Your STFC memories

[goindownthewylecop]

we need some quality memories of STFC on here, like these posted by Hereford:

www.confguide.com/hufc.mpl?action=View+Thread&thread=9030

[Deleted]

STFC(Swindon) v STFC(Shrewsbury) 1996.

I was 13 at the time and Shrewsbury mascot for the day. Swindon hadn't lost at home all season and were running away with the 2nd division. As I had travelled with the Junior Blues we were sat in the Swindon family enclosure, surrounded by Swindon fans having a go at us, telling us we were rubbish etc...

Que Richard Scott to pop up half way through the second half to put the Shrews 1-0 up. Although Swindon piled the pressure on they could not break the Town down; Austin Berkley had a superb game playing in front of the manager who released him from Swindon Steve McMahon (The Dirty barsteward).

At the end of the game the Swindon faithful were speechless while the Shrews fans singing could be heard echoing around the ground, fantastic

[Deleted]

Southend 0 - 2 STFC 01/02

Anything less than 3 points would see an end to our play off chase. A win would keep us in the hunt for another week at least and would also guarantee a sell out for the final game of the season against Luton.

Southend had a decent home record, having won 12, drawn 5 and lost 5. Having only one 1 of the last 10 away from the Meadow it didn't look too promising.

20 minutes in and Ian Woan give Town the lead. Excellent stuff. 5 minutes later Luke Rodgers gets given his marching orders for no particular reason. It was going to have to be a backs to the wall effort for the last hour. After an hour the Southend defence make a horrible mess of clearing their lines and Ryan Lowe is gifted a second goal.

Southend lay seige to the town goal for the remaining half hour (which felt like hours). They missed some sitters and then the final whistle went. We had managed to win 2-0 with 10 men. Hurrah! The even better news was that Sc***horpe had lost and we had gone back into the play off positions. Needless to say I was not quite as happy 7 days later as we lost, dropped two places and missed out on the play offs by a point.

[Deleted]

STFC 2 - 3 Northampton (92/93)

Because of Maidstone's demise early in the season there were 23 teams left in the league. Bury had played all of their games before the last day of the season and were sitting in the final play off spot. We were in 8th knowing that a win would guarantee a play off position, and anything else (apart from a double figure draw!)would see us miss out.

The visiting team were Northampton who also needed a win, but needed one to make sure they did not get relegated.

By half time the Town were coasting 2-0. Goals from Tommy Lynch (er, I think!) and Carl Griffiths had put us well on our way. Then in true STFC style things went tits up in a very spectacular way.

I have to admit I was only 12 at the time so my memory of the game isn't perfect but what I do remember is Robbie bloody Turner. He single handedly managed to gift the game to Northampton with staggeringly incompetent defending, the likes of which has never been repeated. We lost 3-2, missed out on the play offs and Northampton won and stayed up. The one and only positive to come out of the game was that John Bond departed (was he sacked or did he walk?).

[Deleted]

STFC 0 - 4 Liverpool (95/96)

It's not the game itself that really stood out, but the build up to the game was awesome. We had got a draw at Fulham (they were a division below us back then) and had made it into the FA Cup 3rd round draw. I couldn't believe it when STFC or Fulham got drawn against the mighty Liverpool!

The Fulham game itself is one of my most memorable games at the Meadow, with the Town snatching a 2-1 win in the dying minutes after playing most of the game with 10 men. The club then decided to issue vouchers for the league game with Swansea. These vouchers would guarantee a Liverpool ticket. I was queueing for that game from around mid-day and 6,000 Town fans turned up.

Finally I got hold of my ticket, and I started counting down the hours till the game. Bad weather caused the game to be cancelled (was it once or twice?) and in the end it became an 11am kick off on a Sunday morning. That helped to dampen the atmosphere and dreams of another FA Cup fairytale were soon ended.

For whatever reason Fred Davies put out the most negative team I have ever seen. What was it, 9-1-0? He hoped we would keep them to a draw and then we would get a money spinning replay at Anfield. We proceeded to get a 4-0 thrashing and we didn't have anything resembling an effort on the Liverpool goal all game.

[Deleted]

Exeter 1 - 2 STFC (99/00)

At the time I had a part time weekend job and the management were not keen on ever giving people time off. I had missed the most part of the season but always spent Saturday afternoons skiving off with a personal walkman making sure I kept up to date with the latest scores.

I had to ask for the day off to go to the Exeter game, there was no way I could miss this one. Unfortunately I was only granted time off the Sunday before the game. By then Smithy's coaches were all full and the train station quoted me £60 for a return ticket. Baring in mind I lived in the middle of nowhere I also needed to shell out £30 in taxi fees to get to and from the train station. I was well and truely stuffed because I was flat broke. I managed to find a potential lift who would take me down for £50. He pulled out at the last moment and I was stuck at home for the most important game in the history of STFC.

I have to say I have always found it many times worse listening to a game on the radio than actually being there. This was no different. The first hour absolutely flew by as the scored remained at 0-0. As it stood we would be relegated. Then super Mickey Brown came off the bench and got two quick goals. Ceefax was showing that neither Carlisle or Chester were winning and we were on easy street. We were staying up no problems. After all, Exeter had nothing to play for and were just making up the numbers.

With 15 mnutes to go reality hit home. We were bottom of the league for a good reason, we were unable to hold on to leads. Exeter got one back and all of a sudden things sounded bad. Exeter started to attack more and pressure was being put on the Town defence. A stone wall penalty was waved away for Exeter according to the radio. It was all too much. I was climbing the walls. Then the final whistle went, the Town had doen it. They were hanging on in the end but had managed to keep Exeter out and we were safe. Chester had lost and we went above them. One of my major regrets is that I missed the game. The scenes afterwards looked amazing and I so wished I could have been amongst it all.

[Deleted]

STFC 11 (yes, eleven) - 2 Marine

What the hell happened? Was I dreaming or had the Town just scored 11 times in a single game? Well it really happened!

It didn't take long for Town to take the lead. I think we were a goal up inside 5 minutes. It looked like it was going to be an easy afternoon against FA Cup minnows Marine. 5 minutes before half time and I doubt anyone in the crowd was still thinking that as the score remained the same. Then came one of the most amazing spells of attacking ever seen at the Meadow.

3 goals inside 3 minutes put the game well out of reach for Marine just before half time. Another two quick goals after half time had us 6-0 up and we were absolutely coasting. Marine managed to full one back, but it didn't matter as another quick 3 Town goals put us 9-1 up. I doubt any of the 2,500 Town fans (or the 500 Marine fans) would believe what was going on. The Riverside were chanting 'we want 10'. I was chanting 'I want 11'.

The biggest cheer of the entire afternoon was when Marine got their second. It was now 9-2 but even STFC couldn't throw this one away. 2 more goals followed and we had thrashed Marine 11-2. It still sounds rediculous now, 11 goals. Wow! I remember Bristol City thumped someone 9-1 the same day. And I also remember Town making it on to match of the day with 'Always look on the bright side of life' playing in the background as the goals kept raining in.

11 goals? The rate we are going this season it will take 3 months to score that many...

[Deleted]

STFC 2-1 Everton (02/03)

Boston 6-0 STFC, Rushden 5-1 STFC. We were playing some of the most inept football ever seen by a Town team but 2 games against non league opposition had seen us make the FA Cup 3rd round for the first time in 6 years. We were up against the mighty Everton who were flying high in the Preimership. All the talk before the game was how many were we going to conceed? Radzinski and Rooney were going to take us apart of which there was no doubt. The old rivals board was full of people talking about 5, 5 goal trashings.

Walking into the ground that day it suddenly hit home. We had a chance, even if it was only 1% we still had a chance to cause one of the greatest upsets in FA Cup history.

By 3pm the Meadow was full, the Riverside were in excellent voice and out came the players. We started well, Everton had managed a couple of half chances but we had got a fair bit of the ball and were looking dangerous ourselves. A beautiful free kick by Jemmo put us 1-0 up. Absolutely brilliant! The feeling was awesome. It still makes me smile now and i'm sure it always will. We were now playing some decent stuff and if it wasn't for Richard Wright in the Everton goal we would be even further ahead.

For some reason I can never remember what came first. The blatent penalty that we were never given or the Everton equaliser? I felt sure Everton would pick up the pace after it got to 1-1 but apart from a couple of half chances they ever did really get that close to scoring.

With a couple of minutes to go Town get one last chance to put a dangerous ball into the Everton box. I', not a religious person but I did pray, something along the lines of 'I'll forgive all the suffering STFC had put me through in the previous 11 years if we can score off this'.

Ian Woan put a lovely ball in and there was Jemmo at the near post. I was at the back of the Riverside and all I could see was the reaction of the Wakeman. It was in!!!! The Meadow erupted, people were hugging each other (er, sorry to the guy I hugged, I never got your name ) and the impossible was possible. The last couple of minutes lasted an age but finally the final whistle went. I had just witnessed one of the biggest ever cup shocks in the most famous cup compeition in the world. I'm smiling like a fool as I type this. It's days like these that will live on in the memory forever, sweet

[Morleyshrew]

How about :

Your first ever away game - losing away to reading at their old ground (Elm Park ?)

Watching Mickey Brown score with his HEAD at Stoke (old ground) to keep us in Div 2 years ago - the one where the stewards decided it wa a good idea to keep us all crushed in one pen.....

Going to watch Town at Villa - the one where we too thousands - still lost but appy days !

Steve Perks saving a last minute penalty at home to Man City to keep it at 0-0 - how many of us were in the Wakeman at that point ?

Victors wonder strike at the away end that curled into the top corner (Can't remember who it was against)

The Everton match - mainly cos I won £400 at the bookies off the back of that - who thought I was mad to even contemplate that bet.......

Stoke last May - sisters first ever Town game and she refuses to ever come with me again cos apparently I'm 'embarassing'...........

[Deleted]

Wish I hadn't wasted my time now, does nobody else care to contribute?

[blueandamber]

Shrewsbury 4 - 1 Hereford (03/04 - Conference)

The same day as when England won the rugby world cup.

My Dad and I took my mate Lee to that game, i remember my dad driving into shrewsbury to park and then i said something like 'fancy running over that hereford fan' for a laugh, and I just had a really good feeling about that day, since i woke up, watched england win the rugby world cup.

The weather was a bit dull.... went into the ground thinking that we'd be in for a pasting then martin o Connor's shot was deflected in and the meadow went nuts. then Darby found his scoring boots again (twice) can't remember who else scored... Banim?

anyway, went home happy after that one, the atmosphere was crackin.

[El Huracán!!!!]

Lincoln 1 – 2 Shrewsbury – 12/11/02

For some reason this game sticks im my mind a lot with all the other big games mentioned above. LDV round 2 after beating Morecambe in the first round at a canter we got Lincoln away from home, I was at Uni at the time in the middle of one of the important sections of my dissertation (along with lots of other work)

So far I had not missed any games but with a Tuesday afternoon Lecture to go to it looked like the run might be ended. After getting out at 4.45 a manic drive from Coventry to Lincoln accompanied by my long suffering mate from Cheltenham was achived at record speed and we made the game.

Town had just won back to back for what must have been the first time in years but a the players names were read out (Van Blerk (on the wing!!!) Atkins, Murray, Redmile, Stevens (bench)) my hope started to fade.

Worse was that only 70 town fans made the trip!!!! And one of them my mate was a neutral!!! The over all attendance was less than 1500!!

Town started bright but were hit by a good Lincoln goal scored by Buckley, and the air raid siren went off (just like at every corner they had that night). But town fought back and luke grabbed an equaliser just before Half time.

Half time was cold, so so cold as the emptiness of the stand took its toll. Thank god LDV half times are only 10 mins now a days!!

Second half town had chances to win it so did they but the game went into GG extra time and the nerves really got going. Jags had a chance to win it and when he missed Pens looked inventible but after only 4 mins of Extra time it was all over at Mossey got the winner. Memorable as he came right over to the fans who to a man almost left there seats and went down the front to celebrate with the players, hug and High 5s were exchanged. Then to turn and see all Lincolns fans sulking home while the small number of town fans lapped it was quality.

My run continued to the end of the season – but this game was the key one in the see every game season which I will probably never ever do again!

[john]

Bank Holiday Monday August 1983
Newcastle United 0 Shrewsbury Town 1

United had won two days before at Barnsley(I think) 3-1 and Salop had got a 1-1 draw at Grimsby.
over 29,000 there at their old version of St James's of which there was no more than 29/35 Salop fans.
Bearing in mind we lost 4-0 in the fixture in March of that year.
A former ex Sunderland former Geordie loanie Alan Brown grabbed the winner against a side with Keegan, Beardsley, McDermott and Waddle in their side.

Simply Brilliant day

[Dale]

Rochdale 1 Shrewsbury 7 February 2001

The team with the meanest defence at home entertained the side with the weakest strike rate on their travels, surely there would only be one conclusion?

We set off on the train for a day on the beer, following a quick change thru Manchester we had a quick McDonalds meal at midday (meeting one interesting locally based Scottish chap who already looked as if he had a few that day) before making the fairly long walk towards Spotland, whilst taking in some of the lovely local sights such as errrr....tower blocks and errmmmm..... more tower blocks

We got to the 'Church Inn' at around 1pm and enjoyed a few pre-match pints in there, Bizzy kept everyone entertained by flashing his hairy arse and then throwing up lime green sick after having one (or ten!) Pernod and lime too many

We then went into their spanking new away stand and Rodgers put us ahead after 2 mins, everyone went berserk! Including Bizzy who was warned by the stewards for going 'too mental', normal service was then resumed ten minutes later with Dale equalising but just two minutes later an OG from Kevin Kyle (whatever happened to him?) put us back in front cue more mental celebrations from the small travelling faithful, and Bizzy getting ejected for more 'overcelebrating'.

The second half started off even better as Redmile put us 3-1 up with a great volley, Lowe then broke his League duck for the club and then Rodgers made it 5-1! At this point I lost it and ran from the back of the stand all the way down to dance a huge jig of joy at the front of the stand ;D which obviously offended a couple of 18 year old jobsworth stewards who then proceeded to eject me, but my bacon was saved when the chief steward came over to see what was going on, I simply explained to him that I got a little emotional as it wasnt every day we just happened to be 5-1 up away from home, and he let me back in

I then saw a couple of more goals from Town (and Luke's silly sending off) before collapsing into the Ratcliffe Arms at the end of the game just wondering how we pulled off a result like that! The Dale fans whilst stunned were very gracious in defeat and blamed Simon Coleman for the defeat, it then started to snow quite heavily and we quite happily danced thru the streets of Rochdale all the way back to the station in the snow ;D

Fookin fantastic day out!

[ianwhit]

if anyone wants to send these over to gaymeadow.com for use in the memories section then that would be great.

[e-mail] or leave me a message on here..

[scooter]

schizo said:

normal service was then resumed ten minutes later with Dale equalising but just two minutes later an OG from Kevin Kyle (whatever happened to him?) put us back in front

The one who now plays for Sunderland and has full Scottish caps. Unbelievable, based on his performance that day.

[gobbieshrew]

1984 vs Ipswich FA Cup

Went and sat in the wakeman stand for this cup tie, I remember going on the pitch to get all the autographs and John Wark & Terry Butcher giving me a bollocking for doing so, still got myself on Match Of The Day, me and my parka coat!!

Can't remember much about the football (I was only 9!!) but I remember Gary Hackett scoring and two blokes jumping over the wall of the wakeman stand to do a little celebration dosey doe!!

After the match i think Tony Gubba interviewed Graham Turner and I was first to get his autograph. I still have that programme and its one of my pridde and joy ones.

Town at Wembley, great day out, even though we lost.

Town V Everton, Jemmo was a hero, cause of him i was out queing a couple of weeks later at 2am in the morning so i coud get a ticket for the Chelsea match.

Town V Carliar, lowest point as a town fan. Me and my bro just said nothing in the two hour journey back home, just were like gutted zombies.

Town V aldershot, sat in the rooftop bar in protoras going absolutely mental. 3 saves in a row!!!

[Deleted]

Town 2 Burnley 1
1997

Classic fight back! That night showed what the team we had COULD do, great to watch, Currie was brilliant as was the human-traction engine Mark Dempsey. Town were in deep relegation trouble and badly in need of win-we got two late goals (Stevo and an OG). The place went nuts (my dad and me terrified my visiting cousin from Luton when we started leaping around singing ' on the Wrexham'). That game gave everyone a ray of hope-shame it did'nt last!

Town 3 - 1 Plymouth
2002

1-0 down within a few minutes of kick off to the league leaders. We then had a man sent off. I braced myself for a thrashing. Town fought back against all odds to pull off a great comeback. Fantastic stuff!

Exeter 1 - Town 2
2000

Yep! Don't need to go into details for this one-we all shared in this moment. The relief, the joy, the fact we sent Chester down, the pitch invasion and the reaction from the Exeter fans. BRILLIANT!

Playoff final 2004

See above. Threw a mental when Darby equalised, nearly had a heart attack during extra time (visted the toilet about 5 time even thought I had'nt had a drop to drink). Remember when Luke missed I thought 'same old Shrewsbury' you know what happended next

Remember bursting into tears when Trev scored-mainly cos I had lost my dad (a town fan for 50+ years) earlier in the season to cancer, it really did feel like he was there which made it all the more special. Lifting the trophy, the procession around the pitch - What a day, what a night!

Went straight down the ground to meet the players, Martin O'connor told me to 'have a good night' - I certainly did hit the Crown and joined in the street party with the players. I've still got the hangover ;D

I RUDDY LOVE THIS FOOTBALL CLUB

[telfordSHREWS]

The Great Escape no contest although the last game of the season away at B'ham when we won 2 nil was also special as it was a game we also needed to win.

4 of us travelled to Exeter without a tickets many jumped over the barriers to get in where the building work was going on and got in , some bought there own steward jackets and got in, loads bought seat tickets for the Exeter end like me and got in then were transfered into the packed terracing behind the goal, then sir mickey popped up twice to send us mental, a red hot day combined with every emotion you could think of

[Critics Corner HUFC]

My Dad and I took my mate Lee to that game, i remember my dad driving into shrewsbury to park and then i said something like 'fancy running over that hereford fan' for a laugh,

Oi that was me!

Apart from that result , I enjoyed the day out... Being an exile, I did not have a ticket, so slummed it on the Riverside.. Quite good company - Still paying for 1976 :-) Two successive 4-1s worry me for next season, unless we pass each other.