Long time Town fan and a man who knows a lot about his Salop history, Adam Rodgers takes a look back at a past game against this weekends opponents Rotherham United.

Rotherham United 2-1 Shrewsbury Town 14/04/96

There are two things that spring to my mind when I think of Rotherham United. Firstly, the greatest celebrity super fans a football club ever had (the Chuckle Brothers), and secondly travelling to north London back in 1996 for Town’s first ever visit to Wembley. I can still remember travelling to the match as a fresh faced thirteen year old as if it was yesterday. Seeing the famous twin towers for the first time as the coach battled through the London traffic was a special moment. Just a couple of months later the iconic stadium was to play host to some of the most magical scenes in its long history at Euro 96 but to any Salop or Rotherham fan the Auto Windscreens Shield Final seemed to mean just as much.

The first surprise that day was that first team regulars and local heroes Kevin Seabury and Paul Evans had been left out of the team by manager Fred Davies. It seemed a shame that two such fan favourites were not going to be a part of the day and Town fans concerns that the team would suffer were confirmed as Nigel Jemson (whatever happened to him?!) struck twice either side of half time to all but take the game away from Town. A late goal from midfielder Mark Taylor at least gave the fans something to cheer but in truth the performance from Town had been an anti climax and Rotherham deservedly lifted the trophy.

After our exciting win over Southend in midweek, a game against fellow mid table opposition is a great opportunity for Town to put back to back wins together for the first time this season. No repeats of the 4-0 horror show in the Carabao cup though please Salop!

Adam Rodgers

“Going Down The Oteley Road”

https://goingdowntheoteleyroad.home.blog/

Another Shrewsbury Town towel has been spotted posing with its owner and Town fan Pete Done in Cyprus.

Keep putting those Towels out!! Post them in any of the Shrewsbury Town Facebook groups or send them into us with on Twitter @GDTORsalop or on the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GoingDownTheOteleyRoad/ and we will feature you on Where’s Your Towel At?…

Daz Carding

“Going Down The Oteley Road”

https://goingdowntheoteleyroad.home.blog/

We know that us Shrewsbury Town fans get about, so here we share photos of proud Salopians showing off their support in different places.

This week Salop fan and member of the armed forces Patrick Heffernan is showing his Salop colours and flying the flag in Kabul, Afghanistan. Our respect and appreciation to Patrick for the work he and many others are doing. Patrick is looking forward to getting back to Montgomery Waters Meadow in November.

If you would have a photo of yourself somewhere in your Shrewsbury Town colours and want to be featured on the site, then contact us either on the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GoingDownTheOteleyRoad/ or on Twitter @GDTORsalop

Daz Carding

“Going Down The Oteley Road”

https://goingdowntheoteleyroad.home.blog/

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 one time Salopian Neville Southall.

How did the move to Shrewsbury Town come about?

The move came about when Kev Ratcliffe asked me what I was up to and what I thought was a friendly chat ended up as me signing.

What was it like being at Gay Meadow?

I think Shrewsbury is a great club, a warm friendly place to play and I liked it there a lot.

Who was the best player you were with at Shrewsbury?

I don’t think it’s right to single an individual out as I thought they were all a good bunch of lads.

What was it like working with goalkeeper coach Dave Timmins?

Dave was good, he always wanted to learn and listen.

What was Kevin Ratcliffe like as a manager?

Rats was very thorough in all aspects of management and trusted his players.

What made you decide to be a goalkeeper?

I never decided to be a goalie, it just sort of happened.

Who was the biggest influence on your career?

My dad first and then Howard Kendall.

Where do you think Shrewsbury will finish this season in League One?

I hope Shrewsbury win League One but I think they can make the top six.

Your a big advocate for the LQBTQ community, do you think football is doing enough to support this?

I think the FA make all the right noises but don’t want to really face up to homophobia. It needs a zero tolerance approach.

You also show interest in mental health, do you think footballers get enough help?

Footballers at the top get good support but I think the ones who get released by clubs and from under 16’s down, they don’t have the same level of support. It needs to be looked at and have proper exit strategies put in place.

Who was the best footballer your played with?

Kevin Sheedy was irreplaceable.

On the flip side who was the best player you came up against?

I never worried about the opposition.

What football team do you support?

I now support Everton after playing for them. But as a child I was a West Ham United fan because they played a great style of football.

Who was your favourite player as a child?

Pat Jennings.

Why do you love football?

It was the only thing I could do well and I have fun, made some great mates and had an unbelievable unique experience. My advice for anyone wanting to get into the game is have fun, enjoy it and don’t take yourself too seriously.

Huge thanks to Neville for chatting with us about his time at Shrewsbury and for bringing back some great memories from years gone by.

For more content like this keep an eye on our our Facebook page https://m.facebook.com/GoingDownTheOteleyRoad/ and on Twitter @GDTORsalop

Daz Carding

“Going Down The Oteley Road”

https://goingdowntheoteleyroad.home.blog/

We asked the brilliant Salop fans if they could pick a Shrewsbury Town All Time XI, from the time they have been Town fans. Here’s Town fan Dale Skitt’s All Time XI.

DEAN HENDERSON

DARREN MOSS

IAN SHARPS

MAT SADLER

TOMMY LYNCH

SAM AISTON

PAUL EVANS

BEN DAVIES

AUSTIN BERKLEY

GRANT HOLT

LUKE RODGERS

Think you could pick a better eleven? If you fancy becoming a fan of the week just drop us a message on either our Facebook page https://m.facebook.com/GoingDownTheOteleyRoad/ or on Twitter @GDTORsalop

Daz Carding

“Going Down The Oteley Road”

https://goingdowntheoteleyroad.home.blog/

Our own Del Boy, Ed Morris gave his thoughts after his trip from Cardiff to Montgomery Waters Meadow for the game against Southend United.

“Well worth the journey from Cardiff tonight to watch a 4-3 thriller! Yes we conceded 3 but their third goal was a screamer! But we scored 4 well worked goals. When was the last time we looked like scoring 4? Cummings and Lang looked hungry for it and Whalley showed his class when he came on. For me the biggest difference was that we were hungry for the ball and we fought for it, like we wanted it. A very proud Salopian going back to Cardiff tonight!”

Many thanks to Ed and it sounded like he enjoyed his trip to Shrewsbury last night.

An exiled Salopian who doesn’t get to many games? If you fancy giving your thoughts on a game you get to, let us know on either our Facebook page https://m.facebook.com/GoingDownTheOteleyRoad/ or on Twitter @GDTORsalop

Daz Carding

“Going Down The Oteley Road”

https://goingdowntheoteleyroad.home.blog/

We asked the Salopian super fan, Bizzy for his thoughts on our game against Southend United.

“For the owd neutral that must have been a pearler of a spectacle, for the average Salop fan that can only be described as a “ring twitcher”, a multitude of emotions throughout the match. The first game at the Meddah this season where you can say you’ve been fully entertained.”

“The match reminded me of the England v Kosovo game last week, we were always the better side but Southend played with no fear, not once did they sit back and try to contain us. It made for an open game of footy though. Some highs and lows performance wise, we conceded some sloppy goals and we just seemed to go to sleep at times. Giles as wonderful a player as he is he needs to learn to track back more as he’s showing hes not a natural defender. Our centre half’s were asleep for the first goal but on the whole did ok. Along with Ollie Norburn the first name on the team sheet at the moment is Josh Laurent, fair play hes proved me and a few others wrong, industrious display yet clever with it, very rarely gives the ball away and can eye a pass too. Well done to the coaching team on bringing him through, a mature head on young shoulders.”

“As the stats show we created alot of chances and with Cummings I feel potentially goals will come freely, as someone said last night he has the style of John McGinlay and to be compared to one of the greatest forwards we ever had after just making your debut is a testament to what a quality player we could have here, I just hope he knuckles down and gets on with his footy, bit of an owd livewire so the banter can only be good for the dressing room.”

“Some real positive points last night mixed in with some “ballbag dropping” scariness, my one concern that far better teams than Southend will punish us. If we cut out the errors then Salop will be looking at the upper positions of the table.”

“One final point is a big well done to Shaun Whalley, hes rarely going to start and he could have sulked and spat his dummy out but he looked fresh as ever last night and made a right difference to the balance of the game a potential David Fairclough super sub in the making.”

“Couldn’t call Salop predictable at all last night and well done Sam for at least providing some good entertaining footy, but the owd ticker can’t take much more of some of our defending. Up the Salop and roll on South Yorkshire jollops induced nonsense.”

“Love and jollops Biz”

Be sure to follow our resident Shrewsbury Town super fan on Twitter @Bizzylad

Bizzy

“Going Down The Oteley Road”

https://goingdowntheoteleyroad.home.blog/

Our young inspirational reporter and massive Shrewsbury Town fan Corbin gives us his thoughts on yesterday’s away draw against Southend United.

Southend at Home our first Tuesday night home League game of the season and what a game, Sam Ricketts made two changes with Beckles in for Pierre and Saturday’s hero Cummings getting a start

The game started brightly inside 30 seconds Giles cut in from the left and forced their keeper into a save, some people were still taking their seats when Cummings had a shot. We were on the front foot pushing Southend back, our first goal swept in by Beckles after a brilliant tackle and cross by Ebanks Landell 1-0, Giles then hit the post with his cross come shot. Less than 10 mins later it was 2-0 when Love chased a ball down the right played it to Cummings who was on the edge of the box and passed it into the net The Ground erupted and the Shrews were dominant .

But just two minutes later though Southend got a goal back, Beckles’ poor clearance was collected by their full back who whipped the ball to the far post and their winger beat Love in the air suddenly it was 2-1 ,it was a setback and the rest of the half Southend pressed us. We seemed shocked by the goal and the players were miss placing passes as Southend searched for an equaliser.

Second half Southend started brightly but we got back into the swing of things, Whalley on for Cummings made a difference his jinking run set up Ollie Norburn on edge of the box and he slid the ball into the corner for 3-1. 15 mins to go Edwards came on for Norburn and Southend scored again Love let ball bounce over him on half way and they counter attacked with Humphrys scoring with a low drive. Just 5 mins later we went 4-2 up, Laurent this time robbed the fullback of the ball who slid the ball into path of Lang and he slotted under the keeper

3 minutes of time were added on and Southend scored again, Simon Cox with a banger from 25 yards left a nervy finish but Salop held on. But for our defensive mistakes and some last ditch defending by Southend we could have won by more. 10 shots on target, the most we have had in one game this season shows when we play, we can play!

Not playing the long ball game worked wonders as we pressed and passed the ball along the ground, Cummings and Lang were always a threat with Laurent and Norburn in the middle hard working and Goss doing the tidying up. Giles was a lot better than at Wimbledon and was a threat. We have a team at Shrewsbury who have now proved they can score goals, if we can cut out the silly mistakes we would be a match for anyone and we will surprise a lot of people

Man of The Match …..Callum Lang never gave up, chased lost causes always a threat and took his goal coolly.

Onwards to Rotherham away on Saturday 21st September, a tough game ahead but one we can be positive about if we play with this attacking intent we showed tonight.

See you all there, Corbin.

Thanks to Corbin for his thoughts on the game against Southend United.

Corbin Davies

“Going Down The Oteley Road”

https://goingdowntheoteleyroad.home.blog/

Our man who travels home and away following the mighty Shrewsbury Town Rhys Gratton, gives his views on Town’s 4-3 win against Southend.

Shrewsbury Town 4 V 3 Southend United (17/9/2019)

“Town went into this fixture under the floodlights with cautious optimism and with good reason, considering the visitors appalling form. Tonight’s lineup saw two changes, with Omar Beckles replacing Aaron Pierre, and saturday’s man of the moment Jason Cummings coming in to play alongside Callum Lang in place of Daniel Udoh.”

“The home side started the better, creating plenty of chances and were rewarded when Ethan Ebanks Landell was first to a tame clearance from a set-piece, and played in a beautiful low cross, from which Omar Beckles volleyed in underneath Southend keeper Mark Oxley. The Meadow was on it’s feet once again shortly after, but only for Callum Lang to head the ball onto the bar and the ref called play back for a foul anyway. The second arrived only a few minutes later though, as that man Cummings trapped the ball, turned onto his left foot, and calmly slid the ball off the far post and in for his second goal of the season.”

“However, a two goal lead seemed to make Shrewsbury complacent, as some poor defending from Ryan Giles allowed the ball to come into the area and winger Stephen McLaughlin to tower above Donald Love at the far post and nod the ball back across goal to the horror of the stranded Max O’Leary. The game then seemed to run dry until the break, with Salop’s earlier spring in the passes and movement gone, with the players seemingly rattled by Southend’s counterpunch, and the Shrimpers more than happy to put eleven men behind the ball and try to hit Town on the break. A big half time team talk was needed.”

“That team talk duly came with the hosts rejuvenated after the break, and were once again rewarded as substitute Shaun Whalley beat a few defenders before cutting it back to captain Ollie Norburn, who admittedly scuffed his first time shot, but it still ended up in the back of the net to make it a deserved 3-1 lead. “

“But that two goal lead complacency once again started creeping into Salop’s play, as despite some magnificent clearances from Southend defender Harry Lennon denying Callum Lang what would’ve been a well deserved goal, the visitors were once again creating chances of their own, and again made the home fans sit up when former Shrew Stephen Humphreys danced past Ebanks Landell and fired into the bottom corner with little under fifteen minutes to go. Game on again.”

“Or for five or so minutes. With the visitors now going all out in search of an equaliser, they were short at the back, and although the Shrimpers intercepted Shrewsbury’s initial counter attack Josh Laurent very quickly won the ball back and fed Lang in acres of spaces, and though the ball had at first appeared to get lost under his feet, he was able to regain his composure and slot the ball past Oxley for a well deserved goal for the young striker.”

“With the wind appearing to have been taken out of Southend’s sails, they failed to really threaten again until injury time, when a stunning strike from Simon Cox ensured that the hosts were made to sweat until the final whistle.”

“In what was a vastly improved display from the Shrews, it is very hard to pick a man of the match and it could go to any number of players, but mine goes to Sean Goss, for his ability to read the game and know what tempo to play at in different situations, and some truly superb passes.”

UP THE SHREWS!

Rhys Gratton

“Going Down The Oteley Road”

https://goingdowntheoteleyroad.home.blog/

Ahead of today’s League One game against Southend we asked fans what they think the score will be.

Dave Sambrook – “2-0 Southend”

Garry Ursin-Smith – “2-1. I really think we need to win this one”

Andrew Hill – “Three nil”

Ronny Ellingsen – “0-2 Southend improving, were not”

Bizzy – “3-1 Salop”

Ben Pengilly – “0-0”

Cole Kenny – “1-1”

Phil Rose – “5-0 You Blues”

Keith Williams – “3-0, Cummings 3 goals”

Neil Thomas – “2-1, last minute winner”

James Evans – “2-0 Salop, if he starts Cummings”

Richard Vernon – “1-0”

Will Smith – “0-0”

Tim Oakley – “2-0 to the Town”

Gary Howorth – “Five nil to the Town”

Ross Jones – “Lang and Cummings to start, 3-0”

Martin Hughes – “Southend will be up for this so Town might struggle. Hopefully 1-0 Town.”

Daz Davies – “4-1, maybe even 5-1 with a Cummings hat trick”

Corbin Davies – “2-0 to Salop”

Kelly Marie – “3-1 Town”

Mark Evans – “0-0”

Barry Holden – “4-0”

Emma Green – “1-0 Shrewsbury”

Colin Elston – “Lets have a 2-0”

Sarah Dillow – “2-1 Town”

Jason Leonard – “3-1 Salop”

Brian Maddocks – “2-1”

Peter Onions – “0-1 with 10 mins to go, then 2-1 to the Town”

Ed Morris – “5-0 Town”

A fair few different predictions from the Salop faithful but the majority going for a Salop win, here’s hoping we can get a home win and three points.

Daz Carding

“Going Down The Oteley Road”

@GDTORsalop

https://goingdowntheoteleyroad.home.blog/