Top scorer Grant Holt, the man Gillingham fear most, heads for Wembley to spearhead Shrewsbury Town’s promotion push – dreaming of seeing his name up in lights as a goalscorer at the world famous stadium.
Holt, who has found the net three times in Town’s two matches against the Gills this term, is raring to go and determined to deliver on the biggest stage of them all by firing Shrewsbury to promotion glory in Saturday’s League Two play-off final (3pm).
“Everyone dreams about playing at Wembley but as a forward you want to play there and score,” said Holt. “That’s what I’m aiming for and I want to see my name in the lights, I want to see it up there. It would be absolutely fantastic if my name was on there and we win the game, and that’s what I’m looking forward to. But as I’ve said all along, if I don’t score, as long as the result is in our favour, I’ll take that.”
Holt, the club record £170,000 signing, is excited about the prospect of running out at the national stadium and believes Town have what it takes to get the result they so badly want to allow the thousands of Wembley-bound Salopians to celebrate.
“I’ve been there as a spectator but that’s not the same feeling,” said the former Nottingham Forest man. “You can go to any ground in the country to watch games but until you play there it’s a different scenario and it will be a great day.
“If we put in a performance which we know we’re very capable of then hopefully it will be a very successful day.
“We’ve done it the hard way this year from being written off, to getting a good run together, to sneaking into the play-offs and then doing the hard work.
“We’re a team that’s in great form at the moment, we’ve got a great team spirit, the lads are all pulling together, and it’s a laughing, joking atmosphere with everyone relaxed. Even this week, which is a massive one, the lads are still kicking each other in training, laughing and joking, and that’s the way it’s got to be.
“We’ve got a great bunch of lads and the manager’s done fantastic getting together the squad he’s got. Hopefully we’ll achieve everything for him and the chairman.”
Holt has made it clear since the day he was unveiled as a Town player last June that he came to the Prostar determined to gain promotion in his debut campaign with he club – and now it’s so close to being realised.
