MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 21:20:36| >> :120:19867:19867:

Alan Carr, Shaquille O'Neal cardboard cut-outs in Northampton end at Wembley

Alan Carr, Shaquille O'Neal cardboard cut-outs in Northampton end at Wembley
© Reuters
Coronavirus guidelines mean the League Two play-off final will be played behind closed doors.

Comedian Alan Carr and basketball great Shaquille O'Neal will feature in the 'cardboard army' at the Northampton end during the Sky Bet League Two play-off final at Wembley.

Coronavirus guidelines mean no fans will be present for Monday evening's promotion decider between the Cobblers and Exeter.

Instead, the empty stands will feature thousands of cardboard cut-outs of supporters – including some celebrities – as both clubs seek to create an atmosphere for the biggest game of their season.

Carr's father Graham is a former Northampton manager, while four-time NBA winner O'Neal is a business associate of Cobblers chairman Kelvin Thomas and has been vocal in his support of the club in the past.

They will be joined in the Northampton end of the 90,000-seater national stadium by an image of Harry Dunn, a 19-year-old season ticket holder who was killed last year when his motorcycle collided with a car outside a US military base.

Carr posted on Instagram: "So, apparently I'm going to be at Wembley Stadium on Monday supporting the mighty Cobblers........as a cardboard cut out – see if you can spot me ? Good luck to the Cobblers on Monday!!#upthecobblers #wembley."

Northampton are bidding to return to the third tier after two seasons away, while Exeter, who were beaten in the 2017 and 2018 finals, are hoping to end an eight-year exile.

Four-time NBA winner Shaquille O'Neal is a business associate of Cobblers chairman Kelvin Thomas
Four-time NBA winner Shaquille O'Neal is a business associate of Cobblers chairman Kelvin Thomas (NTFC)

The Grecians expect to have almost 2,000 cardboard cut-outs, including one of the manager of Devon rivals Plymouth, Ryan Lowe.

Lowe will back the club for the second successive match after a playful Pilgrims fan paid for him to be at Monday's semi-final second leg victory over Colchester.

Former City striker Adam Stansfield, who died of cancer at the age of 31 in 2010, will also feature in the 'crowd'.

Northampton expect to have 1,500 cut-outs in their end of the stadium.

Exeter boss Matt Taylor feels the absence of supporters will be a disappointment for all involved in the occasion.

"It's a real shame. And it's a shame for the players as well," he said.

Exeter will be supported at Wembley byPlymouth boss Ryan Lowe
Exeter will be supported at Wembley by Plymouth boss Ryan Lowe (Exeter City FC)

"I was speaking to my club captain, Jake Taylor, and to lead your team out at Wembley is a fantastic thing, a great honour, and for your family not to be there and sample that atmosphere alongside you is really disappointing.

"We feel for everyone but there's nothing we can do about that, I'm afraid."

Northampton boss Keith Curle, whose side came from two goals down on aggregate to defeat Cheltenham in the semi-finals, does not expect the empty stadium to have a major influence on the contest.

He said: "As soon as you walk over the white line, the fundamentals are exactly the same – two competitive teams, a referee and two managers trying to give you instructions. Those dynamic don't change."

ID:404021: cacheID:404021:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:13442:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Northampton Town manager Keith Curle pictured in January 2020
Read Next:
Keith Curle not giving up on Northampton promotion
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
FT
Lions
24-6
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
FT
Buccaneers
30-7
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Wycombe WanderersWycombe15112235181735
2Wrexham1694325111431
3Stockport CountyStockport1786329171230
4Birmingham CityBirmingham1493226151130
5Huddersfield TownHuddersfield158252315826
6Barnsley167542420426
7Lincoln CityLincoln167542320326
8Reading158252422226
9Bolton WanderersBolton158252425-126
10Mansfield TownMansfield147342016424
11Exeter CityExeter157261413123
12Peterborough UnitedPeterborough166373229321
13Bristol Rovers166371721-421
14Charlton AthleticCharlton155461617-119
15Stevenage165471116-519
16Northampton TownNorthampton164661821-318
17Wigan AthleticWigan154561312117
18Rotherham UnitedRotherham164571419-517
19Blackpool164572230-817
20Crawley TownCrawley174491527-1216
21Leyton Orient154381418-415
22Cambridge UnitedCambridge153391324-1112
23Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury1632111629-1311
24Burton Albion151591528-138


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!