Heading to Wembley - Southend United supporters
(Image: FOCUS IMAGES)
By Jessica Day-ParkerDigital Audience and Content Editor
BOTH of Southend's MPs and its council leader have written to the FA boss in a final plea to release more Wembley tickets ahead of the play-off final.
Southend United take on Oldham at the home of English football next Sunday but the Blues are currently restricted to 21,500 supporters, plus additional tickets sold with a coach package, due to works shutting Wembley Park station on the day.
Ahead of the face-off, Bayo Alaba, MP for Southend East and Rochford, David Burton-Sampson, MP for Southend West and Leigh, and Daniel Cowan, leader of Southend Council, have now sent a joint letter to the chief executive of the FA and Wembley Stadium imploring the stadium to release more standard tickets
It says: "As Chief Executive of the FA and Wembley Stadium, you know better than most that football is the beating heart of our nation and every community across it.
"Wembley Stadium is the National stadium and is the spiritual home of football. Yet for many Shrimpers and Latics this weekend, due to the decision to limit tickets for the Vanarama National League play off final, it will be a home they are not welcome in.
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The decision to limit tickets, and deny football supporters the chance to cheer on their team, has been apportioned to many stakeholders but our investigations have found the final decision rests with Wembley Stadium.
"The local council has been blamed, however, the circumstances around the National League Final and the scheduling of rail maintenance works were known well enough in advance. That meant there was sufficient information available to Wembley Stadium to make their own judgement about a safe capacity without consideration by the SAG.
"Indeed, Brent Council has provided additional Car and Coach Parking capacity and have agreed to our every request for support as the Members of Parliament and Leader of the Council for Southend. In short, Brent Council offers no opposition to the increasing of capacity for this final.
"The ownership of the final decision to limit or increase capacity for this match is Wembley Stadium's. We implore you to take this last opportunity to give Shrimpers and Latics alike their right to support their club. We implore you to take this opportunity to demonstrate that the entire pyramid is important to English Football.
"Twickenham is the home of English Rugby. It is an 82,000 capacity stadium that is accessible by a single rail station. This makes the decision to limit capacity at Wembley, which is served by several stations, and more readily accessible by other modes of public transport look ridiculous.
"The arrival of fans will be staggered and the exit of fans could also be staggered, ameliorating concerns about rail capacity. Coach packages have increased capacity a little but the cost of coach packages are pricing out many supporters and the clubs are struggling to source enough coaches at such short notice.
"More general capacity tickets are possible, Wembley Stadium can make it so. Please do the right by these clubs and let the fans in."
