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Shrewsbury Preview

One Last SwanSong For Vetch Field

Ninety-three years of history will be celebrated tomorrow at the Vetch as the Swans prepare to host their last ever league game. JackArmy.net will provide £1500 to any Swans supporter who saw the first game against Cardiff City but only on the proviso that the applicant can bring both parents and one grandparent with them when they come to claim their prize.

And it is over 85 years since Watford arrived at the Vetch to play the Swans first game in the league on the hallowed playing surface. Since that time great names such as Ivor Allchurch, Herbie Williams, Robbie James and John Toshack amongst many many more have graced the playing surface of the Vetch meaning that today's incumbents have much to live up to.

And those incumbents will be tasked with the plan of getting the first of two wins that all Swans fans hope will be enough to catapult them back into League One in time for the new stadium opening, now less than three months away.

Kenny Jackett has shielded his players as best he can from the preparations for this game which started in earnest when the fixture lists were announced last June.

Swansea have laid on pre-match entertainment and the car park behind the east stand is now home to a marquee which will see various events over the course of the weekend. With balloons, face painting and flags expected to be in abundance this really is party time at the Vetch that everyone hopes will not be ruined by the result on the pitch.

Strangely as well it could not even be the last Saturday game at the Vetch with the football league having pencilled in the second leg of the play off semi finals to be Friday 20 and Saturday 21 May to accommodate live coverage of every play off game by Sky TV.

Kenny Faces The Press

Celebrations aside, we do well not to forget that they all take place around a match and Kenny has to decide who will come in to replace the suspended Andy Robinson who is unlikely to feature again this season. Kevin McLeod seems the natural choice to make the progression into the starting line up, with most believing it will be in a 4-4-2 formation. Lee Thorpe seems favourite to continue alongside Lee Trundle although it would not surprise me to see Paul Connor back in the starting line up for a game that the Swans simply must win.

Shrewsbury's most notable absentee will be their manager Gary Peters who is not expected to make the trip to the Vetch preferring instead to look at potential targets for the summer. One of those will be a replacement for Luke Rogers who also seems certain to miss out with him out of the door at Gay Meadow before the new season . Duane Darby and Dave Walton are also missing but Jamie Tolley, Ben Smith and Carl Clampitt all could come back into the reckoning.

Roberto Shares His Thoughts With Real Radio

I would hate to think that we would say goodbye to the Vetch with a defeat and to be honest I just cannot see this happening hence why I have plumped for a 2-0 home win.

Tomorrow promises to be an emotional day for many, the only thing we have to hope is that the day doesn't end with tears of the wrong kind.

For me it is the end of a love affair that started way back in the late 1970s and has too many memories to mention but for one tired old model tomorrow is the last it will see of league football and we'll all miss her in some way, shape or form. And before anyone quips I am not talking about Myra!

It's on to better things for the Swans stadium wise, let's hope the same is said for the level of football.

TAKE ME TO THE VETCH FIELD......

HAVE YOU ENTERED YOUR PREDICTION YET? IF NOT, CLICK HERE TO DO SO

Predictions So Far - 21:10 APRIL 29

012345
Home01
14
281
31161
441
52
Other Scores: 0
Home Win:38
Draw:1
Away Win:
First ScorerVotes
Lee Trundle

33

Paul Connor

2

Sam Ricketts

1

Kristian O'Leary

1

Kevin McLeod

1

Lee Thorpe

1

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