Southend United Legend Chris Powell Slams Wembley Ticket Allocation: “We Are Being Robbed”

Southend United Legend Chris Powell Slams Wembley Ticket Allocation: “We Are Being Robbed”

 

Southend United legend Chris Powell has launched a scathing attack on the ticketing arrangements for the club’s upcoming appearance at Wembley Stadium, branding the allocation as “criminal” and insisting fans are being “robbed” of the chance to witness a historic day.

 

Southend are set to grace the hallowed turf of Wembley for a highly anticipated fixture — a moment many fans have waited years to see again. But Powell, who made over 250 appearances for the Shrimpers and remains a beloved figure among the Roots Hall faithful, is outraged at the limited number of tickets being made available to Southend supporters.

 

“It’s criminal, absolutely criminal,” Powell said in an interview on Monday. “This is a once-in-a-generation moment for Southend United and their fans. To not be given a proper share of tickets is simply wrong. People have followed this club through thick and thin — through administration, relegation battles, the lot — and now they’re being denied their chance to support the team at Wembley. It’s heartbreaking.”

 

Southend have reportedly been allocated just 15,000 tickets, a number Powell believes falls well short of what the club deserves.

 

“This club could take double that, easily,” Powell said. “You only have to look at the reaction online, the demand, the passion from supporters. Wembley holds 90,000 — why are we being squeezed like this? It doesn’t make sense and it feels like we’re being robbed.”

 

Many fans have taken to social media in frustration, echoing Powell’s sentiments. Some long-standing season ticket holders have voiced their disappointment at struggling to secure seats, while others fear the club’s most loyal followers are being overlooked in favour of neutral sales or corporate interests.

 

Powell also criticised the broader approach to ticketing major finals at Wembley, saying the current system is out of touch with the realities of football culture at lower-league level.

 

“It’s always the same — too many tickets end up going to the wrong people,” he continued. “The fans who are there every week, up and down the country, getting behind their team in all weathers — they should come first. Especially when it’s a club like Southend United. The journey they’ve been on just to survive makes this day all the more special. It’s not just a game, it’s a reward for their resilience.”

 

The club has yet to make an official statement addressing Powell’s comments or calls from supporters for additional tickets. However, pressure is mounting on both the club and the event organisers to find a solution.

 

As for Powell, he says he’ll be at Wembley regardless — but he’s urging decision-makers to reconsider before it’s too late.

 

“I’ll be there, of course I will. But I want to be surrounded by a sea of blue. I want to see every Southend fan who wants to be there, *be* there. This club deserves its day, and so do the fans. Don’t rob them of that.”

 

Whether the outcry leads to change remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Southend United’s trip to Wembley has become about more than just the game — it’s become a fight for fairness.

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