Lincoln gripped by cup fever ahead of Checkatrade Trophy final
Wednesday 4 April 2018 14:41, UK
Lincoln have already sold 25,000 tickets for the Checkatrade Trophy final against Shrewsbury at Wembley on Sunday and the number is still rising.
Pubs and shops throughout the cathedral city are decked out in the club's red and white colours as excitement mounts ahead of the club's first ever appearance at Wembley live on Sky Sports.
Club captain Luke Waterfall told Sky Sports News: "It's absolutely massive, the club's had a lot of ups over the last 18 months or so but a trip to Wembley is right up there, the club's first in its history.
"A lot of the lads have never been there before so it is a trip the lads are looking to and after we've had a great Easter weekend in the league it is one that we can now look forward to."
Live Checkatrade Trophy Final
Manager Danny Cowley, along with his assistant and brother Nicky Cowley, have guided the Imps to sixth in League Two and a second successive promotion could be on the cards after Lincoln returned to the Football League a year ago.
"It has been an excellent March," Waterfall added. "We always finish strong, we did last year, at the back end of the season the gaffer gears us up to finish strong and we are coming into form at the right time.
"Credit to the old manager [Chris Moyses] who brought some good players in who are still here now.
"That started the turnaround but since Dan and Nick have come in the club has gone from strength to strength and it is run like a Championship club every day 24/7."
With home gates now approaching 10,000, Lincoln are encouraging supporters to wave the players off when the team bus leaves Sincil Bank at 11am on Saturday.
Shrewsbury have sold 11,000 tickets themselves and with the EFL extending their online ticket sales for fans of both teams until Thursday night, there is bound to be quite an atmosphere at Wembley.
