Disappointed fundraisers have slammed Shrewsbury Town Football Club bosses for refusing to host a pioneering charity all-stars game at the £15 million Oteley Road stadium.
Staff at Sainsbury’s in Meole Brace approached the club to ask if it would host a charity game featuring famous faces from Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks next month in aid of the national Sport Relief campaign – but were told it wouldn’t be possible.
Club bosses have said problems with the pitch meant they couldn’t accept the request, and have revealed a major re-seeding project is planned for the summer.
Supermarket employee Michelle Halsall suggested asking the celebrity all-stars to play because her sons, Alan and Stephen Halsall, are in the team.
She said Alan, better known as Tyrone from Coronation Street, and his team mates were all geared up to play against a team of staff for the national sport’s charity, but the idea has been knocked back.
“These boys play at Old Trafford and Manchester City’s stadium and I don’t think they have ever been knocked back before.
“I have been to a lot of games the boys have played and it does draw the crowds in.
“It would have been a great day for the town and local people.”
Duncan Thompson, duty manager at Sainsbury’s, said he approached the club thinking how great the event would be and had a response from Alan Stevenson, head of commercial services and marketing for STFC giving “quite a definite no”.
“The email reply stated ‘the pitch has given us cause for concern and a major re-seeding and re-planting project is planned’. I’m a bit shocked really.”
He said staff were disappointed and alternative plans to hold the event at Wrexham’s ground were dismissed due to the distance involved.
“We were hoping people from the store could play and we want to do it in Shrewsbury.
“The all-stars told us they were really up for it. I just wish Shrewsbury Town could see how good it would be.”
But, Mr Stevenson, said while the club could not host any games mid-season there was a possibility of setting something up for the end of the season.
“They wanted to do something mid-season and we can’t for obvious reasons.
“It’s not a definite no, we can see what we can do during the summer.”