sportskeeda
Supporters brandishing flares from the Greek football giant Panathinaikos are preparing to converge on Shrewsbury.
Around 900 fans from the Athens-based team are anticipated to arrive in the Shropshire town to witness their club face off against Welsh Premier League outsiders, The New Saints, at The Croud Meadow.
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The Gate 13 ultras from the Greek side are infamous for their spirited noise, fervor, and electrifying atmosphere they create both home and away.
The New Saints are hosting their Conference League matches at the home of the League One team since their own Park Hall Ground in Oswestry fails to meet Uefa requirements.
Simultaneously, just 19 miles down the A5, local residents are gearing up for tonight’s showdown, wishing that Craig Harrison’s squad will etch their names in history by progressing further in their campaign.
During SunSport’s visit, the only authentic Greek eatery in Shrewsbury — Exo Poli, situated a mile from the stadium — is set to offer “a taste of Crete” for those attending the match.
Pursuing closer to the venue is the Charles Darwin pub, named in honor of the renowned naturalist who hails from the town.
Manager Katy Hutchings was successful in accommodating a large influx of visiting fans when 1,800 Swedes filled Shrewsbury for a recent match against Djurgarden.
These supporters left Croud Meadow in disarray — despite their team winning 1-0 — with graffiti tagging on three sides of the ground and damage incurred in Smithy’s Bar, where two dozen seats were ripped out.
Nonetheless, in the Charles Darwin, everything proceeded without a hitch. Hutchings remarked: “We had some security staff at the doors, but they were not needed.
“I can manage any rowdy patrons myself!
“We’re accustomed to hosting visiting fans for Shrewsbury’s games, and the Swedish fans behaved admirably.
“These events are fantastic for the local economy — and we take pride in how we welcome guests.”
At the Oxon Priory pub near Roman Road, general manager Pam Hayward noted: “The more, the merrier. We’ll have additional staff on duty.
“We can’t wait to welcome as many Greeks as want to join us before the match. Everyone around here is thrilled about The New Saints maintaining their spot in the competition.”
Croud Meadow’s safety officer, Lawrence Ellerby, revealed: “There were speculations on social media suggesting that there could be as many as 4,000 Panathinaikos fans attending. What we can confirm is that approximately 900 visitor tickets have been sold, with several Greek ex-pats also purchasing tickets.
“The damage caused by Djurgarden fans was unfortunate, but we are experienced in managing large crowds at this club.
“We’ve hosted teams like Liverpool and West Ham with no major issues.
“We are looking forward to the match against Panathinaikos and wish TNS the best of luck as we happily provide them with a temporary home.”
This campaign not only serves as a boon for the town but also supports 16-time domestic champions TNS — the first Welsh league club to qualify for a European competition — who earned £4.1 million by reaching this stage of the league.
Goals from Rory Holden and Declan McManus allowed them to secure a 2-0 victory over Astana from Kazakhstan at The Croud Meadow, marking another achievement for a Welsh club in a significant European competition alongside a £330,000 bonus.
They also enjoyed a memorable excursion to Florence where they fell 2-0 to Fiorentina, and faced a 2-1 loss against Shamrock Rovers in Dublin.
However, a win against the 20-time Greek champions Panathinaikos would set the stage for yet another historic first for the Welsh league — a place in a European knockout round.
In conclusion, TNS will head to Celje in Slovenia and currently find themselves just one point short of the Conference League’s playoff zone.
Coach Harrison commented: “Panathinaikos presents a huge opportunity for this club, but if we can gather four points from our next two matches to reach a total of seven, we may have a chance of progressing.
“Despite the losses, we’ve not conceded more than two goals in any game — goal difference could become crucial, but acquiring seven points or more is vital!”
