Ho built on former Gay Meadow ground have appeal for Shrewsbury Town fans - Bs Live

Contents:

• GAY MEADOW
• GAY MEADOW, SHREWSBURY TOWN – 1910-2007
• SHROPSHIRE STARHOMENEWSSPORTSERVICENTERTAMENTNOTIFITN SETTGSSUBSCRIBE TO ONE OR ALL NOTIFITN SOURC OM THIS ONE PLACE.NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO GET THE DAY'S TOP STORI SENT DIRECTLY TO YOU.SIGN ME UPNEWSALL NEWS COST OF LIVGLOL HUBSCRIMEPOLICSHEALTHBSEDUTNVOICUK NEWSENVIRONMENTMORE FEED A FAYFEATURNOSTALGIAPROPERTYTRANSPORTFARMGMOTORSWORLD NEWSDUAL THE A5SPONSORED ARTICLFD NEWS FOR YOUR TOWNSHREWSBURYSHREWSBURYBAYSTON HILLHARLTTMEOLE BRACEMSTERLEYPONTBURYSTIPERSTONFRED’S GAY MEADOW RACLE FDS S WAY BACK HOME TO SHREWSBURY TOWN BY LUCY TODMANSHREWSBURYPUBLISHED: JAN 16, 2020COMMENTSSHREWSBURY TOWN’S RINT RACLE WAS AS MUCH A PART OF GAY MEADOW MATCHDAYS AS HOT PI AND BOVRIL. AND NOW THE TRADNAL BOAT ED TO LLECT STRAY FOOTBALLS OM THE RIVER SEVERN HAS RETURNED HOME.SUBSCRIBE TO OUR DAILY NEWSLETTER!SIGN UPTHE RACL ACTN ON THE RIVER SEVERNSHREWSBURY TOWN MERCIAL MANAGER ANDREW TRETTON WH THE FAMO RACLE, NOW BACK AT THE CLUBFRED DAVI WH ONE OF HIS RACLFOR MANY YEARS FRED DAVI AND HIS FAY RETRIEVED FOOTBALLS G RACL.THEY BEME FAMO THROUGHOUT THE FOOTBALLG WORLD AND ONE OF THEIR CRAFT EVENTUALLY END UP THE NATNAL FOOTBALL MM MANCHTER.NOW, AS THE MM UNRGO A REANISATN, THE RACLE HAS BEEN EMED SURPL TO REQUIREMENTS AND HAS BEEN RETURNED TO S HOME TOWN.IT HAS NOW TAKEN PRI OF PLACE ON DISPLAY THE RNER OF SHREWSBURY TOWN'S SOVEREIGN SUE AT S NEW GROUND, THE MONTGOMERY WATERS MEADOW. IT MEANS N BE ADMIRED BY THOANDS OF TOWN FANS EVERY WEEK – CLUDG THOSE WHO ATTEND THE CLUB’S FA CUP VICTORY THIS WEEK.SHREWSBURY TOWN MERCIAL MANAGER ANDREW TRETTON WH THE FAMO RACLE, NOW BACK AT THE CLUBFOR MANY YEARS, FRED DAVI WOULD LNCH HIS RACLE TO THE RIVER SEVERN TO RETRIEVE FOOTBALLS KICKED OVER THE STANDS AT TOWN’S OLD STADIUM GAY MEADOW.THOUGHT TO BE OVER 100 YEARS OLD AND KDLY DONATED TO THE CLUB BY TIM BEARD AND ALASDAIR WILSON 2008, THE PAIR RETURNED TO SEE THE RACLE BACK SHROPSHIRE.“IT ALL STARTED BEE MY SISTER WAS NNG A CHARY EVENT AT ATTGHAM PARK AND SHE OBTAED THE RACLE OM FRED DAVI’S WIDOW," SAID TIM. “SHE PUT UP AS AN CTN PRIZE AND WE PURCHASED .“WE THEN GAVE BACK TO THE CLUB A FEW YEARS LATER AT THE HEREFORD UNED GAME BACK 2008 – GRAHAM TURNER WAS HERE. THE CLUB DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WH SO THEY DONATED TO THE FOOTBALL MM.”FRED DAVI WH ONE OF HIS RACLALASDAIR ADD: “FRED RETIRED OM RETRIEVG FOOTBALLS AND SHORTLY AFTER, HE PASSED AWAY. THE RACLE WAS LEFT TO THE FAY AND TIM’S SISTER WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE .“TIM AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR YEARS AND WE HAVE BEEN G TO THE OLD MEADOW AND THE NEW MEADOW EVER SCE. WE FELT WAS IMPORTANT TO KEEP SOME OF SHREWSBURY TOWN’S HISTORY.”THE PAIR ALSO THANKED TOWN’S MERCIAL MANAGER ANDY TRETTON FOR BRGG THE RACLE HOME AND ARE PLEASED A PART OF TOWN’S HISTORY IS NOW ON DISPLAY FOR ALL TO ENJOY.“WE HAD A SMALL NVERSATN WH ANDY AND JT ASKED WHERE THE RACLE WAS,” SAID ALASDAIR. “WE HAVE TO THANK HIM HUGELY FOR HIS NTRIBUTN RCUG OM RELATIVE OBSCURY. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE CLUB AND ANDY."TIM AND I ARE VERY PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WH THIS B OF HISTORY AND THANK THE CLUB VERY MUCH FOR PUTTG THIS B OF HISTORY TOGETHER.“WE THOUGHT WAS A GREAT SHAME THAT WAS ELSEWHERE WHOUT CLUB NNECTN. IT’S A PART OF THE CLUB’S HISTORY, SO ’S NICE TO HAVE HERE BACK HOME.”THE CLUB ALSO HAS ANOTHER RACLE, WHICH WAS NEVER ED TO RETRIEVE BALLS OM THE RIVER. MR DAVI BUILT THE RACLE WHEN HE WAS MONSTRATG RACLE BUILDG AT ACTON STT HISTORIC WORKG FARM 1992.SHREWSBURYLOL HUBSNEWSSHREWSBURY TOWN FCFOOTBALLSPORTBY LUCY TODMAN@SHROPTODSENR REPORTER FOR THE SHROPSHIRE STAR AND SHREWSBURY CHRONICLE BASED SHREWSBURY.MOST READ
• HO BUILT ON FORMER GAY MEADOW GROUND HAVE APPEAL FOR SHREWSBURY TOWN FANSA NEW HOG SCHEME IS TAKG SHAPE ON LAND WHICH ED TO BE SHREWSBURY TOWN FC'S HOME GROUND OF GAY MEADOW.BIRMGHAMPOSTBOOKMARKSHAREENOMIC DEVELOPMENTBYBSLIVE09:09, 24 FEB 2012UPDATED21:13, 30 MAY 2013BOOKMARKSIGN UP TO FREE EMAIL ALERTS OM BSLIVE - NATNAL - OUR ROUND-UP OF THE HEADL THAT MATTER EVERY MORNGMORE NEWSLETTERS SUBSCRIBEINVALID EMAILSOMETHG WENT WRONG, PLEASE TRY AGA LATER.MORE NEWSLETTERSWE E YOUR SIGN-UP TO PROVI NTENT WAYS YOU’VE NSENTED TO AND IMPROVE OUR UNRSTANDG OF YOU. THIS MAY CLU ADVERTS OM AND THIRD PARTI BASED ON OUR KNOWLEDGE OF YOU. MORE THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBG!WE HAVE MORE NEWSLETTERSSHOW ME SEE OURPRIVACY NOTICE SEE OURPRIVACY NOTICE&TIM;GROUP 28 SIGN UP TO FREE EMAIL ALERTS OM BSLIVE - NATNAL - OUR ROUND-UP OF THE HEADL THAT MATTER EVERY MORNGINVALID EMAILSOMETHG WENT WRONG, PLEASE TRY AGA LATER.SIGN UPNO THANKS, CLOSEWE E YOUR SIGN-UP TO PROVI NTENT WAYS YOU’VE NSENTED TO AND IMPROVE OUR UNRSTANDG OF YOU. THIS MAY CLU ADVERTS OM AND THIRD PARTI BASED ON OUR KNOWLEDGE OF YOU. MORE &TIM;GROUP 28THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBG!
• SHROPSHIRE STARHOMENEWSSPORTSERVICENTERTAMENTNOTIFITN SETTGSSUBSCRIBE TO ONE OR ALL NOTIFITN SOURC OM THIS ONE PLACE.NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO GET THE DAY'S TOP STORI SENT DIRECTLY TO YOU.SIGN ME UPSPORTALL SPORT FOOTBALLGRASSROOTSTELFORD TIGERSRUGBYBOWLSCRICKETBOXGGOLFMORE UK & TERNATNAL SPORTSVIRAL SPORTS NEWSSHREWSBURY TOWN FCSHREWSBURY TOWN FCSHREWS VIEWSSQUADFIXTURDAVE EDWARDS: MUD GLOR MUD! HOW I LOVED SHREWSBURY TOWN'S GAY MEADOW THE WETBY LEWIS COXSHREWSBURY TOWN FCPUBLISHED: FEB 22, 2022LAST UPDATED: FEB 22, 2022COMMENTSA SHREWSBURY TOWN HOME GAME OFF FOR A WATERLOGGED PCH – THAT HAD ME THKG BACK!SUBSCRIBE TO OUR DAILY NEWSLETTER!SIGN UPFLOODG AT THE GAY MEADOW BACK 2000.IT GOT ME REMISCG ABOUT GAM OFF AT THE OLD GAY MEADOW AND JT WHAT THAT PCH WAS LIKE BETWEEN NOVEMBER THROUGH UNTIL FEBARY AND MARCH – WAS AWFUL!AND WOULD GET EVEN WORSE AFTER THAT, BEE HARNED UP AND THERE WAS NO GRASS LEFT ON ! AT THE END OF THE SEASON WOULD BE BARE, BOUNCY AND BOBBLY.I ED TO LOVE THE CHRISTMAS PERD TO JANUARY. I LOOK BACK AND WE’D PICK UP ALL OF OUR POTS THAT TIME. YOU’D SEE PLAYERS TURN UP, THEY’D E TO LOOK AT THE PCH – THOSE WHO DIDN’T WANT TO MS UP THEIR TRAERS – AND THEIR HEARTS WOULD SK.WE KNEW THEN WE HAD THEM, THEY DIDN’T WANT TO BE THERE. WE KNEW HOW TO PLAY THAT PCH AND PLAY PERCENTAG. IT WAS A HUGE, MASSIVE ADVANTAGE. WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CUT ADRIFT BEFORE THAT PERD AND THEN BE FORTABLY MID-TABLE, WAS THAT MUCH OF A GAME-CHANGER FOR .I’M PRETTY SURE WE HAD CHTER AT HOME. EVERYONE THOUGHT THE GAME WOULD BE OFF, THE RIVER WAS UP. WE HADN’T HEARD ANYTHG SO WENT ALONG AT 1PM, WALKED DOWN THE TUNNEL AND THERE WAS GARY PETERS WH WHAT I N ONLY EXPLA AS THE WORLD’S BIGGT ROLLER – IMAGE ONE SURFACG AN ACTUAL ROAD – WH A HANDLE AND ATTACHED A HUGE PIECE OF SPONGE.GARY WAS ROLLG UP AND DOWN ON HIS OWN, MARCHG EHER WAY, HE’D GET TO THE END AND REMOVE THIS BIG SPONGE, SQUEEZE ALL OF THE NTENTS OUT, AND START AGA. IT WAS QUE A SIGHT. HE WAS THAT SPERATE TO GET THE GAME ON. I REMEMBER THE OFFICIALS SPECTG THE PCH. HE’D BE RIGHT NEXT TO THEM THE WHOLE TIME SAYG “NO, THAT’S FE” AS THEY’RE SQUELCHG THE MUD.WE WON THAT DAY, OBVLY, AND THE OPPOSN WEREN’T HAPPY ABOUT .I EVEN REMEMBER EXPERIENC AS A KID, YOU SEE THE RIVER E UP AND YOU’D WANT TO GO TO THE GROUND TO SEE HOW BAD WAS.IN MY YTS DAYS WE’D BE ON DUTY STACKG SANDBAGS TO KEEP THE DRSG ROOMS CLEAR.THERE WAS NOTHG BETTER THAN G OFF THAT PCH WH A W VERED HEAD TO TOE GAY MEADOW MUD. I ED TO ABSOLUTELY LOVE , WAS BRILLIANT. A DIFFERENT TYPE OF FOOTBALL TO NOW, BUT FANS STILL ENJOYED A TEAR-UP WTER.THERE WERE OTHER BAD PCH AND STADIUMS, DON’T GET ME WRONG, BUT FOR HOW SOFT AND MUDDY WAS THAT TIME OF YEAR, OUR PLACE WAS FORTABLY THE WORST. YOU’D NEED THE LONGT POSSIBLE STUDS, GARY PETERS WOULDN’T HAVE OTHERWISE.THERE WERE PATCH YOU WOULD SK THE MUD – AND I KNOW WAS EVEN WORSE IF YOU GO BACK ANOTHER GENERATN TO THE 70S AND 80S.ANY NEW SIGNGS WE HAD WOULD BE PREPARED FOR . BACK AT THE OLD SUNDORNE TRAG BASE WE’D BE SHUT OUT OF THERE OM OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER BEE THAT WAS WATERLOGGED, SO WE’D BE TRAG DOORS AT SCAT OR WHEREVER.IT WAS STRANGE BEE THE WORST GAM FOR ME PERSONALLY WERE AT THE END OF THE SEASON BEE THE GRASS ULDN’T REVER AS ALL DRIED OUT AND WAS SO HARD!THERE ARE THE CLASSIC PICTUR OF WHEN WOULD ACTUALLY PROPERLY FLOOD, THE GROUNDSMAN AND OTHERS THE RACLE. IT’D E OM THE FAR LEFT RNER AS YOU WALK OUT THE TUNNEL AND ’D CREEP ACROSS THE PCH. IT WAS MENTAL. THERE’D BE A LOT OF GAM OFF – BUT IF THERE WAS ANY CHANCE OF GETTG THEM ON, THEN THEY’D BE ON.ANYWAY, FOCG BACK ON THE HERE AND NOW – ’S A REALLY CCIAL PART OF THE SEASON FOR ALL TEAMS. THIS IS THE TIME WHEN YOU GA MOMENTUM OR SLI THE OTHER WAY.THERE’S EVERYTHG TO PLAY FOR, NO TEAM THE LEAGUE THAT HASN’T REALLY GOT ANYTHG ON THE LE.PORTSMOUTH VIS THE MEADOW TOMORROW AND THEY ARE VERY MUCH THAT TEGORY. I THK THEY’LL BE DISAPPOTED WH THEIR SEASON, BIG THGS WERE EXPECTED, BUT THEY’VE PICKED UP A UPLE OF WS.THEY’RE 11 POTS OUTSI THE PLAY-OFFS BUT WH A LOT OF GAM HAND. THEY WILL KNOW THEY NEED TO EXTEND THIS N AND ARRIVE TONIGHT KNOWG THEY HAVE A RIGHT CHANCE OF PUTTG SOMETHG TOGETHER.I REMEMBER LAST YEAR BEHD CLOSED DOORS, THEY PLAYED OFF THE PARK TO LEAD 2-0 AT HALF-TIME AND WERE VERY IMPRSIVE. THEY STILL HAVE A TOP SQUAD FULL OF QUALY. IT’S TOUGH, BUT TOWN N PICK UP BIG RULTS WHEN THEY NEED TO, HOPEFULLY THEY N GET A GOAL AND TAKE THE GAME TO POMPEY TO GET BACK TO WNG WAYS.SHREWSBURY TOWN FCFOOTBALLSPORTBY LEWIS COXMULTI-MEDIA SPORTS JOURNALISTWT BROMWICH ALBN CORRPONNTMOST READ
• SHROPSHIRE STARHOMENEWSSPORTSERVICENTERTAMENTNOTIFITN SETTGSSUBSCRIBE TO ONE OR ALL NOTIFITN SOURC OM THIS ONE PLACE.NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO GET THE DAY'S TOP STORI SENT DIRECTLY TO YOU.SIGN ME UPSPORTALL SPORT FOOTBALLGRASSROOTSTELFORD TIGERSRUGBYBOWLSCRICKETBOXGGOLFMORE UK & TERNATNAL SPORTSVIRAL SPORTS NEWSSHREWSBURY TOWN FCSHREWSBURY TOWN FCSHREWS VIEWSSQUADFIXTURTEN YEARS ON OM THE GAY MEADOWBY JOE EDWARDSSHREWSBURY TOWN FCPUBLISHED: MAY 15, 2017COMMENTSTHE HOME OF SHREWSBURY TOWN FOR 97 YEARS – GAY MEADOW HOSTED S FAL EVER ENUNTER A AGO.SUBSCRIBE TO OUR DAILY NEWSLETTER!SIGN UPTHE FAL GAME AT THE GAY MEADOWIT WAS THE FIRST LEG OF A LEAGUE TWO PLAY-OFF SEMI-FAL AS GARY PETERS’ CHARG WENT UP AGAST MILTON KEYN DONS – TWO CLUBS VERY MUCH AT DIFFERENT POTS, SALOP ENDG A BIG CHAPTER THEIR HISTORY AND MK ONLY THREE YEARS TO THEIR NTROVERSIAL EXISTENCE.AND AS IF FOR OLD TIM’ SAKE, THE BALL SAILED OVER THE STAND AND LAND THE RIVER SEVERN AT ONE POT.THE GAME SELF WAS NOT A CLASSIC – NO GOALS AT EHER END – BUT PROVID TOWN WH A STABLE FOOTG ENTERG THE SEND LEG, WHICH THEY WON 2-1 AS SHREWSBURY-BORN ANDY COOKE SRED TWICE, EHER SI OF A KEH ANDREWS STRIKE FOR MK, TO SET UP A BIG DAY OUT AT WEMBLEY AGAST BRISTOL ROVERS.WNG THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE PERFECT WAY TO MARK THE END OF AN ERA AT THE MEADOW, BUT DID NOT TURN OUT THAT WAY AS, SPE SHREWSBURY TAKG THE LEAD THROUGH STUART DMMOND, THE PIRAT RAN OUT 3-1 VICTORS.BEG JT OUTSI OF THE TOWN CENTRE, ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER SEVERN, THE GAY MEADOW PCH OFTEN FLOOD, LEADG TO QUE A FEW GAM OVER THE YEARS BEG POSTPONED.AND DUE TO BEG NEAR THE RAILWAY TOO, THERE WAS PRETTY MUCH NO ROOM FOR EXPANSN OR RENOVATN.HAVG WNSED THAT FAMO FA CUP THIRD ROUND W OVER EVERTON 2003, A N TO THE LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FAL 1961, FA CUP QUARTER FALS 1979 AND 1982, AND THIRD AND FOURTH TIERS WS ‘79 AND ‘94 AT THE GAY MEADOW, WAS A HUGE SHAME TO SEE THE STADIUM ABANDONED AND EVENTUALLY MOLISHED. BUT, SPE OPPOSN OM LOLS, THE MOVE TO THE NEW GROUND OTELEY ROAD – A 9,875-SEATER STADIUM WAS THE RIGHT LL.STEVE WELLBELOVED, FORMER SHREWSBURY CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SAID FEBARY 2007: “AT THE MOMENT THE SIZE OF GAY MEADOW LIMS OUR ACTIVY BUT MOVG TO THE NEW GROUND SHOULD GENERATE MORE E WHICH SHOULD ALLOW TO VT MORE THE TEAM. WE NEED TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE MOVE.”SHREWSBURY WERE MOVG WH THE TIM, MAKG SURE THEY STAYED AHEAD, BUT NOT IGNORG THE GLOR TIM AT GAY MEADOW, WHICH WAS REPLACED BY A MAJOR HOG VELOPMENT.FOR THAT FAL GAME AGAST MK DONS, WH JT MUT REMAG THE FANS CHANTED “ONE GAY MEADOW, THERE’S ONLY ONE GAY MEADOW” A FTG TRIBUTE TO THE OLD GROUND.AND AT THE FAL WHISTLE, THE FANS IGNORED THE PLEAS OF TANNOY ANNOUNCER RYAN JERVIS AND CHARGED ON TO THE PCH.AFTER THE PLAY-OFFS AND END TO THE TIME AT GAY MEADOW, PETERS SAID: “ALL OUR YOUNG PLAYERS WILL LEARN SO MUCH OM THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE – LEAVG THE GAY MEADOW, THE MK DONS GAM AND NOW WEMBLEY. THIS IS A BIG STEP FORWARD FOR THE CLUB.”SHREWSBURY TOWN FCFOOTBALLSPORTBY JOE EDWARDSMULTI-MEDIA SPORTS JOURNALISTWALSALL FC RRPONNT FOR THE EXPRS & STAR.MOST READ
• GOODBYE GAY MEADOW
• GAY MEADOW SHREWSBURY STOCK PHOTOS AND IMAG
• FOTTEN GROUNDS: GAY MEADOW, SHREWSBURY
• SHROPSHIRE STARHOMENEWSSPORTSERVICENTERTAMENTNOTIFITN SETTGSSUBSCRIBE TO ONE OR ALL NOTIFITN SOURC OM THIS ONE PLACE.NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO GET THE DAY'S TOP STORI SENT DIRECTLY TO YOU.SIGN ME UPNEWSALL NEWS COST OF LIVGLOL HUBSCRIMEPOLICSHEALTHBSEDUTNVOICUK NEWSENVIRONMENTMORE FEED A FAYFEATURNOSTALGIAPROPERTYTRANSPORTFARMGMOTORSWORLD NEWSDUAL THE A5SPONSORED ARTICLFD NEWS FOR YOUR TOWNEND OF AN ERA AT GAY MEADOW
• CATEGORY:GAY MEADOW
• THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR GROUND: SHREWSBURY TOWN, GAY MEADOW AND THE NEW ONE
• BOOK OF THE WEEK: GOODBYE GAY MEADOW, BY MATTHEW ASHTON ( ASSOCIATN WH SHREWSBURY TOWN FC, £24.99)
• FA CUP MAGIC: WHEN SHREWSBURY UPSET EVERTON DOWN THE GAY MEADOW

GAY MEADOW

The orig of the name, The Gay Meadow, is not entirely clear, although is wily believed to be related to s e for entertament purpos, for fairs, rnivals and circ. There is reference to The Gaye, an orchard area setback om the river providg plums, appl, cherri and pears for the abbey. Wh The Shropshire archiv you n see an etchg of Kg Charl I addrsg the loyal Shrewsbury gentry at The Gay Meadow.

CadmanIn 1740, stuntman Robert Cadman, a 'steeple-flyer', attempted to 'fly' across the River Severn g a rope attached to St Mary's Church steeple and attached to a tree across the river at the Gay Meadow, some two hundred feet below. Shrewsbury Town Football ClubThe Gay Meadow was home to Shrewsbury Town Football Club (STFC) om 1910 -2007. The end of The Gay MeadowThe fal season for STFC at Gay Meadow was moln of the stadium began September 2007.

Mary's area of the town centre, over the River Severn to land on the Gay Meadow pch, emulatg Robert Cadman's heroic attempt 1740. In addn, sectns of the Gay Meadow turf were sold for a small fee for Severn Hospice, the anisg chary. The Riversi Meadow 2007 The Gay Meadow beme The Riversi Meadow for a short time before beg renamed The Old Meadow.

GAY MEADOW, SHREWSBURY TOWN – 1910-2007

A different era and a different way of life - but was the same old problems facg Shrewsbury Town then as was Town's first season at Gay Meadow and thgs had been gog well. Agast such a backdrop, they were not unhappy to be movg, wh most at the club believg then - as today - that change was need if the club was to move Gay Meadow se was always a favoured optn, officials believg the more central lotn would help them to attract a better al was done and Town moved for the start of the next season.

SHROPSHIRE STARHOMENEWSSPORTSERVICENTERTAMENTNOTIFITN SETTGSSUBSCRIBE TO ONE OR ALL NOTIFITN SOURC OM THIS ONE PLACE.NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO GET THE DAY'S TOP STORI SENT DIRECTLY TO YOU.SIGN ME UPNEWSALL NEWS COST OF LIVGLOL HUBSCRIMEPOLICSHEALTHBSEDUTNVOICUK NEWSENVIRONMENTMORE FEED A FAYFEATURNOSTALGIAPROPERTYTRANSPORTFARMGMOTORSWORLD NEWSDUAL THE A5SPONSORED ARTICLFD NEWS FOR YOUR TOWNSHREWSBURYSHREWSBURYBAYSTON HILLHARLTTMEOLE BRACEMSTERLEYPONTBURYSTIPERSTONFRED’S GAY MEADOW RACLE FDS S WAY BACK HOME TO SHREWSBURY TOWN BY LUCY TODMANSHREWSBURYPUBLISHED: JAN 16, 2020COMMENTSSHREWSBURY TOWN’S RINT RACLE WAS AS MUCH A PART OF GAY MEADOW MATCHDAYS AS HOT PI AND BOVRIL. AND NOW THE TRADNAL BOAT ED TO LLECT STRAY FOOTBALLS OM THE RIVER SEVERN HAS RETURNED HOME.SUBSCRIBE TO OUR DAILY NEWSLETTER!SIGN UPTHE RACL ACTN ON THE RIVER SEVERNSHREWSBURY TOWN MERCIAL MANAGER ANDREW TRETTON WH THE FAMO RACLE, NOW BACK AT THE CLUBFRED DAVI WH ONE OF HIS RACLFOR MANY YEARS FRED DAVI AND HIS FAY RETRIEVED FOOTBALLS G RACL.THEY BEME FAMO THROUGHOUT THE FOOTBALLG WORLD AND ONE OF THEIR CRAFT EVENTUALLY END UP THE NATNAL FOOTBALL MM MANCHTER.NOW, AS THE MM UNRGO A REANISATN, THE RACLE HAS BEEN EMED SURPL TO REQUIREMENTS AND HAS BEEN RETURNED TO S HOME TOWN.IT HAS NOW TAKEN PRI OF PLACE ON DISPLAY THE RNER OF SHREWSBURY TOWN'S SOVEREIGN SUE AT S NEW GROUND, THE MONTGOMERY WATERS MEADOW. IT MEANS N BE ADMIRED BY THOANDS OF TOWN FANS EVERY WEEK – CLUDG THOSE WHO ATTEND THE CLUB’S FA CUP VICTORY THIS WEEK.SHREWSBURY TOWN MERCIAL MANAGER ANDREW TRETTON WH THE FAMO RACLE, NOW BACK AT THE CLUBFOR MANY YEARS, FRED DAVI WOULD LNCH HIS RACLE TO THE RIVER SEVERN TO RETRIEVE FOOTBALLS KICKED OVER THE STANDS AT TOWN’S OLD STADIUM GAY MEADOW.THOUGHT TO BE OVER 100 YEARS OLD AND KDLY DONATED TO THE CLUB BY TIM BEARD AND ALASDAIR WILSON 2008, THE PAIR RETURNED TO SEE THE RACLE BACK SHROPSHIRE.“IT ALL STARTED BEE MY SISTER WAS NNG A CHARY EVENT AT ATTGHAM PARK AND SHE OBTAED THE RACLE OM FRED DAVI’S WIDOW," SAID TIM. “SHE PUT UP AS AN CTN PRIZE AND WE PURCHASED .“WE THEN GAVE BACK TO THE CLUB A FEW YEARS LATER AT THE HEREFORD UNED GAME BACK 2008 – GRAHAM TURNER WAS HERE. THE CLUB DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WH SO THEY DONATED TO THE FOOTBALL MM.”FRED DAVI WH ONE OF HIS RACLALASDAIR ADD: “FRED RETIRED OM RETRIEVG FOOTBALLS AND SHORTLY AFTER, HE PASSED AWAY. THE RACLE WAS LEFT TO THE FAY AND TIM’S SISTER WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE .“TIM AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR YEARS AND WE HAVE BEEN G TO THE OLD MEADOW AND THE NEW MEADOW EVER SCE. WE FELT WAS IMPORTANT TO KEEP SOME OF SHREWSBURY TOWN’S HISTORY.”THE PAIR ALSO THANKED TOWN’S MERCIAL MANAGER ANDY TRETTON FOR BRGG THE RACLE HOME AND ARE PLEASED A PART OF TOWN’S HISTORY IS NOW ON DISPLAY FOR ALL TO ENJOY.“WE HAD A SMALL NVERSATN WH ANDY AND JT ASKED WHERE THE RACLE WAS,” SAID ALASDAIR. “WE HAVE TO THANK HIM HUGELY FOR HIS NTRIBUTN RCUG OM RELATIVE OBSCURY. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE CLUB AND ANDY."TIM AND I ARE VERY PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WH THIS B OF HISTORY AND THANK THE CLUB VERY MUCH FOR PUTTG THIS B OF HISTORY TOGETHER.“WE THOUGHT WAS A GREAT SHAME THAT WAS ELSEWHERE WHOUT CLUB NNECTN. IT’S A PART OF THE CLUB’S HISTORY, SO ’S NICE TO HAVE HERE BACK HOME.”THE CLUB ALSO HAS ANOTHER RACLE, WHICH WAS NEVER ED TO RETRIEVE BALLS OM THE RIVER. MR DAVI BUILT THE RACLE WHEN HE WAS MONSTRATG RACLE BUILDG AT ACTON STT HISTORIC WORKG FARM 1992.SHREWSBURYLOL HUBSNEWSSHREWSBURY TOWN FCFOOTBALLSPORTBY LUCY TODMAN@SHROPTODSENR REPORTER FOR THE SHROPSHIRE STAR AND SHREWSBURY CHRONICLE BASED SHREWSBURY.MOST READ

Nety-seven years of history had origs of the name of Gay Meadow are not clear, though may be related to prev of the land as a se for var early as Febary 1740, a young man by the name of Robert Cadman had attempted to cross over the River Severn on a rope tied to St Mary's Church on one si, and tree at Gay Meadow on the was a brave unrtakg but, ultimately, a foolish one.

The rope broke and Cadman fell to his horrifyg 150 years later, Sangers Circ beme regular visors, pchg up Shrewsbury on an annual basis and g Gay Meadow as their after Town had taken occupatn, the se was still ed for purpos other than football. A team of Canadian officers was beaten by a si reprentg the Amerin Aero Squadron on September 21 1918 a match staged to raise funds for the Brish YMCA Hut, 24 years later on October 101942, a large crowd was on hand to watch a match between two sis thought to have been om the nearby Amerin Army Air Base at Atcham, playg unr the nam of the Yankee All Stars and the Flyg 's tenure of the se was ially on a one-year trial basis, and club officials were reluctant to throw too much money at the project until anythg more permanent had been agreed and set pch was rolled, but simple changg rooms were the only buildgs on the Meadow at first as the club prepared for their first historic first match on Augt 20 1910 was not a grand affair, but rather a practise match between the 'Reds' and the 'Wh', wh what newspaper reports of the time refereed to as "1, 000 enthiasts" watchg Wh won the game 1-0, wh Billy Srratt - one of Shrewsbury's early stars - turng to his own off a Frank Jon first petive match at the new ground me the followg month on September 10, though was not the happit of begngs as Wolverhampton Wanrers Rerv went home wh a 2-1 least Srratt had somethg to celebrate - he ted at the right end this time to bee the first Town player to sre at Gay Meadow.

He returned 1930, and returned to Wellgton before dyg 1958, aged secured long-term posssn of Gay Meadow, Town slowly ma addns to improve as a football ground, though the first major work did not get unr way until 1922 - wh the erectn of a new morn standards was a simple affair, but did signal the growg ambns of a club who felt they had a prospero future ont of work certaly drew praise om supporters and media, the Shrewsbury Chronicle clarg: "The club are to be ngratulated on their enterprise, for the stand is a handsome stcture and would do cred to almost any of the leadg clubs the untry. 15pm kick-off fishg unr artificial this time, Arthur Rowley had taken the res at the Meadow and the club was chargg forwards on and off the 's team attracted much tert thanks to the goalsrg prows of the lik of Col Whaker, Alf Wood and Rowley of people wanted to watch this team, and Gay Meadow was now big enough to hoe them wh May 1959, Exeter Cy were beaten 3-0, Rowley tg a hat-trick a season's bt attendance of 15, 318 as Town won their last five gam (srg 17 goals the procs) to fish fourth divisn four and w followg season they exceed 10, 000 four tim - the bt beg the 14, 614 that saw the 2-0 feat at home to Bury on Boxg followg year, 1960/61, they did six tim - cludg four cup real drama was the League Cup, where Town's n to the semi-fals clud a 2-1 quarter-fal victory over Everton ont of 15, the semi wh Rotherham, they lost the first leg 3-2 and a new rerd of 16, 722 turned out for the send leg to see if they uld turn around. It is a rerd that stands to this day and will never be beaten unls the New Meadow swells size the distant guil have seen the pacy of Gay Meadow rced over the years, and the latg sts of nng a Football League team has led to the ia of a move beg mooted several tim over the last two s or the grand old lady succsfully hosted football at old send divisn (now Champnship) level for 10 years through the 1980s and ntu to be a favoure for visg supporters bee of s charm and days always looked numbered though, om the moment Scunthorpe (them aga) moved to Glanford Park were the first League club to relote the 20th century, but the succs of the move led to a wave of clubs followg their found difficulti intifyg a new sight and negotiatg the mefield of lol uncil the arrival of Roland Wycherley as chairman 1996 saw a new termatn to take the club forward to a bright new era.

HO BUILT ON FORMER GAY MEADOW GROUND HAVE APPEAL FOR SHREWSBURY TOWN FANSA NEW HOG SCHEME IS TAKG SHAPE ON LAND WHICH ED TO BE SHREWSBURY TOWN FC'S HOME GROUND OF GAY MEADOW.BIRMGHAMPOSTBOOKMARKSHAREENOMIC DEVELOPMENTBYBSLIVE09:09, 24 FEB 2012UPDATED21:13, 30 MAY 2013BOOKMARKSIGN UP TO FREE EMAIL ALERTS OM BSLIVE - NATNAL - OUR ROUND-UP OF THE HEADL THAT MATTER EVERY MORNGMORE NEWSLETTERS SUBSCRIBEINVALID EMAILSOMETHG WENT WRONG, PLEASE TRY AGA LATER.MORE NEWSLETTERSWE E YOUR SIGN-UP TO PROVI NTENT WAYS YOU’VE NSENTED TO AND IMPROVE OUR UNRSTANDG OF YOU. THIS MAY CLU ADVERTS OM AND THIRD PARTI BASED ON OUR KNOWLEDGE OF YOU. MORE THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBG!WE HAVE MORE NEWSLETTERSSHOW ME SEE OURPRIVACY NOTICE SEE OURPRIVACY NOTICE&TIM;GROUP 28 SIGN UP TO FREE EMAIL ALERTS OM BSLIVE - NATNAL - OUR ROUND-UP OF THE HEADL THAT MATTER EVERY MORNGINVALID EMAILSOMETHG WENT WRONG, PLEASE TRY AGA LATER.SIGN UPNO THANKS, CLOSEWE E YOUR SIGN-UP TO PROVI NTENT WAYS YOU’VE NSENTED TO AND IMPROVE OUR UNRSTANDG OF YOU. THIS MAY CLU ADVERTS OM AND THIRD PARTI BASED ON OUR KNOWLEDGE OF YOU. MORE &TIM;GROUP 28THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBG!

4% of our ers have been here)Other viss286Capacy8, 000 (5, 000 standg)Rerd attendance18, 917 Shrewsbury Town v Walsall 26th April 1961First game Shrewsbury Town 1-2 Wolverhampton Wanrers 10th September 1910Last game Shrewsbury Town 0-0 Milton Keyn Dons 14th May 2007Gay Meadow Average RatgsThe are the average ratgs for Gay Meadow as submted by our registered RatgAverage RatgOverall0. Make your voice heard, click here to wre your own Meadow FactsNobody has add any facts about Gay an tertg fact about Gay Meadow?

SHROPSHIRE STARHOMENEWSSPORTSERVICENTERTAMENTNOTIFITN SETTGSSUBSCRIBE TO ONE OR ALL NOTIFITN SOURC OM THIS ONE PLACE.NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO GET THE DAY'S TOP STORI SENT DIRECTLY TO YOU.SIGN ME UPSPORTALL SPORT FOOTBALLGRASSROOTSTELFORD TIGERSRUGBYBOWLSCRICKETBOXGGOLFMORE UK & TERNATNAL SPORTSVIRAL SPORTS NEWSSHREWSBURY TOWN FCSHREWSBURY TOWN FCSHREWS VIEWSSQUADFIXTURDAVE EDWARDS: MUD GLOR MUD! HOW I LOVED SHREWSBURY TOWN'S GAY MEADOW THE WETBY LEWIS COXSHREWSBURY TOWN FCPUBLISHED: FEB 22, 2022LAST UPDATED: FEB 22, 2022COMMENTSA SHREWSBURY TOWN HOME GAME OFF FOR A WATERLOGGED PCH – THAT HAD ME THKG BACK!SUBSCRIBE TO OUR DAILY NEWSLETTER!SIGN UPFLOODG AT THE GAY MEADOW BACK 2000.IT GOT ME REMISCG ABOUT GAM OFF AT THE OLD GAY MEADOW AND JT WHAT THAT PCH WAS LIKE BETWEEN NOVEMBER THROUGH UNTIL FEBARY AND MARCH – WAS AWFUL!AND WOULD GET EVEN WORSE AFTER THAT, BEE HARNED UP AND THERE WAS NO GRASS LEFT ON ! AT THE END OF THE SEASON WOULD BE BARE, BOUNCY AND BOBBLY.I ED TO LOVE THE CHRISTMAS PERD TO JANUARY. I LOOK BACK AND WE’D PICK UP ALL OF OUR POTS THAT TIME. YOU’D SEE PLAYERS TURN UP, THEY’D E TO LOOK AT THE PCH – THOSE WHO DIDN’T WANT TO MS UP THEIR TRAERS – AND THEIR HEARTS WOULD SK.WE KNEW THEN WE HAD THEM, THEY DIDN’T WANT TO BE THERE. WE KNEW HOW TO PLAY THAT PCH AND PLAY PERCENTAG. IT WAS A HUGE, MASSIVE ADVANTAGE. WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CUT ADRIFT BEFORE THAT PERD AND THEN BE FORTABLY MID-TABLE, WAS THAT MUCH OF A GAME-CHANGER FOR .I’M PRETTY SURE WE HAD CHTER AT HOME. EVERYONE THOUGHT THE GAME WOULD BE OFF, THE RIVER WAS UP. WE HADN’T HEARD ANYTHG SO WENT ALONG AT 1PM, WALKED DOWN THE TUNNEL AND THERE WAS GARY PETERS WH WHAT I N ONLY EXPLA AS THE WORLD’S BIGGT ROLLER – IMAGE ONE SURFACG AN ACTUAL ROAD – WH A HANDLE AND ATTACHED A HUGE PIECE OF SPONGE.GARY WAS ROLLG UP AND DOWN ON HIS OWN, MARCHG EHER WAY, HE’D GET TO THE END AND REMOVE THIS BIG SPONGE, SQUEEZE ALL OF THE NTENTS OUT, AND START AGA. IT WAS QUE A SIGHT. HE WAS THAT SPERATE TO GET THE GAME ON. I REMEMBER THE OFFICIALS SPECTG THE PCH. HE’D BE RIGHT NEXT TO THEM THE WHOLE TIME SAYG “NO, THAT’S FE” AS THEY’RE SQUELCHG THE MUD.WE WON THAT DAY, OBVLY, AND THE OPPOSN WEREN’T HAPPY ABOUT .I EVEN REMEMBER EXPERIENC AS A KID, YOU SEE THE RIVER E UP AND YOU’D WANT TO GO TO THE GROUND TO SEE HOW BAD WAS.IN MY YTS DAYS WE’D BE ON DUTY STACKG SANDBAGS TO KEEP THE DRSG ROOMS CLEAR.THERE WAS NOTHG BETTER THAN G OFF THAT PCH WH A W VERED HEAD TO TOE GAY MEADOW MUD. I ED TO ABSOLUTELY LOVE , WAS BRILLIANT. A DIFFERENT TYPE OF FOOTBALL TO NOW, BUT FANS STILL ENJOYED A TEAR-UP WTER.THERE WERE OTHER BAD PCH AND STADIUMS, DON’T GET ME WRONG, BUT FOR HOW SOFT AND MUDDY WAS THAT TIME OF YEAR, OUR PLACE WAS FORTABLY THE WORST. YOU’D NEED THE LONGT POSSIBLE STUDS, GARY PETERS WOULDN’T HAVE OTHERWISE.THERE WERE PATCH YOU WOULD SK THE MUD – AND I KNOW WAS EVEN WORSE IF YOU GO BACK ANOTHER GENERATN TO THE 70S AND 80S.ANY NEW SIGNGS WE HAD WOULD BE PREPARED FOR . BACK AT THE OLD SUNDORNE TRAG BASE WE’D BE SHUT OUT OF THERE OM OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER BEE THAT WAS WATERLOGGED, SO WE’D BE TRAG DOORS AT SCAT OR WHEREVER.IT WAS STRANGE BEE THE WORST GAM FOR ME PERSONALLY WERE AT THE END OF THE SEASON BEE THE GRASS ULDN’T REVER AS ALL DRIED OUT AND WAS SO HARD!THERE ARE THE CLASSIC PICTUR OF WHEN WOULD ACTUALLY PROPERLY FLOOD, THE GROUNDSMAN AND OTHERS THE RACLE. IT’D E OM THE FAR LEFT RNER AS YOU WALK OUT THE TUNNEL AND ’D CREEP ACROSS THE PCH. IT WAS MENTAL. THERE’D BE A LOT OF GAM OFF – BUT IF THERE WAS ANY CHANCE OF GETTG THEM ON, THEN THEY’D BE ON.ANYWAY, FOCG BACK ON THE HERE AND NOW – ’S A REALLY CCIAL PART OF THE SEASON FOR ALL TEAMS. THIS IS THE TIME WHEN YOU GA MOMENTUM OR SLI THE OTHER WAY.THERE’S EVERYTHG TO PLAY FOR, NO TEAM THE LEAGUE THAT HASN’T REALLY GOT ANYTHG ON THE LE.PORTSMOUTH VIS THE MEADOW TOMORROW AND THEY ARE VERY MUCH THAT TEGORY. I THK THEY’LL BE DISAPPOTED WH THEIR SEASON, BIG THGS WERE EXPECTED, BUT THEY’VE PICKED UP A UPLE OF WS.THEY’RE 11 POTS OUTSI THE PLAY-OFFS BUT WH A LOT OF GAM HAND. THEY WILL KNOW THEY NEED TO EXTEND THIS N AND ARRIVE TONIGHT KNOWG THEY HAVE A RIGHT CHANCE OF PUTTG SOMETHG TOGETHER.I REMEMBER LAST YEAR BEHD CLOSED DOORS, THEY PLAYED OFF THE PARK TO LEAD 2-0 AT HALF-TIME AND WERE VERY IMPRSIVE. THEY STILL HAVE A TOP SQUAD FULL OF QUALY. IT’S TOUGH, BUT TOWN N PICK UP BIG RULTS WHEN THEY NEED TO, HOPEFULLY THEY N GET A GOAL AND TAKE THE GAME TO POMPEY TO GET BACK TO WNG WAYS.SHREWSBURY TOWN FCFOOTBALLSPORTBY LEWIS COXMULTI-MEDIA SPORTS JOURNALISTWT BROMWICH ALBN CORRPONNTMOST READ

Gay Meadow, Meadow was the home of Shrewsbury Town for 97 stadium was squashed between a railway le and the River Severn a very scenic settg. Fred ma racl, which were ltle round boats ma of wickerwork, and he loved to show off his work by retrievg footballs om the River Severn, which lay behd the Riversi rerd attendance at Gay Meadow occurred on 26th April 1961.

SHROPSHIRE STARHOMENEWSSPORTSERVICENTERTAMENTNOTIFITN SETTGSSUBSCRIBE TO ONE OR ALL NOTIFITN SOURC OM THIS ONE PLACE.NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO GET THE DAY'S TOP STORI SENT DIRECTLY TO YOU.SIGN ME UPSPORTALL SPORT FOOTBALLGRASSROOTSTELFORD TIGERSRUGBYBOWLSCRICKETBOXGGOLFMORE UK & TERNATNAL SPORTSVIRAL SPORTS NEWSSHREWSBURY TOWN FCSHREWSBURY TOWN FCSHREWS VIEWSSQUADFIXTURTEN YEARS ON OM THE GAY MEADOWBY JOE EDWARDSSHREWSBURY TOWN FCPUBLISHED: MAY 15, 2017COMMENTSTHE HOME OF SHREWSBURY TOWN FOR 97 YEARS – GAY MEADOW HOSTED S FAL EVER ENUNTER A AGO.SUBSCRIBE TO OUR DAILY NEWSLETTER!SIGN UPTHE FAL GAME AT THE GAY MEADOWIT WAS THE FIRST LEG OF A LEAGUE TWO PLAY-OFF SEMI-FAL AS GARY PETERS’ CHARG WENT UP AGAST MILTON KEYN DONS – TWO CLUBS VERY MUCH AT DIFFERENT POTS, SALOP ENDG A BIG CHAPTER THEIR HISTORY AND MK ONLY THREE YEARS TO THEIR NTROVERSIAL EXISTENCE.AND AS IF FOR OLD TIM’ SAKE, THE BALL SAILED OVER THE STAND AND LAND THE RIVER SEVERN AT ONE POT.THE GAME SELF WAS NOT A CLASSIC – NO GOALS AT EHER END – BUT PROVID TOWN WH A STABLE FOOTG ENTERG THE SEND LEG, WHICH THEY WON 2-1 AS SHREWSBURY-BORN ANDY COOKE SRED TWICE, EHER SI OF A KEH ANDREWS STRIKE FOR MK, TO SET UP A BIG DAY OUT AT WEMBLEY AGAST BRISTOL ROVERS.WNG THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE PERFECT WAY TO MARK THE END OF AN ERA AT THE MEADOW, BUT DID NOT TURN OUT THAT WAY AS, SPE SHREWSBURY TAKG THE LEAD THROUGH STUART DMMOND, THE PIRAT RAN OUT 3-1 VICTORS.BEG JT OUTSI OF THE TOWN CENTRE, ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER SEVERN, THE GAY MEADOW PCH OFTEN FLOOD, LEADG TO QUE A FEW GAM OVER THE YEARS BEG POSTPONED.AND DUE TO BEG NEAR THE RAILWAY TOO, THERE WAS PRETTY MUCH NO ROOM FOR EXPANSN OR RENOVATN.HAVG WNSED THAT FAMO FA CUP THIRD ROUND W OVER EVERTON 2003, A N TO THE LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FAL 1961, FA CUP QUARTER FALS 1979 AND 1982, AND THIRD AND FOURTH TIERS WS ‘79 AND ‘94 AT THE GAY MEADOW, WAS A HUGE SHAME TO SEE THE STADIUM ABANDONED AND EVENTUALLY MOLISHED. BUT, SPE OPPOSN OM LOLS, THE MOVE TO THE NEW GROUND OTELEY ROAD – A 9,875-SEATER STADIUM WAS THE RIGHT LL.STEVE WELLBELOVED, FORMER SHREWSBURY CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SAID FEBARY 2007: “AT THE MOMENT THE SIZE OF GAY MEADOW LIMS OUR ACTIVY BUT MOVG TO THE NEW GROUND SHOULD GENERATE MORE E WHICH SHOULD ALLOW TO VT MORE THE TEAM. WE NEED TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE MOVE.”SHREWSBURY WERE MOVG WH THE TIM, MAKG SURE THEY STAYED AHEAD, BUT NOT IGNORG THE GLOR TIM AT GAY MEADOW, WHICH WAS REPLACED BY A MAJOR HOG VELOPMENT.FOR THAT FAL GAME AGAST MK DONS, WH JT MUT REMAG THE FANS CHANTED “ONE GAY MEADOW, THERE’S ONLY ONE GAY MEADOW” A FTG TRIBUTE TO THE OLD GROUND.AND AT THE FAL WHISTLE, THE FANS IGNORED THE PLEAS OF TANNOY ANNOUNCER RYAN JERVIS AND CHARGED ON TO THE PCH.AFTER THE PLAY-OFFS AND END TO THE TIME AT GAY MEADOW, PETERS SAID: “ALL OUR YOUNG PLAYERS WILL LEARN SO MUCH OM THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE – LEAVG THE GAY MEADOW, THE MK DONS GAM AND NOW WEMBLEY. THIS IS A BIG STEP FORWARD FOR THE CLUB.”SHREWSBURY TOWN FCFOOTBALLSPORTBY JOE EDWARDSMULTI-MEDIA SPORTS JOURNALISTWALSALL FC RRPONNT FOR THE EXPRS & STAR.MOST READ

Shrewsbury Town mercial manager Andrew Tretton wh the famo racle, now back at the clubFor many years, Fred Davi would lnch his racle to the River Severn to retrieve footballs kicked over the stands at Town’s old stadium Gay Meadow. A new hog scheme is takg shape on land which ed to be Shrewsbury Town FC's home ground of Gay Meadow.

GOODBYE GAY MEADOW

Shrewsbury Town played for almost 100 years at s famo Gay Meadow ground on the banks of the River Severn before movg to a new state-of-the-art stadium on the outskirts of the town 2007. The revelopment of the former Gay Meadow is the latt a le of former football grounds that were molished favour of new stadia wh the s reveloped for hog such as Coventry’s Highfield Road and the Baseball Ground Derby. Floodg at the Gay Meadow back got me remiscg about gam off at the old Gay Meadow and jt what that pch was like between November through until Febary and March – was awful!

I even remember experienc as a kid, you see the river e up and you’d want to go to the ground to see how bad my YTS days we’d be on duty stackg sandbags to keep the drsg rooms was nothg better than g off that pch wh a w vered head to toe Gay Meadow mud.

The home of Shrewsbury Town for 97 years – Gay Meadow hosted s fal ever enunter a fal game at the Gay MeadowIt was the first leg of a League Two play-off semi-fal as Gary Peters’ charg went up agast Milton Keyn Dons – two clubs very much at different pots, Salop endg a big chapter their history and MK only three years to their ntroversial as if for old tim’ sake, the ball sailed over the stand and land the River Severn at one game self was not a classic – no goals at eher end – but provid Town wh a stable footg enterg the send leg, which they won 2-1 as Shrewsbury-born Andy Cooke sred twice, eher si of a Keh Andrews strike for MK, to set up a big day out at Wembley agast Bristol Rovers. Wng there would have been the perfect way to mark the end of an era at the Meadow, but did not turn out that way as, spe Shrewsbury takg the lead through Stuart Dmmond, the Pirat ran out 3-1 jt outsi of the town centre, on the banks of the River Severn, the Gay Meadow pch often flood, leadg to que a few gam over the years beg due to beg near the railway too, there was pretty much no room for expansn or wnsed that famo FA Cup third round w over Everton 2003, a n to the League Cup semi-fal 1961, FA Cup quarter fals 1979 and 1982, and third and fourth tiers ws ‘79 and ‘94 at the Gay Meadow, was a huge shame to see the stadium abandoned and eventually molished. But, spe opposn om lols, the move to the new ground Oteley Road – a 9, 875-seater stadium was the right Wellbeloved, former Shrewsbury chief executive, said Febary 2007: “At the moment the size of Gay Meadow lims our activy but movg to the new ground should generate more e which should allow to vt more the team.

GAY MEADOW SHREWSBURY STOCK PHOTOS AND IMAG

”Shrewsbury were movg wh the tim, makg sure they stayed ahead, but not ignorg the glor tim at Gay Meadow, which was replaced by a major hog that fal game agast MK Dons, wh jt mut remag the fans chanted “One Gay Meadow, there’s only one Gay Meadow” a ftg tribute to the old at the fal whistle, the fans ignored the pleas of tannoy announcer Ryan Jervis and charged on to the the play-offs and end to the time at Gay Meadow, Peters said: “All our young players will learn so much om the whole experience – leavg the Gay Meadow, the MK Dons gam and now Wembley.

FOTTEN GROUNDS: GAY MEADOW, SHREWSBURY

Goodbye Gay Meadow thor Matthew Ashton talks to ESPN 2017 durg the CONCACAF Gold Cup about the book. That is a long story -sce I was about five I always went to Gay Meadow to watch Shrewsbury I was eight I started to go to away gam too.

Shrewsbury Town played Ipswich Town, the UEFA Cup champns, the FA Cup the early 1980s and the televisn meras me to Gay Meadow.

I had photographed Espanyol’s old stadium beg molished and I was very aware that one day soon the Gay Meadow would be no Meadow was unique that spectators had an utterly different view pendg on what si of the ground they watched the game om. We ed to have a guy go and llect the ball when was kicked over the roof of the many people said that Gay Meadow was the most betiful stadium that they had ever been looked amazg the summer beg surround by green tre, Autumn was so lourful and even wter was still nice!

SHROPSHIRE STARHOMENEWSSPORTSERVICENTERTAMENTNOTIFITN SETTGSSUBSCRIBE TO ONE OR ALL NOTIFITN SOURC OM THIS ONE PLACE.NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO GET THE DAY'S TOP STORI SENT DIRECTLY TO YOU.SIGN ME UPNEWSALL NEWS COST OF LIVGLOL HUBSCRIMEPOLICSHEALTHBSEDUTNVOICUK NEWSENVIRONMENTMORE FEED A FAYFEATURNOSTALGIAPROPERTYTRANSPORTFARMGMOTORSWORLD NEWSDUAL THE A5SPONSORED ARTICLFD NEWS FOR YOUR TOWNEND OF AN ERA AT GAY MEADOW

In 1910, after beg told they uld no longer e the army ground the club accepted an offer om Shrewsbury Corporatn to play at a field known as Gay Meadow which had recently bought. The reason for the field beg named Gay Meadow is not clear, wh theori beg was rived om the Welsh word Cae, meang a field, or Old English words galla, barren wet land, or gat, a goat.

After the war further Midland League champnships me 1945 and 1948 which year Gay Meadow staged an amatr ternatnal between England and Wal. The attendance of 11, 019 was to rema the largt ever to see a match at Gay Meadow between the two clubs.

No further ground improvements took place until the mid-1950s when tre lg the road to Gay Meadow, known as The Narrows, were felled to improve accs and the roof on the Riversi Terrace was extend to the north. The Imps’ relegatn after ne seasons Divisn Two rulted their send vis to Gay Meadow mid-April 1962 on their way to a further relegatn.

CATEGORY:GAY MEADOW

In a memorable game agast a si wh the bt fensive rerd the divisn Cy went 2-0 up through wger Dick Krzywick and striker Peter Graham, prerved their lead wh a penalty save by Peter Grotier, then sealed an emphatic w wh late goals om midfielr Dave Smh and Graham’s fellow striker John Ward to rerd their biggt ever w at Gay Meadow.

But after a rerd-breakg 1975/76 season unr Graham Taylor Cy quickly renewed acquatance wh Shrewsbury back the Third Divisn wh a vis to Gay Meadow towards the end of January 1977.

THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR GROUND: SHREWSBURY TOWN, GAY MEADOW AND THE NEW ONE

Both clubs fished the 1976/77 season jt above mid-table so Cy were back at Gay Meadow January 1978. Lln eventually fished well clear of relegatn wh Shrewsbury aga mid-table, but when the two clubs met aga at Gay Meadow the followg September, the Imps had ma an even worse start to the season unr Bell than they had unr his precsor the year before.

A move to a new ground began to be nsired the mid-1980s, when plans were drawn up for a new stadium to the north of the town wh a Sasbury supermarket to be built on the se of Gay Meadow.

Meanwhile, Lln Cy’s next game at Gay Meadow me the group stage of what was then known as the Autoglass Trophy November 1991. Cy were back at Gay Meadow jt over a year later at the begng of March 1994 and after three feats on the ground were back to wng ways wh a 2-1 srele agast a send-placed Shrewsbury si who had gone 16 league match unbeaten. Wh Shrewsbury back the third tier and no further proposals for a new ground, plans were ma to revelop Gay Meadow.

BOOK OF THE WEEK: GOODBYE GAY MEADOW, BY MATTHEW ASHTON ( ASSOCIATN WH SHREWSBURY TOWN FC, £24.99)

However, wh their stay the higher divisn beg the brieft possible the Imps were back at Gay Meadow aga two years later on April Fool’s Day 2000, wh this time a 2-1 victory thanks to another goal om Lee Thorpe and one om Gav Gordon. This would have 10, 000 seats wh spe for expansn to over four tim as many, wh the st of to be met by the sale of Gay Meadow to property velopers.

FA CUP MAGIC: WHEN SHREWSBURY UPSET EVERTON DOWN THE GAY MEADOW

Cy were at Gay Meadow aga October 2000 for their send vis the lendar year wh former assistant Phil Stant now charge of the si.