TRAVEL GUIDE

Wrexham car users should leave the M4 at Junction 29 following designated parking signs to Park & Ride:

• Blue Car Park: Cathays High School - The Friary lay-by opposite the Hilton Hotel
• White Car Park: Knox Rd - this is a park & walk
• Red Car Park: University Hospital of Wales - North Road
• Car parks will have a staff presence from 8:00 and will be open from 8:30
• The parking cost is £5 per car including your park and ride fare.
• All car parks will have a staff presence from 8am, will open at 8:30am with the first bus at 8:30am. The last bus will leave the pick-up point at 6.30pm, with car parks closing at 7:00pm.

Disabled Parking: A number of Disabled Car parking spaces are available on site these are available through each club. If you are not able to obtain one of these passes please contact Tel 029 2082 2145 or 029 2082 2141

The Wrexham Supporters Trust are operating coaches that depart from outside the Turf at 7AM and from the following pick up points:

• Five Crosses Bwlchgwyn, Coedpoeth
• Workingmens Club, Gwersyllt
• Old Comrades Club, Ellesmere
• The Boot, Whittington
• Oswestry, Bus Station
• AAA's , Chirk
• Tesco, Mold
• The Cross, Buckley
• Deeside Leisure Centre, Queensferry
• Playing Fields, Pen-Y-Ffordd
• Red & White Lion, Hope
• Castle Car Park, Caergwrle
• Red Lion, Marchwiel
• White Horse, Overton
• Opposite Lindops, Bradley
• The New Inn, Johnstown
• Newtown
• Places on these coaches cost £15 for adults and £12 for juniors and there are also designated family coaches leaving from the Turf.
• To book a place contact the WST on 07710 715597, email cardiffbuses@wst.org.uk or write to Wrexham Supporters Trust, 9 Green Park, Wrexham, LL13 7YE.

If you are planning your own coach or mini bus, Wrexham and South Wales Police have contacted Red Passion to pass on the following advice:

Can any supporter who has arranged an independent booking contact their coach operator requesting them to leave the following details with Wrexham Police on 01978 294546:

• Name of Coach Operator
• Number of coaches travelling
• Telephone number and fax number to enable specific instructions to be given to the driver concerned before the day of the game
• It is a criminal offence to carry or consume alcohol on coaches / minibuses on your way to the match
• This is a standard requirement to all coach operators before any game by the Traffic Commissioner in respect of their operators Licence issue, however it is more imperative for this game due to the exceptionally large numbers of coaches travelling from all over North Wales. Due to the high volume of coaches and private vehicles traffic management problems which will obviously arise. To assist the South Wales Police in getting Wrexham supporters to the Millennium Stadium on time we ask for your assistance.

South Wales police have advised Red Passion of the following alternative travelling arrangements for coaches and mini buses:

• Wrexham coaches and minibuses should leave the M4 at Junction 32 and travel South along the A470 following designated parking signs to the Civic Centre.
• Detailed plans and passes must be applied for in advance from the Millennium Stadium to secure FREE COACH PARKING Tel 029 2082 2145 or 029 2082 2141 or e-mail football@wru.co.uk

If you are operating your own coach and would like to advertise spaces on this page then contact Red Passion on wapmaster@red-passion.com with the following information:

• Area Covered
• Departure Points and Times
• Spaces left
• Contact Name, telephone numbers and e-mail address.

TICKET AND GROUND INFO

Southend United

Southend United

Southend United

THE HARD MEN - WORST DISCIPLINE

Southend United

HEAD TO HEAD

Southend

RECENT MEETINGS

THE OPPOSITION

Southend manager Steve Tilson will lead Southend United out for the second successive season in the LDV Vans Trophy Final but this time around he will be looking for a better outcome. The Shrimpers lost 2-0 to Blackpool last season but Tilson has admitted that the defeat was the lowest point since he took over at Roots Hall. "There have been a lot of ups and downs since I took over but losing to Blackpool was definitely the lowest so far," he told the Evening Leader. "It's better to lose there than in the area final which would have been even more painful but it was still disappointing because we had so many fans there and we didn't really give I them much to shout about."

Southend's main threat will come from top scorer Freddy Eastwood with the striker bang in form with seven of the twenty goals he has scored this season coming in the last nine games. After failing to break into the first team squad at West ham Eastwood dropped into non league football where he scored 37 goals in one season for Grays Athletic and this alerted the attention of Steve Tilson who brought the striker to Roots Hall in November after initially signing him on loan.

A four game winning streak (form guide) with no goals conceded has resulted in the Shrimpers climb to the top of League Two although Yeovil's victory over Mansfield dropped Soutend to second place and a point behind with a game in hand. Southend's progress to the final included a penalty shoot out win over rivals Colchester and Tilson belives it is an achievement that his players should be proud of. "It's been superb in the LDV again this year and the players have done brilliantly," he told the Evening Leader. "We beat Colchester again which I know the fans love and I do too, but to get through to the final again is a great achievement."

With Paul Yeomanson of the Shrimpers Trust

What was the day out in Cardiff like last season?

It was a fantastic day. This was Southend United's first ever Major Cup Final and it was a day to be remembered despite the result. Just being there in the Milstad soaking up the atmosphere was fantastic, and seeing your team run out in front of 35,000 + supporters was amazing. OK so we lost & the team were totally overawed by the occasion, but hey, who cares it was a great day.

You have choice of between either winning the LDV or winning promotion. Which one will you take?

Promotion.

Southend are the team in form. What changes or noticeable improvements have been made to reach this consistency? (i.e formation/new players)

Well obviously Fredy Eastwood has made an instant impact on the team, but it is plain to see that under the management team of Steve Tilson & Paul Brush the team act as a unit both on & off the field. Each player knows what he is supposed to do & does it, and these days when we make substitutions for injury or tactical purposes we have the cover in all areas.

What formation and tactics do Southend play?

Mostly 4 4 2, and prefer to play on the ground rather than lumping it forward all the time.

Who in Southend’s team will be the danger man?

We are scoring goals throughout the team, and on their day virtually any outfield player is capable of scoring. Obviously the front pairing of Eastwood & Gray will be key to our success, but don't rule out the likes of Adam Barrett popping up & scoring.

What are Southend’s strongest points?

Our defence, we just don't look like conceding a goal at present.

What are Southend’s weakest points?

Some of the players penchant for wearing white boots !!!!

Do you know much about the current Wrexham team?

Not a lot I'm afraid

Andy finally, a score prediction?

2-0 Southend

The LDV Vans Trophy has had many names since its inception for the 1983/84 season with Bournemouth the inaugural winners of the Associate Members Cup following a 2-1 win over Hull at Boothrey Park after the Cherries were drawn 'away' in the final. Other names of the competition have been the Freight Rover Trophy (1985-1987), the Sherpa Van Trophy (1988-1989), The Leyland Daf Cup (1990-1991), the Autoglass Trophy (1992-1994), the Autowindscreens Shield (1995-2000), and the LDV Vans Trophy (2001 - date).

The final has been held at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium since 2001 after being played at Wembley for sixteen years with Port Vale winning the first Cardiff final. Wrexham are not the first Welsh team in the final with Swansea taking that honour in their 1994 penalty shoot out victory over Huddersfield. The final has gone to penalties on two other occasions, once in 1997 when Carlisle defeated Colchester and the other in 1987 when Mansfield defeated Bristol City.

The previous rounds of the competition are held over a North and South basis with the North teams leading their southern counterparts 12-9, although both Port Vale and Stoke City have won the competition for both sections such was the makeup of the competition in these seasons.

Denis Smith is looking forward to the final as it gives Wrexham the opportunity to forget the off field problems that have affected the Red Dragons this season. "We will go into the game and the lads will not even be thinking about who will own the club, or whether there will be a club, when they get out on that pitch on Sunday," Smith told BBC Sport. "If I'm honest, what has happened has been an absolute nightmare and still nobody knows what the future holds. It's been a massive mental strain on everybody connected to the club and has left me at the end of my tether at times."

On the final itself captain Darren Ferguson is expecting an open game of football. "The first 20 minutes will be important to both sides but if we can get the ball down and play as we know we can I believe the big pitch in Cardiff is more suited to our style," he told the Daily Post. "And if the game gets stretched we have players like Carlos Edwards, Chris Llewellyn and Juan Ugarte, who can hurt them."

Wrexham Team News: Denis Smith has had the rare luxury to name his full squad for the final with his only doubt over wingback Carlos Edwards. Mark Jones and Craig Morgan were the other doubts during the week but both came through training on Friday and are fit to start. The surprise inclusion in the squad is midfielder Danny Williams but definitely ruled out of the final are Andy Dibble, Brian Carey, Jim Whitley and Simon Spender. Ben Foster will start in goal with an unchanged defence of Steve Roberts, Craig Morgan and Dennis Lawrence. Mark Jones returns to midfield to play alongside Darren Ferguson and most likely Matt Crowell although Danny Williams may be a surprise choice in the holding midfield role. Andy Holt will be at left wing back with Dean Bennett on standby to replace Carlos Edwards on the right if he is not fit. Juan Ugarte and Chris Llewellyn will play up front with Denis Smith having the luxury of naming both Chris Armstrong and Hector Sam as back ups on the bench.

Wrexham Squad (20): Foster, Harrison, Morgan, Pejic, Lawrence, Roberts, Edwards, Holt, Mackin, Williams, Smith, Mark Jones, Bennett, Ferguson, Green, Crowell, Armstrong, Ugarte, Sam, Llewellyn.

Southend Team News: Southend have no new injuries or suspensions to contend with and manager Steve Tilson is expected to name an unchanged team. First choice goalkeeper Bart Griemink has returned to training but the final will come too soon for him after being ruled out for three months following knee ligament damage. Also out are Lewis Hunt and Jay Smith with knee cartilage and Achilles tendon injuries respectively.

Southend (probable): Flahaven; Jupp, Prior, Wilson, Barrett, Gower, Maher, Bentley, Pettifer, Gray, Eastwood. Subs: Griemink, McCormack, Dudfield, A Edwards, Holloway

Officials: The match referee is Brian Curson from Leicestershire and he is assisted by Gary Wallace from the Tyne & Wear and Andy Williams from Herefordshire. the reserve official is Phil Joslin from Nottinghamshire. Brian Curson has refereed 34 games this season sending off 8 players and booking 91 at an average of 2.68 per game. Brian Curson refereed Wrexham's 2-1 quarter final win at Hereford this season.

Competition Rules: If the scores in Sunday's final are level after ninety minutes, 30 minutes of extra time will be played, followed by penalties in necessary.

Weather: Sunny intervals with temperatures reaching a maximum of 14 degrees Celsius with a 10mph north westerly wind.

The Bookies View: The Bookies cannot split Southend and Wrexham to lift the LDV Vans Trophy. Total Sport and UK Betting price Wrexham at 7/4 with Corals offering the same odds on Southend.