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Shrewsbury Town v Darlington
Coca-Cola League Two
Tuesday 11th March 2008, 7.45pm
| Shrewsbury Town boss Gary Peters
- with coach Leroy Rosenior - turned the club's fortunes around last season,
and they were the division's most improved side in the last few months.
They reached the play-off final at Wembley, although lost out to Bristol Rovers. This season has been mixed and Peters quit last week after taking some stick in recent weeks, as their play-off challenge faltered.
Man to watch Andy Cooke A familiar face to Darlo fans after his loan spell last season - perhaps his physical approach will suit the Shrews' style?
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| Shrewsbury
Town FC: The New Meadow, Oteley Rd, Shrewsbury, Shropshire Tel: 01743 360111 Click for Streetmap of ground and for full travel details |
 Junction 9 of the M6, onto the M56, head West then onto A49 for 35m, then left onto A41 towards Wolverhampton, join A49 again after a few mile and right onto A5112, left after 1.5m, left again onto A528 into the town. Parking: Stadium parking is very limited, to permit holders, disabled and supporters' coaches only, so an elaborate system of park and ride and shuttle buses operate. Meanwhile, to enforce the point, there are parking restrictions at the following: Oteley Road (also grass verges), Sutton Road and Sutton estate, Meole Brace estate, village and retail park, also the approach road to Meole Brace Park & Ride car park. If you're there early enough there is parking at the Brooklands Hotel, Mill Street off Meole Brace Island (100 spaces, £5,), which is a few minutes walk from the stadium. Park and rides: The costs are £2 per person in each car (fees are paid on presentation of parking tickets at stadium kiosks - complicated, eh?), include bus fare and the carparks stay open until an hour after the game. The Shirehall, Abbey Foregate (2.7 miles from stadium) Entrance to this site off Abbey Foregate only. From the main routes into Shrewsbury, take the A5064 along London Road to the Column roundabout. Take the third exit from the roundabout and the first turning right in to the Shirehall Car Park. The Shirehall overflow carpark, London Road (2.7 miles) Follow directions to London Road as above. Before you reach the roundabout the car park is on your right-hand side. Proceed on foot to the Shirehall main car park for the bus. Shrewsbury Business Park, Thieves Lane (1.2 miles from stadium) From the A5 (east) at Emstrey Island take the 3rd exit left (B4380) and proceed to the business park situated on your right hand side. From the A5 (west) leave at exit sign A458 and turn left to Weeping Cross roundabout. Take the third exit, proceed to the mini-roundabout and turn left into the business park. Priory School, Longden Road (1 mile) Situated 100 metres off Longden Road roundabout (B4380); signposted 'Nuffield Hospital'. The bus will pick up and drop off passengers on Longden Road, close to the entrance to the school.. |
 Sadly, it's now longer a pretty, 15 minute walk from the station but a two mile trek to the new stadium. Pedestrians are asked to use the footpath located on the north side of Oteley Road, crossing at the traffic signals to the stadium road -m about 40-45 minutes. A shuttle bus service (Tanat Valley) will run from the town's
main bus station in Raven Meadows (a short walk from the railway station)
in the town centre, starting at 12.30 pm-2.30pm There are also service buses from the bus station: 25 (every 15 minutes, return journey from top of Moneybrook Way), 16 (every 30 mins, stopping at Hereford Road), 23 (every 30 mins, to Reabrook), also an hourly 544/546 stopping at BP Garage and Sainsbury's.
Train times (UPDATED
JAN 08): Birmingham New Street Regular services out, sugg
16.33 arr 17.22. Rtn - might need to leave early, last train at 22.22-arr
23.18. Fares: Cheapday return £10.40. |
 A-Z Cars 01743 355555 Station Taxi Rank 01743 343305 Vincent's Private Hire 01743 367777 A Central Taxis 01743 368668
Darlington
FC Supporters' Club |
There's a chip shop opposite the Charles Darwin pub (see above)
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 Plenty of choice of pubs in Shrewsbury - with places to stop en route from the station, as well as this selection:
The
Dun Cow Abbey Foregate A favourite over the road
from the Abbey and nr Kwik Fit, football-friendly with guest beers including
Abbots and Adnam's. Bar and reataurant serve food from 10am with steak,
chicken and specialities inckude ostrich, bison, antelope, kangaroo..and
er, crocodile. Bed and breakfast soon.
The Crown Abbey Foregate Almost opposite
the Abbey, close to the old ground. A no-frills, football-friendly boozer.
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Near to ground
Brooklands Hotel, Mill Street off Meole Brace Island, SY3 9JT The Charles Darwin, Sutton Road, SY2 6HN Town centre (other) Three Fishes Fish Street Off the High Street, this one-bar pub has guest ales, as well as familiar beers to Darlo drinkers such as Deuchars IPA and Taylor's Landlord. The Bull Tavern Castle Street Two minutes from the railway station, up the hill on the left. Bank's ales. The Albert Hotel Smithfield Rd Not far from the railway station, Bank's and Cameron's ales.
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There are
worse places to be holed up, unless it rains heavily, then Shrewsbury
is best accessible by boat. There is enough small hotel
and B&B acccommodation on the local tourism website. There is the
The Abbots Mead Hotel
Another that caught the eye, for non-smokers, there's quite a jazzy
looking small B&B called the 164
Bed and Continental Breakfast with a modern look inside a 16th century
building.
Shrewsbury Tourist Information Centre, 9 Castle Hill, Tel: (01522) 873213 runs an advanced accommodation booking service.
Rail
timetables
Virgin
Trains
GNER
National
Express
Online
map
Surfing there... The official site ShrewsWeb is good on detail. There's also the Blue & Amber Rivals site Meanwhile, Goodbye Gay Meadow is dedicated to memories of the old ground, phots of the demolition and details of a book of photos.
Next away match:
No responsibility is taken for accuracy, if in doubt check before travelling.
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adding? Please e-mail us
any suggestions.
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© DAFTS 2007 |
The Shrews have moved to the
club's 10,000 all-seater stadium, 
History: Formed in 1886, in various local leagues before being
elected to the Football League in 1950, founder members of Division
Four in 1958/59. Relegated to Conference in 2002, but promoted back
to the League. Arthur Rowley scored 434 goals in his 19-year career
- a British football record - including 152 as player-manager of the
Shrews for a decade from 1958. The club have moved to a new 10,000-seater
stadium for the 2007-2008 season after selling their riverside ground
for £12m.
The Loggerheads
