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Post by Chief Inspector Swan on May 18, 2019 19:49:08 GMT 1
Good post. Who was your favourite teacher at St George’s? Also Roebottom is an unusual surname. I’ve seen Rowbothams in my time (indeed one played for Salop) but never a Roebottom. My Auntie Beryl was a teacher their in the 50’s early 60’s maybe..... Beryl Buckley She wasn’t my real auntie but mums best friend and adoptive auntie. Ah right, a little after my time I’m afraid. I didn’t realise you had such a educational streak in you, it perhaps explains those two occasions you (unsuccessfully) applied for the post to be Head of Ofsted!
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Post by albionshrew on May 19, 2019 2:01:25 GMT 1
I have noticed a lot of town fans seem to live outside the Shrewsbury area.I wondered if like me, anyone who wasn't from the Shrewsbury area, had any interesting stories of how Shrewsbury Town FC enticed you in. I was born in Harrow but my mother moved back to Shropshire (she was from Bridgnorth originally) when I was 7. So I regard Shrewsbury as my home-town team. First match attended was 1968 v Gillingham (programme is in the attic somewhere). 50% Shropshire is better than 0%! What is it about one's 'home town'? Identity is so important and not supporting the usual 'big' Premiership clubs is much more sexy anyway. How boring to be a City fan watching them thrash Watford in the cup final. But the 'love' was forged at the amazing Gay Meadow - especially on an evening under the floodlights with Jimmy MacLaughlin racing past the hapless defenders - or Alf Wood hammering in another goal... Even from the shores of Sussex (Brighton) I can only remain interested in Salop on a Saturday afternoon. Once you are in you can never escape. COYB!
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Post by shropshirelad42 on May 19, 2019 7:04:50 GMT 1
This thread is probably the best on message board since I have been on it. 10 out of 10 to the originator.
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Post by wakemanender on May 19, 2019 7:38:27 GMT 1
I was born in Shrewsbury in 1947 and started supporting town in 1957. Hardly missed a home game til 1967 when I joined West Midlands Police in 1967 and worked on all the West Brom home games til 1980 when I transferred to Shropshire. West Brom couldn't convert me though even tho they had some great players at the time. I worked on the town home games at the Gay Meadow when I transferred back which was very surreal and I used to pull every trick in the book with my superiors to make sure I worked in the ground so I could watch the match rather than stuck in town or a traffic point nearby. Lots of memories from my time working at the Gay Meadow but none more so than standing a few feet away from a certain Swindon Town player and now well known Sky presenter who in Feb 1988 gave towns Jim Melrose a right hook after words were exchanged. I gave a statement and was all set to give evidence. A guilty plea however spared me that pleasure. It would have been easy to transfer my support to West Brom but its very difficult to get the Gay Meadow out of your system. Loved it and everything about match days.
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Post by philharvey on May 19, 2019 8:14:35 GMT 1
First started watching Town in 58 when I was 8 coming on 9, it was just before Arthur Rowley came in,I carried on watching Salop until early 68, when we moved down south to Cornwall, have seen a few games off and on since then, but have say that every Saturday or tuesday matches, I'm on Shropshire Star live feed, pulling my nails out, you would think that after all these years one would mellow a bit,even tho I was lucky enough to witness Arthur Rowley, the goal machine, still feel that experiencing the great Peter Broadbent gracing the Meadow turf was the highlight of all, the outstanding memory was undoubtedly the 4-3 win against Carlisle, 3 of us from work time off to go and watch it up at Deepdale, ( second replay) following morning we had a right bollocking from the boss, but even he forgive us, after all these years the experience of being in a full house at the Meadow never leaves you.
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Post by shropshirelad42 on May 19, 2019 10:14:16 GMT 1
I've been fanatically passionate about 'The Town' since I attended my first match in 1950 aged 8. The old Gay Meadow was a special place for me and held lots of wonderful - and some not so wonderful - memories for me. With a large crowd in, the atmosphere was brilliant - despite the smelly gents at the Tech End - and although the New Meadow hasn't the same atmosphere it is getting better. I will never forget the days of the Arthur Rowley era..... absolutely amazing !! There used to be a gang of us (about eight) used to go in our teens and twenties and we never returned home until well after midnight - this was home matches only - after a great day out. And very rarely was there ever any trouble with the away supporters. Alas all of my mates have now gone to play footie above the clouds/or wherever we go, but I will never forget the fantastic times we all had at STFC. COYB
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2019 11:14:23 GMT 1
I was born in Shrewsbury in 1947 and started supporting town in 1957. Hardly missed a home game til 1967 when I joined West Midlands Police in 1967 and worked on all the West Brom home games til 1980 when I transferred to Shropshire. West Brom couldn't convert me though even tho they had some great players at the time. I worked on the town home games at the Gay Meadow when I transferred back which was very surreal and I used to pull every trick in the book with my superiors to make sure I worked in the ground so I could watch the match rather than stuck in town or a traffic point nearby. Lots of memories from my time working at the Gay Meadow but none more so than standing a few feet away from a certain Swindon Town player and now well known Sky presenter who in Feb 1988 gave towns Jim Melrose a right hook after words were exchanged. I gave a statement and was all set to give evidence. A guilty plea however spared me that pleasure. It would have been easy to transfer my support to West Brom but its very difficult to get the Gay Meadow out of your system. Loved it and everything about match days. <iframe width="18.72" height="5.88" id="MoatPxIOPT0_9031778" scrolling="no" style="border-style: none; left: 15px; top: -5px; width: 18.72px; height: 5.88px; position: absolute; z-index: -9999;"></iframe> <iframe width="18.72" height="5.88" id="MoatPxIOPT0_73255864" scrolling="no" style="border-style: none; left: 881px; top: -5px; width: 18.72px; height: 5.88px; position: absolute; z-index: -9999;"></iframe> <iframe width="18.72" height="5.88" id="MoatPxIOPT0_13327850" scrolling="no" style="border-style: none; left: 15px; top: 232px; width: 18.72px; height: 5.88px; position: absolute; z-index: -9999;"></iframe> <iframe width="18.72" height="5.88" id="MoatPxIOPT0_57920467" scrolling="no" style="border-style: none; left: 881px; top: 232px; width: 18.72px; height: 5.88px; position: absolute; z-index: -9999;"></iframe> Yeah, the words were racist abuse.
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Post by servernaside on May 19, 2019 11:27:38 GMT 1
Moved to Shrewsbury in 1982 after having moved around the country for most of my childhood and young adult life. Always believed in the principle of supporting my local club however and went down to the Gay Meadow to see what delights were on offer. Town at that time were in the Second Division and the match was v Chelsea. I stood on the Riverside and recall that the match ended in a draw. I was surprised that the fans around me thought that we should be beating the likes of Chelsea and was immediately hooked. Plucky little Shrewsbury.
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Post by cheggersdrinkspop on May 19, 2019 11:30:08 GMT 1
I was born in Shrewsbury in 1947 and started supporting town in 1957. Hardly missed a home game til 1967 when I joined West Midlands Police in 1967 and worked on all the West Brom home games til 1980 when I transferred to Shropshire. West Brom couldn't convert me though even tho they had some great players at the time. I worked on the town home games at the Gay Meadow when I transferred back which was very surreal and I used to pull every trick in the book with my superiors to make sure I worked in the ground so I could watch the match rather than stuck in town or a traffic point nearby. Lots of memories from my time working at the Gay Meadow but none more so than standing a few feet away from a certain Swindon Town player and now well known Sky presenter who in Feb 1988 gave towns Jim Melrose a right hook after words were exchanged. I gave a statement and was all set to give evidence. A guilty plea however spared me that pleasure. It would have been easy to transfer my support to West Brom but its very difficult to get the Gay Meadow out of your system. Loved it and everything about match days. <iframe width="18.72" height="5.88" id="MoatPxIOPT0_9031778" scrolling="no" style="border-style: none; left: 15px; top: -5px; width: 18.72px; height: 5.88px; position: absolute; z-index: -9999;"></iframe> <iframe width="18.72" height="5.88" id="MoatPxIOPT0_73255864" scrolling="no" style="border-style: none; left: 881px; top: -5px; width: 18.72px; height: 5.88px; position: absolute; z-index: -9999;"></iframe> <iframe width="18.72" height="5.88" id="MoatPxIOPT0_13327850" scrolling="no" style="border-style: none; left: 15px; top: 232px; width: 18.72px; height: 5.88px; position: absolute; z-index: -9999;"></iframe> <iframe width="18.72" height="5.88" id="MoatPxIOPT0_57920467" scrolling="no" style="border-style: none; left: 881px; top: 232px; width: 18.72px; height: 5.88px; position: absolute; z-index: -9999;"></iframe> Yeah, the words were racist abuse. Fact, fiction, or just opinion?
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2019 11:37:00 GMT 1
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Post by cheggersdrinkspop on May 19, 2019 11:45:41 GMT 1
And the opinion of Mr Melrose the injured party?
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2019 11:46:43 GMT 1
And the opinion of Mr Melrose the injured party? Dunno, ask him.
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Post by cheggersdrinkspop on May 19, 2019 12:08:51 GMT 1
Opinion then
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Post by cheggersdrinkspop on May 19, 2019 12:09:26 GMT 1
Apologies for going off thread will shut up now
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2019 12:22:34 GMT 1
I rather think Kamara is giving his version of events of an incident that happened in 1988. So, from his point of view, it's fact.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2019 14:10:23 GMT 1
Sorry albionshrew i maybe being obtuse here,but when you moved to shropshire with your mum,was it Shrewsbury you moved to?I'm just confused when you say,so you regarded Shrewsbury as your hometown team.
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Post by Exkeeper on May 19, 2019 15:53:14 GMT 1
I was born in South Westp Shropshire way back in ‘46 and was taken by my father to a few games in the early/mid 50s when he wasn’t keeping goal for the local side. I then passed my XI Plus and my new school was right behind the goal at Gay Meadow ( it was Tech End then, as the school was called Shrewsbury Technical High School). The Head decided to brown -nose the Chairman of the governors, Sir Offley-Wakeman by naming the school after him. Until my third year, mid-week games kick off at 2:30 and the Science lab overlooked the pitch and no matter how bad the game, it was always better than Chemistry. As an added bonus, we got to see the last 15 minutes free when school finished. The lights were erected so that all changed but I still went to games with my dad. Then through from the mid sixties to early nineties I preferred playing to watching so only really got to mid week games. After hanging up the gloves I started going regularly again, but by then I was taken dad instead of vice-versa. Unfortunately things have now changed again, as he passed away last Tuesday aged 97. I will always be grateful to him for introducing me to the passion of following STFC.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2019 16:47:07 GMT 1
Wonderfull post exkeeper,quite touching.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2019 17:21:01 GMT 1
So I find it amazing how salop,draw fans in from far and wide.definitely seems a theme of,if somebody comes from shropshire originanaly,then it's salop the club to follow.or even people who move to shropshire from other places,it's salop the club for them.would other posters agree with this assumption?
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Post by northwestman on May 19, 2019 20:19:02 GMT 1
Whilst at junior school in Shrewsbury, my sister and I became friends with Paul and Jane Woodhouse, the children of Ken Woodhouse, who was later to become Director, Chairman and President of Shrewsbury Town.
For many years, Ken sorted me out with complimentary tickets and made sure I had tickets for the big cup games at Wolves, Everton, Leicester etc. He also occasionally invited me into the Directors Box where I recall meeting Bill Shankly.
Ken always made a point of coming down from the Directors Box to have a few words with me prior to the match. He passed away a couple of years ago. A very nice man who I shall always fondly remember.
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Post by cmonsalop on May 19, 2019 22:53:28 GMT 1
I first visited the Meadow with a mate in 1974 when we beat Donny 7-4 (I think) and was immediately hooked. I have since lived on the south coast, southern Scotland, Carlise, Chester and now Wiltshire. I have never been interested in watching a local team on a regular basis and although I would love my kids to be able to support a local team I've never been able to bring myself to take them to Swindon or Southampton so they've been 'forced' to become Town fans and only able to watch them on an occasional basis.
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Post by albionshrew on May 19, 2019 23:56:24 GMT 1
Sorry albionshrew i maybe being obtuse here,but when you moved to shropshire with your mum,was it Shrewsbury you moved to?I'm just confused when you say,so you regarded Shrewsbury as your hometown team. Yes. 215 Whitchurch Road. My mum worked at the Harlescott Inn. I have blue blood too.
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Post by albionshrew on May 19, 2019 23:59:19 GMT 1
So I find it amazing how salop,draw fans in from far and wide.definitely seems a theme of,if somebody comes from shropshire originanaly,then it's salop the club to follow.or even people who move to shropshire from other places,it's salop the club for them.would other posters agree with this assumption? Well, there's not a lot of choice really. Hadnall Hotspur, Wellington Wombles, Haughmond North End, Ludlow Lions.... no chance.
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Post by Minormorris64 on May 21, 2019 9:13:49 GMT 1
Went with Dad, Grandad & Uncle for my 7th Birthday in November 1971 beat Swansea, and that was that as they say, very rarely missed Home games until 1983 when I started playing regularly still went to all midweek Homes and then started going again on Saturdays in 1994 when I stopped playing Saturdays and taking in a few Away days as well, loved the Gay Meadow to bits, have only been 14 times since the move and all those at the invitation of others, I have never paid to get into the "new" Ground.
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Post by gainsparkshrew on May 21, 2019 12:15:53 GMT 1
So I find it amazing how salop,draw fans in from far and wide.definitely seems a theme of,if somebody comes from shropshire originanaly,then it's salop the club to follow.or even people who move to shropshire from other places,it's salop the club for them.would other posters agree with this assumption? Yes I agree with that, but it's not just the football club it's the beautiful town and our stunningly gorgeous county. I'm another "imigrant" arriving in Shrewsbury in 1982 after a promotion at work brought us down from The Wirral,although we had visited the town several times for a weekend away when we were engaged I didn't attend a match until early in the 1984-5 season as I was too busy with my new house, my job and becoming a father. My first match was Notts County (H) we won 4-2 and I was hooked !. The "old skool" Gay Meadow, the friendly locals, a sunny day, the amber shirts with blue sleeves was unique plus a team that played football on the floor, McNally, Cross etc etc. Chuck in the fact that while I was standing on the Riverside a gold steam engine pulling a rail tour special passed behind the main stand and I knew that Salop were the team for me. Three Salop supporting children,plus 3 grandchildren who are slowly being indoctrinated and I think I'm in credit for providing the club with new fans. Despite coming from elsewhere I'm proud to call myself a Salopian,I've been here 37 years, more than half of my life and I couldn't possibly think of living elsewhere. I've been told that you qualify as a local after 25 years !
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Post by wakemanender on May 21, 2019 13:00:36 GMT 1
Its not hard to see why football fans visiting the old Gay Meadow wouldn't get hooked for life. Its all very well attaching yourself to a big club but where else could you experience the steam trains going past, Mr Davies and his coracle, lovely iconic blue scoreboard, fragrant corner toilets, Mal Starkey organisation and for us old ens sit on the surrounding wall before the fencing went up. The football wasn't bad either.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 13:43:18 GMT 1
Exellent post gainsparkshrew.as are lots of replies to this thread.it's very clear to me that Shrewsbury town,is a very unique football club,that is in the hearts of many people whether born locally or not.I can't wait to attend my first salop game,will probably be bury,bolton,oldham,Dale away.although I'm going to definitely try to attend the first home game.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 14:18:55 GMT 1
Wimbledon at home, 1-1, Gary Stevens either scored or got sent off, 1986. Spent most of it looking at the crowd around me. But nonetheless I was hooked by the atmosphere, the noise, the ground, the bovril in plastic cream cups, the smells, everything. Not quite the same now we’ve left GM. But still love it regardless of how s***e we are!
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Post by El Huracán!!!! on May 21, 2019 15:17:44 GMT 1
I like to moan Shrewsbury Town lets me moan Oh and home town club, went since a kid and was hooked from my first game Crewe Away in 1995! Also as got older grew to love being part of the fanbase and the differing community's (B and A, then ASFC and now Supporters Parliament). Met some fantastic people along the way through this club that have become very good friends. Thats what its all about really.
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Post by venceremos on May 21, 2019 16:33:21 GMT 1
I watched a bit of football at my hometown club (Runcorn, now Runcorn Linnets) but grew up watching Widnes rugby league with my grandad, then my dad and later my younger brother.
I left home at 18 and moved south - no rugby league! I missed match days and would go occasionally to watch my local football team - Southampton, Cheltenham Town (then non-league), Reading (only once, at Elm Park, as it wasn't that close), Bath City & Bristol Rovers (again only once, at Twerton Park). I enjoyed it but was never properly hooked and still went to see Widnes when I could.
Arrived in Shropshire 20 years ago with a young family. In my mind, Shrewsbury were a second division club just because that's where I remembered them being. To be honest, I'd never really paid any attention to them. I followed Man United from a distance, liked football generally but had only ever attended games regularly for about one season in the 1980s.
I saw my first Salop game a few years after arriving here, accompanying my sons to a friend's birthday outing - a 2-2 draw v Sc***horpe when Luke Rodgers scored twice. I remember being in The Boathouse when some Salop fans came in after beating Everton and feeling a tinge of envy. Soon after, I started going to the odd game when I could, probably from the Conference season onwards - so no accusation of glory hunting would ever stick.
I confess I went initially quite happy to be fairly neutral. Enjoyed a spot of crowd watching as people would get worked up about something on the pitch and I'd not be too bothered, though hoping Town would win. Happy days. Didn't last long - before I knew it, I found myself getting frustrated when Sammy Aiston lost the ball or Neil Ashton fluffed a challenge. Happiest early Town-supporting memory? Has to be that day in the sun at Stoke - what a drama. The club can't have had many more important moments than that penalty shoot out.
And that was that. I started going more often, my sons when they wanted to go and am so glad to have plenty of memories of the club playing at Gay Meadow, even as a newbie. All four of us had season tickets when we moved to Oteley Road and, although that's dropped off as our sons moved on, they still go to games when they're around.
I love the town and county and the club represents that place. I love the human scale of it and don't really mind that the world only very occasionally notices us. I loved the leafblowers on the pitch at Gay Meadow. I was moved to tears by the minute's silence on Armistice Day at Gay Meadow (before the FA Cup tie v Chester, I think) punctuated only by the sound of the clock chiming, I loved Matthew Ashton's photos in the "Goodbye Gay Meadow" book - including one with my son and his friend - even though I couldn't directly share so many of those memories, I love my print of the last league game at Gay Meadow, I love the anticipation at 2:30 on a Saturday afternoon - I may have been adopted but it's my club too.
[It's a lot easier to say these things when it's warm, the sun's shining and there's no football to moan about!]
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