Expectant Shrewsbury stand on the verge of glory as they prepare to host Chester-le-Street in the National KO semi-finals on Sunday – with excited skipper Ed Foster hopeful a bumper crowd will flock to London Road.
Foster has no doubts about describing this weekend’s showpiece 45 overs per side clash, which gets under way at 1pm, as the biggest game of his club career.
And while the county towners need no added incentive to get the result they so badly want to send them through to the final at Derbyshire CCC’s ground on September 19, Foster admits he would love to emulate the achievements of the Shrewsbury side who so memorably lifted the National KO trophy at Lord’s in 1983.
That team included his dad John, who hit 22 in the dramatic victory over Hastings 26 years ago, with Foster admitting Sunday’s match cannot come quickly enough.
“Everyone’s really looking forward to it and there’s been a lot of talk about it,” said Foster. “We’re hoping for a decent crowd and I’ve certainly not been involved with a match of this significance before.
“Early estimates suggest there might be 500 people at the game, but if the weather’s nice hopefully we’ll get more than that. We’re hoping the people of Shrewsbury will come out and support us.”
Foster is delighted Shrewsbury have home advantage having had to come through four away ties in five of the games they have played to reach this stage of the prestigious competition.
“We’re pleased to have got this far and it’s great for the lads to have a home game and the chance to play in front of a big home crowd,” he said.
“I’m confident we can get the result we want and we’ve got a bit of momentum and a bit of confidence. The worry is that the lads start to think Chester-le-Street are a brilliant side. They’re sure to be a decent side because they’re in the last four of the National KO but we’re also a good side.
“We have a lot of Minor Counties players, lads who have played second team county cricket, and sometimes in Shropshire we don’t give ourselves enough credit.”
Rob and Ed Foster join their dad John to look at some of the memorabilia from Shrewsbur’s 1993 triumph, in which John took part. Picture by Iain Thomson.
Foster, 24, and his younger brother Rob, also a key man in the Shrewsbury side, weren’t even born when their dad helped the London Roaders to the most famous win in the club’s history at Lord’s, but they know all about it.
“It would be a fantastic achievement if we could win it,” added the skipper. “There are not many clubs who have won it twice, even once, but we’ve got to get through the semis first.
“You only have to go into our clubhouse and there’s a display about the 1983 team in a prominent spot.”
Shrewsbury will select from a 13-man squad for the game against Chester-le-Street with Bath or Surrey championship club Spencer awaiting the winners.
Chairman Andy Barnard, a member of the winning Lord’s side, added: “This is a massive match for the club and the county. Not since beating Wigan in the 1983 semi-final have we staged such an important match and all support will be welcome.”
Gates open on Sunday at 11am and, while admission is free, car parking will cost £2 and there is also a match programme available for £2. Bar facilities and food will be available throughout the day.
SHREWSBURY (from): E. Foster, R. Bishop, R. Foster, J. Leach, W. Parton, D. Manders, A. Blofield, T. Allin, M. Barnard, E. Green, J. Anders, M. McKeever, J. Gale.
Shrewsbury also face a big game on Saturday as they continue their quest for Birmingham League top flight survival at Moseley. It will be Western Australian pro Wes Robinson’s last appearance as he takes his place in an unchanged side.
by Stuart Dunn