RICH BIDS TO BE KING FOR A DAY!
RICHIE Towell is looking forward to another ‘amazing’ Wembley experience – even if his Salford City team could turn out to be cup holders for just one day!
The 29-year-old Irishman helped Rotherham to a 2-1 League One play-off final victory against Shrewsbury three years ago and expected to be returning to Wembley last April with Salford for the Leasing. com Trophy final.
However, the coronavirus pandemic took a grip and the game was put on the backburner. Finally, almost a year later, the Class-of-92 backed Ammies are set to take on Portsmouth, who are the current holders having won the 2019 final, in the Papa John’s Trophy final.
In a bizarre twist, the 2020 final will be followed a day later by the 2021 version between Sunderland and Tranmere.
Fortunate
“All my mates from Dublin have been giving me a lot of stick,” smiled midfielder Towell. “Yous might win it but you’ll only win it for a day!
“These are the times we’re in, but really we’re very fortunate that we can go and play a football match at Wembley.
“Although us or Portsmouth are only going to hold it for one day, in history you’ll still look back and think ‘I won a Cup at Wembley’. People never say ‘how long did you hold it for?’ . I’m sure it will come up in a pub quiz somewhere.”
Of course, football hasn’t stood still in the meantime. Graham Alexander, now in charge at Motherwell, has been replaced in the Ammies hotseat by Richie Wellens and players have come and gone, too.
“Normally when you get to a final it gets played within a few weeks and the people who get you to the final get to play in the game,” explained Towell, who netted an extra-time winner for Dundalk against Cork in the FAI Cup final in 2015.
“Our manager has changed and most of our squad has changed as well so it’s a bit unfortunate for the lads that got us there but can’t play in it. I’m excited. I was a part of it last year and I’m still a part of it this year, so I’m lucky enough to have the opportunity to play at Wembley again.”
The ex-Celtic and Brighton man recalls that success on loan at Rotherham with fondness.
“We got up into the Championship and that was amazing,” he said. “We were much better than Shrewsbury on the day and we had fans there which made it a bit more special.
“I had 20 or 30 people fly over from Dublin to come and watch the game. It’s a bit unfortunate that we can’t have some fans but that’s the times we’re in.
“Normally you feed off that energy, but at the end of the day it’s a final against a good side, so you shouldn’t need any more motivating.”
Massive
Coming from a division higher, Kenny Jackett’s Portsmouth will be favourites to triumph, but Towell insists Salford won’t be going just for a day out.
“I think we can win it,” he stressed. “Portsmouth are a massive club, they have a really good manager and some really good players. I know a few of their lads, the likes of Ryan Williams and John Marquis, but we have a good squad, a good manager. It should make for an interesting game.
“I’m lucky I’ve won at Wembley before but I don’t want to turn around to my kids in years to come and say I won one and lost one. I want to say I won both.”
Victory next Saturday could also provide a filip for the Ammies as they go into the final stages of the season chasing promotion from League Two.
“Our club, our owners, our manager, they put down demands on us and our main aim is to get promoted this year,” added Towell. “It’s still a very achievab le aim and that’s our main priority but when you get to a final you don’t want to just take part - you want to grab the occasion with both hands.”