembley Park station will be closed.
With fans diverted to nearby lower-capacity stations as a result, safety concerns have seen Wembley put a limit on the available tickets fans can buy.
A petition demanding more tickets reached almost 5,000 signatures after only a few hoursChange.orgEngland’s Lionesses are also due to play at Wembley on the Friday before the play-off final, but that game will be unaffected as the engineering works aren’t due to start the day after – allowing that match to go ahead without issue or restriction.
It’s left supporters of both teams fuming, with thousands facing the prospect on not being able to watch their home club fight for promotion and the play-off trophy.
They have had some big backing, too, with Southend United legend Stan Collymore adding his voice to the outrage, as has talkSPORT Breakfast host Jeff Stelling.
And now, eight days away from the game, a petition has been started to give them a full allocation at the 90,000 national stadium.
Collymore, who credits his prolific one-year stint with the Shrimpers for kick-starting his career, has issued a personal plea to the Mayor of London to get involved and help make the day a memorable one for all supporters, not just a lucky few who get tickets under the sub-20,000 cap.
He wrote: “Dear Sadiq Khan, Vanarama National League and TfL – Oldham play Southend on June 1st at Wembley for a place back in the Football League.
Southend did things the hard way to make the play-off finalGetty Oldham’s journey to Wembley was more straightforward, but now their fans are being hampered by events outside of their controlGetty“Both clubs have huge numbers who want to attend and support their team, just like Crystal Palace, Man City, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Liverpool fans have this season without issue.
“Because of engineering works the suggestion is a restriction on numbers as Wembley Park station will be closed. This is neither the fault of either club and the proposed cap on supporters, many of whom will be visiting Wembley for the first and maybe last time are being unfairly punished.
“The record for a NL playoff final is 47,000. It’s safe to say that without restrictions this record would be broken, but any cap would not only be unfair to supporters who don’t often get the opportunity for a Wembley day out but would probably not be implemented would this be a Premier League or England national team game.
“Clubs in the pyramid need every opportunity they can get to shine, compete and grow their supporter base and Wembley is always an opportunity to do so, along with stimulating support in the communities of Oldham and Southend respectively.
“Mr Mayor, as we have followed each other for some time on here, I’d be more than happy to set out a thousand reasons why it is important for both clubs to be fully represented at Wembley, and should only be afforded the same privilege as any club, namely to ‘fill the damn place’.
“National League and EFL clubs are hamstrung enough in this day and age where the top of the pyramid rules, I hope between you you could find a sensible solution to allow Oldham Athletic and Southend United supporters their day too.”
Collymore still has a strong connection with Southend, having saved them from relegation during his one-year spell at the clubSouthend United on Twitter talkSPORT’s on-air talent have been left outraged by the news tooXStelling added on X: “It is pitiful. It is not like the date wasn’t set months ago. Massive occasion for both clubs.”
talkSPORT reporter Ian ‘The Moose’ Abrahams also posted on social media: “Big row developing – we need Sadiq Khan and TfL to sort this. Oldham and Southend meet in the play-off final next Sunday but because of engineering works there is a restriction on numbers as Wembley Park station will be closed. This is ludicrous!”
talkPORT’s Danny Kelly added: “Scandalous carry-on. The public largely paid for this NATIONAL stadium. If this was two fancy pants Prem teams etc… and, as an ex-railman, I know that planned engineering – as opposed to emergencies, obviously – can always be delayed. POWERS THAT BE NEED TO SHIFT THEIR ARSES.”
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