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Shrewd Shrews

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.

The Shrews have moved to the club's 10,000 all-seater stadium, New Meadow ground, two miles from the town centre.

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?


The club have moved to their new 10,000 all-seater stadium for the start of the 2007-2008 season, after saying farewell to Gay Meadow after 97 years. The old ground, alongside the Severn, has been sold for housing. Away fans are in the North Stand behind the goal and admission has risen by £2 for adults - £16, with £11 for OAPs, students and disabled, and children £11.

 

Shrewsbury Town FC:
The New Meadow, Oteley Rd, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Tel: 01743 360111

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.
Record Attendance: 18,917 v Walsall, Div 3, 26 April 1961
Capacity: 10,000
Last season: 7th (play-off finalists)
Honours: Old Div 3 champions 1978/79, Div 3 champions 1993/94, Welsh Cup winners 1938.

Record victory: 7-0 v Swindon Town, Div 3S, 6 May 1955
Defeat: 1-8 v Coventry City, Div 3, 22 October 1963
Nickname: The Shrews.
Colours: Blue and Gold.
Manager: John McMahon (caretaker).
Chairman: Roland Wycherley
Players in: Kevin McIntyre (Macclesfield, £50,000), Glynn Garner (Leyton Orient), David Hunt (Northampton), Darren Kempson (Crewe), Darren Moss, Colin Murdock (Rotherham), Stuart Nicholson (West Brom - loan), Fola Onibuje (Wycombe), Marc Pugh (Bury), Jimmy Ryan (Liverpool, loan)
Players out: Stewart Drummond (Morecambe, £15,000), Derek Asamoah (Nice, £50,000), Richard Hope (Wrexham), Sagi Burton (Barnet)
Famous fans/players/connections: Jim Holton, John McGinlay, David Moyes, Ian Atkins (players), Derek Smalls (as seen in Spinal Tap, fan).

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
(Saturdays) and 17.30-19.30 (midweek games), costing adults £3 return, children £2 return. The first return service will leave the stadium at 17.05 (Saturday) and 21.45 (weekdays). Supporters groups also hope to run buses from certain pubs, with details to be published.

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):
No trains back to Darlington, London Euston

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.
Manchester Piccadilly 15.34-arr 16.57; return 22.17-arr 23.49 or 23.29-(Crewe, 00.01) 00.50 via replacement bus arr 01.45. Fares: Saver return £21.30; cheapday return £15.40
Cardiff Central 16.50 arr 18.52, rtn 22.07-arr 00.45 or 23.06-arr 01.46. Fares: Saver return £35.90, day return £31.20.


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
Coach TBC, £17. Contact: 01325 243911. See Darlington Supporters' Club for more details.


There's a chip shop opposite the Charles Darwin pub (see above)


Plenty of choice of pubs in Shrewsbury - with places to stop en route from the station, as well as this selection:

The Loggerheads
1 Church Street (01743) 35545748

Old fashioned, CAMRA-rated Bank's pub (pictured above) and winner again of the local Pub of the Year for 2004. Split into a series of small rooms - and within easy reach of the station in the heart of the town centre. No overbearing music - bliss. Reasonably priced home-cooked food too. DAFTS recommended Street map

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.

Near to ground

Brooklands Hotel, Mill Street off Meole Brace Island, SY3 9JT
About five minutes walk from the stadium, and it also has a carpark with 100 spaces (£5). Does food and a guest ale.

The Charles Darwin, Sutton Road, SY2 6HN
Bank's beers. About 10 minutes walk from the stadium. Some parking.

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.

The Dolphin 48 St Michael's Street (01743) 350419 Small, gas-lit pub - which now has its own micro-brewery - with good range of ales for after the game. It's on the A5191 north of the station. Open Saturday's 3-11pm, no children allowed. Also click for street map

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.
See also a Town centre map

Rail timetables Virgin Trains GNER National Express Online map
Hotels/B&Bs Shropshire Star Shrewsbury Council/ Shropshire tourism Shropshire Real Ale

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:
Chester City (Saturday March 22nd)

No responsibility is taken for accuracy, if in doubt check before travelling.

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© DAFTS 2007