Why Warrington Wolves will hope a recent Wembley trend endures on Saturday
WARRINGTON Wolves supporters will experience the other side of Wembley Stadium for the very first time on Saturday.
And if you're a believer in omens, that is very good news indeed based on a trend that has emerged in recent weeks.
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Wembley's West Stand will house Wire fans for Saturday's Challenge Cup Final against Hull KR as well as followers of Wigan Warriors and Featherstone Rovers for the Women's Challenge Cup and 1895 Cup finals respectively.
That marks a change from each of Wolves' seven previous trips to the national stadium since its reopening in 2007, with the East Stand having become their home away from home to the tune of four wins and three defeats.
They will be hoping for an altogether different experience to this time last year when The Wire failed to fire and were forced to watch neighbours Wigan Warriors lift the trophy, so will a change of ends mean a change of fortunes?
Well the West Stand has certainly seen its fair share of celebrations of late and completed an incredible 'shut-out' of victories for teams who have claimed it in recent football cup finals.
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The trend continued on Sunday when Oldham Athletic, whose supporters were massed in that very stand, fought back to beat Southend United in the National League Promotion Final.
That followed the three EFL Play-Off Finals that took place at Wembley over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend and all three winners – Sunderland, Charlton Athletic and AFC Wimbledon – were left celebrating in front of a jubilant West Stand.
And before that, Crystal Palace pulled off a shock victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup Final earlier in May – and we think you can tell where this is going…
The West Stand also housed jubilant Aldershot Town fans for their FA Trophy Final victory last month and was the Newcastle United end when they broke their long trophy drought by lifting the Carabao Cup against Liverpool in March.
A sign from the rugby league Gods or a dramatic case of straw-clutching? People will make up their own minds, but it is certainly quite the trend.
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