We’ve been lucky enough at “Going Down The Oteley Road” to speak to some ex Shrewsbury Town players, this week Daz Carding spoke with ex defender and Salop legend Tommy Lynch.
How did it feel making your debut for Shrewsbury Town?
Even though it was around Christmas, it was a nice sunny day. I would have been nervous and anxious to make a good impression on teammates, manager and the fans. I was lucky in the sense that three of us made our debut’s that same day, Brendan Ormsby, Paul Wimbledon and myself, so there was 3 newbie’s for the fans to keep an eye on. I believe that i did ok, Brendan got injured, Paul was very concerned that his hair didn’t look out of place and i ran around hitting everything above ground.
What was the highlight of your time in Shropshire?
I was fortunate to have many highlights both on and off the field. Winning the league and playing at Wembley (which also doubles as probably my most disappointing time at the Town). Great cup fixtures and some unbelievable athmosphere at games. Just playing week in week out with a great bunch of lads. Off the pitch my daughter Molly, was born in the Town. We made great friends whilst there, indeed our closest friends are there and getting the reception i get now when i return to the Town even after all these years is special and humbling.
How did the move to Shrewsbury come about?
I was playing with Sunderland reserves and had asked to go on loan. Manager Denis Smyth said there was a few teams interested, Hartlepool, Stoke & Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury struck a cord with me because i had been playing with Limerick in the League of Ireland under Billy Hamilton and Brian Flynn and one of the players they brought in was Jake King. Over time i got to know Jake very well and when Shrewsbury was mentioned as a place to go on loan to, i called Jake and he said “GO” you will love it there. He sold me on the club and the Town as a place to live. He was not wrong.
What was it like playing at Gay Meadow?
It was great, i loved it there. Fans only feet away and able to have a bit of banter with them. Great feeling running out there and of course the surface was the surface, i loved it on wet mucky days, the ball would hold up that split second longer so you could get closer to the winger and hopefully take “ball and man”…preferably at the same time.
Who was the best player you played with in Blue and Amber?
Wow..different players for a variety of reasons, McGinley and Griffiths for their goals, Wayne Clarke for his “you can always be better attitude”, King Browny for his pace and trickery, Kells for his passing, Summers for his consistency, Deano and Stitch. I think the team that won the league in 93/94 had no real stars just a collective of players who got the best out of each other.
Who was the best player you came up against for Shrewsbury?
I was never a lover of a pacy winger, some you could intimidate in the tunnel or with an early challenge but i played a couple of times against Robert Hopkins of Birmingham (he aslo played with the Town) and sure he only loved a battle as well and gave as good as he got for a “winger”.
You played under a few managers at Town, who was your favourite?
I played under Asa Hart, John Bond and Fred Davies. Asa and Fred would be my favourites, Bondy i could take or leave as i was disappointed when he didn’t turn up for a cup game away to Burnley, now it could have been under police advice but as a manager you are asking players to go out and give 100% and on that occasion i felt he didn’t. He also attended the reply at the Meadow in disguise. Asa was great, led from the front when he played. Felt he got a raw deal when sacked after a loss to Torquay, which was played at the Meadow but the pitch was like an ice rink. Of course he had brought John Bond in to give him a hand and he was there to replace him. I learned from all three managers different things which stood good for me when i came home to manage Waterford, but what i learned from John Bond was how not to man manage people.
You were known for liking a good tackle, do you think slowly that style of play is being removed from football?
Definitely without a doubt, it is becoming a non contact sport, even if you win the ball cleanly you can be punished for “excessive force”. I doubt if i could have survived in today’s era.
What made you decide to be a defender?
As a schoolboy player i played on the left wing. With Limerick i played predominately as a midfielder. Sunderland signed me because they needed a left sided defender, it was there i started playing as a left full back. As i got older i moved into centre half, however the same old premise still applies to me regardless of where i played. Come in after a game, look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself “Did you give 100% out there”. If you answer yes regardless of how you performed, you cannot be faulted.
Who was the biggest influence on your career?
I suppose like many young kids, my parents would have been the biggest influence on me. My dad played at a reasonably high level of junior football. He would always tell me how i did after a game both the good things i did and the not so good things. I learnt more and improved more from cutting out the negative things that i was doing. Every kid wants to be told you “were brilliant” and “you were the best player on the pitch” but i also believe it should be pointed out what they might have done a bit better.
Who was the biggest joker in the changing room at Shrewsbury?
I played my part in alot of what went on, the usual stuff, deep heat in jocks, lacing shoes up from top to bottom or just cutting the laces half way down so that when they were pulled tight they would just come away in your hands. We would move cars to the furthest point away from where we were. Another favourite was to doctor people’s sandwich’s adding some “tasty” extra’s for flavour. We also set Stitch up to be interviewed by a modelling agency, the “interview” was to take place at the Lion Hotel, Stitch walked in looking like a million dollars only to be greeted by about 15 of us. One of the funniest sights ever, was him running round the hotel trying to clobber us all.
Which players from the current Town squad do you like the look of?
I can’t lie whilst i always look out for Towns results, i haven’t seen much of their games. The few games i have seen Shaun Whalley has always put in a shift for me.
Where do you think Shrewsbury will finish this season in League One?
All going well, with a bit of luck hopefully the play-offs.
What football team do you support?
“Hail Hail” fellow Tims, i have always supported CELTIC…9 in a row this season,
soon to be followed by 10 IN A ROW…English football wise Ipswich Town.
Who were your favourite players as a child?
Danny McGrain of Celtic and Kevin Beattie of Ipswich Town.
Why do you love football?
It offers the lot, to be part of something with so many others having the one goal, be it as a player or a fan. Up’s and Down’s, Jubilation and Heartache, Success and Failure, Happy Monday’s or Not so Happy Monday’s. It gave me the opportunity to meet so many people, to test yourself week-in week-out, team mates that i may bump into once every ten years, but still a team mate, memories that i will cherish forever and a day. I have my league medal and that means as much to me as any medal’s won by the best players in the world.
Huge thanks to Tommy for chatting with us about his time at Shrewsbury and for bringing back some great memories from years gone by.
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Daz Carding
“Going Down The Oteley Road”
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