Shrewsbury Town vs Ipswich Town
Saturday 9th April 2022 – 15:00
New Meadow
Pre-Match Thoughts - Mike
A Fatal Blow.........
Last weekends bitterly disappointing performance and result against Cambridge United saw the final nail in the coffin for this season well and truly hammered home. It was just one of those days where nothing seemed to click anywhere on the pitch, nobody had a particularly good game or stood out, there was little quality in our efforts and to be honest by the close of play we got what we deserved.
The fact it was so poor on a day that required so much more was even more disappointing, we still had a chance, albeit a slim one of sneaking into the top Six, with tougher games to come this was a must win and I think pretty much every Town fan believed we would brush Cambridge aside, if we've learnt anything this season it's that nothing is a given in this division, every win has to be earned the hard way, everyone can beat everyone as has been proven. The top and bottom of it all is that we are almost certainly consigned to at least One more season of Third tier Football.
Of course it's not all doom and gloom, far from it, I think we all accepted that promotion was a very tall order after the poor start to the season and while our performances, results and indeed quality have no doubt improved Ten fold under Kieran McKenna we have still not really closed the gap on those above us and that is down to those teams continuing to win games, the required points total this season is no doubt going to be higher than the norm and as such has made our job even harder. The draws when we deserved wins have come back to bite us hard and our nemesis of struggling to put the ball in the net is ultimately our downfall.
Next season will see us under the leadership of KM from the off, no doubt their will be new faces in certain areas of the team, the strike force will almost certainly be different, McKenna will already have an idea of targets and who he feels he needs to move on, it certainly won't be the mass overhaul of last season, I believe we are Four players away from a title winning team, if we can get those places in the team filled with solid, strong and experienced players I firmly believe we will be laughing.
It is exciting times at Portman Road with many things going on off the pitch and behind the scenes, it is McKenna's job to do the business on the pitch and I am convinced he will. I was convinced about Hurst, I was convinced about Cook and I am even more Convinced about McKenna, a worrying pattern for sure but there is One major difference, the confidence I had in the first Two was prior to seeing what they could do on the pitch for ITFC, KM has convinced me AFTER watching his side perform that he will be the real deal.
Finally its Shrewsbury Town away for us this weekend and already it feels like a bit of a dead rubber, however we need to go out with a bang over these last Five games, again this one is winnable but we need better than last week for sure. Will Kieran McKenna go with his usual suspects or could those hoping for some of the kids to get a chance get their wish ? Personally I think we'll be going with the normal line up again as mathematically we are still not completely dead, where there is hope and all that. It will be a hard fought Town win for me. COYB'S
The Opposition – Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town were formed in 1886, following the demise of first Shropshire Wanderers and later indirectly Castle Blues. The Blues were a rough team, leading to their demise after several games were marred by violence. The new team hoped to be as successful but without the notoriety. Press reports differ as to the date the new club was formed, The Eddowes Shropshire Journal of 26 May 1886 reported the birth of the club at The Lion Hotel, Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury. The Shrewsbury Chronicle reported the club's being formed at the Turf Hotel, Claremont Hill, Shrewsbury. It may be both accounts are true, with a get-together at The Lion being finalised at the Turf.
After friendlies and regional cup competitions for the first few seasons, Shrewsbury were founder members of the Shropshire & District League in 1890–91, later admitted to the Birmingham & District League in 1895–96. Many of the teams Town faced in the early days have vanished, however Shrewsbury met many of today's Football League and Conference teams, including Crewe Alexandra, Coventry City, Stoke City, Kidderminster Harriers and Stafford Rangers.
In 1910, Shrewsbury looked to move to a new ground, having spent early years at locations across the town, notably at Copthorne Barracks west of the town. The club moved to Gay Meadow on the edge of the town centre, within sight of Shrewsbury Abbey, and stayed 97 years.
Shrewsbury's Birmingham League days were mostly mid-table, with a few seasons challenging near the top, the club being league champions in 1922–23.
A move to the Midland Champions League in 1937–38 saw the club enjoy one of its most successful seasons, winning a league and cup treble. Shrewsbury were league champions, scoring 111 goals . In addition, the Welsh Cup was won following a replay, the team enjoyed a run in the FA Cup, and won the Shropshire Senior Cup.
After a run of good seasons in post-war years, Shrewsbury were admitted, alongside Scunthorpe United to the old Division 3 (North) of the Football League in 1950, after being Midland League champions in 1949–50, following the decision to expand from 88 to 92 clubs.
Shrewsbury gained their first promotion, to the Third Division, in 1958–59. They remained in the third tier 15 years, slipping back to Division Four at the end of 1973–74.
1960–61 season saw Shrewsbury Town reach the Semi Final of the League Cup. After beating Everton in the quarter-finals, they narrowly lost over two legs 4–3 on aggregate to Rotherham United. This era was also remembered for Arthur Rowley. He arrived from Leicester City in 1958, the club's first player/manager. During his playing and managerial career, he broke Dixie Dean's goal-scoring record, scoring his 380th league goal against Bradford City at Valley Parade on 29 April 1961. Retiring from playing in 1965 he remained manager until July 1968.
Shrewsbury were promoted to the Third Division in 1974–75 as runners-up, before another successful season in 1978–79, when they were league champions under Ritchie Barker and later Graham Turner. Over 14,000 fans packed Gay Meadow on 17 May 1979 to see Shrewsbury seal promotion with a 4–1 win over Exeter City. In addition, the club had their first run to the FA Cup quarter-finals, before a replay defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Turner is the team's most successful manager, winning the Third Division Championship in 1978–79 – his first season in charge – to take the club into the Second Division for the first time. They remained for ten years, although Turner departed for Aston Villa in 1984. Shrewsbury repeated their 1979 feat of reaching the quarter-final in 1981–82, defeating UEFA Cup holders Ipswich Town in the fifth round before defeat away to Leicester City.
The 1980s saw many big teams defeated by Shrewsbury, whose period in the old Second Division coincided with some of the current Premier League clubs. During the 1980s, Fulham, Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United and Chelsea lost to Shrewsbury Town. Middlesbrough were defeated at Gay Meadow at the end of 1985–86, Shrewsbury winning 2–1, relegating Middlesbrough, who went out of business and almost out of existence. The match was marred by violence from Middlesbrough fans, with many of them later having to return to Shrewsbury for court appearances.
In the early to mid-1980s the club enjoyed its most successful Football League run. Shrewsbury survived through the sale of players, with some to have played for Shrewsbury including Steve Ogrizovic, David Moyes, John McGinlay and Bernard McNally. They were relegated at the end of 1988–89 after ten years. In the Third Division, on 22 December 1990, Gary Shaw scored the quickest Town hat trick – 4 minutes and 32 seconds – against Bradford City at Valley Parade. At the end of 1991–92, three years after relegation to the Third Division, the club was relegated to the Fourth – the first time since 1975. However, two seasons later Shrewsbury won the new (fourth tier) Division Three championship under Fred Davies in 1993–94, and remained in Division Two (third tier) three seasons. Shrewsbury were not to rise any further, remaining mid-table before slipping down again at the end of 1996–97.
The 1990s saw Shrewsbury make their first appearance at Wembley as finalists in the 1996 Football League Trophy final. Shrewsbury lost 2–1 to Rotherham United; future Shrewsbury striker Nigel Jemson scoring both Rotherham goals. Davies was sacked at the end of the 1996–97 relegation season. Jake King arrived, following a successful reign at local rivals Telford United.
In the 1999–2000, Shrewsbury endured a poor season, with King being sacked in November as the club near relegation. Former Everton captain and Welsh international Kevin Ratcliffe was appointed manager and saved them from relegation to the Conference on the final day of the season with a 2–1 victory away to Exeter City.
Ratcliffe worked on improving the side. Former youth team and reserve player Luke Rodgers emerged as a regular goal-scorer, and with big names arriving at Shrewsbury, the team looked on the up, narrowly missing the 2001–02 league playoffs despite 70 points.
The 2002–03 saw Shrewsbury enjoy an FA Cup run. After dispatching non-league sides Stafford Rangers and Barrow, they won at home against Everton in the third round in front of 7,800, with two goals by Nigel Jemson. Chelsea were the fourth round visitors, in a televised match on BBC's Match of the Day. Town lost 0–4, with Gianfranco Zola the man of the match. A near capacity crowd of 7,950 turned up for Chelsea, but from then on, the side's form disappeared, picking up just two wins in the league thereafter. Seven points adrift at the bottom and having conceded 92 goals, the club contemplated the end of their 53 years in the league. Following angry demonstrations from fans, Ratcliffe resigned, and Mark Atkins took temporary charge for the club final League game, a 2–1 defeat to Scunthorpe United, who were coincidentally the first League opponents for Shrewsbury Town back in 1950.
Northwich Victoria manager Jimmy Quinn was appointed Shrewsbury manager in May 2003, with the aim of getting them promoted back to the Football League at the first attempt. With most of the previous year's players released, Quinn assembled a whole new squad, with experienced non-league players such as Darren Tinson and Jake Sedgemore being joined by Colin Cramb, Scott Howie and former League Cup finalist Martin O'Connor. The league title went to Chester City, but with 74 points, Shrewsbury finished third in the league and defeated Barnet in the playoff semi-finals to set up a playoff final against Aldershot Town, at the neutral venue of the Britannia Stadium, home of Stoke City. The two teams played out a 1–1 draw which went to a penalty shootout. Shrewsbury goalkeeper Scott Howie saved three consecutive Aldershot penalties and defender Trevor Challis scored the winning penalty.
Quinn departed 14 league games into the season, being replaced by former Preston manager Gary Peters, who preserved Shrewsbury's Football League status in the 2004–05 League Two campaign. Shrewsbury's plans to move ground came to fruition, as chairman Roland Wycherley ceremoniously cut the first sod of soil at the New Meadow in the summer of 2006.
Despite the departure of a then talented young goalkeeper and future England number 1 Joe Hart to Manchester City, Shrewsbury went on a 14-match unbeaten run in the 2006–07 season; following a 2–2 draw against Grimsby Town in the final League match to be held at Gay Meadow, they finished in seventh place and thus qualified for the play-offs, where they defeated Milton Keynes Dons in the semi-finals. The team lost to Bristol Rovers in the League Two play-off final on 26 May 2007 at the new Wembley Stadium in front of a record crowd for any 4th tier game of 61,589.
The club moved to the New Meadow stadium for the 2007–08 season. Peters left the club on 3 March 2008 by mutual consent, replaced by Paul Simpson, who led the club to an eventual 18th-place finish in the league. After the season, the kit manufacturer Prostar earned the naming rights of the stadium.
The 2008–09 season saw Shrewsbury reach the play-offs again with victory over Dagenham and Redbridge on the final day of the season. They faced Bury in the playoff semi-finals, winning on penalties with goalkeeper Luke Daniels making two saves to send Shrewsbury through 4–3 on aggregate. Shrewsbury lost 0–1 to Gillingham in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 23 May in front of 53,706, with a goal in the 90th minute by Gillingham's Simeon Jackson. On 30 April 2010, after a disappointing 2009–10 season, Simpson was dismissed as manager with two games remaining.
Graham Turner returned to Shrewsbury Town as manager in June 2010. The club finished the 2010–11 season in 4th place, finishing with 79 points and qualifying for the playoffs, missing automatic promotion by only 1 point. They lost 2–0 on aggregate in the playoff semi-final to Torquay United. The following 2011–12 season they finished 2nd on 88 points. They won 1–0 over Dagenham & Redbridge from a James Collins header on the penultimate game of the season to achieve promotion to League One after a 15-year absence. Shrewsbury exceeded expectations the following 2012–13 season and ultimately managed to seal League One safety with two games to spare of their first season back, a 1–0 win at home to Oldham Athletic. The beat relegated Portsmouth 3–2 on the final day to finish 16th on 55 points. The following season, a disappointing first half of the season saw Turner quit in January and relegation was confirmed after a 2–4 home defeat against Peterborough United.
In May 2014 ex-Fleetwood Town boss Micky Mellon was appointed manager. Town were promoted back to League One on 25 April 2015 with a 0–1 victory away to Cheltenham Town via Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro's goal. Mellon left for Tranmere Rovers in October 2016, and he was replaced by Grimsby Town manager Paul Hurst, with Shrewsbury bottom. In 2017–18, Hurst led Shrewsbury to the EFL Trophy, ultimately losing to Lincoln. He also led the team to the League One play-offs, but lost to Rotherham after extra time. Hurst left to join Ipswich Town on 30 May 2018. He was replaced by former Macclesfield boss John Askey, but he was sacked later that year in November having won just 5 of their opening 21 games. His successor, Sam Ricketts was appointed manager in December.
Following disruption to the season in March 2020 due to COVID-19, final League One standings were decided on a points per game basis with Shrewsbury finishing in 15th place.
In November 2020, Ricketts was sacked with Shrewsbury in 23rd place and was replaced by Steve Cotterill.
Last season Shrewsbury finished 17th place in the League 1.
The Manager – Steve Cotterill
Form Guide
Shrewsbury Last 5 Matches – currently in 16th place with 48 points
12 Mar Shrewsbury 1 - 2 Oxford Utd
15 Mar Shrewsbury 5 - 0 Morecambe
19 Mar Rotherham 0 - 3 Shrewsbury
26 Mar Shrewsbury 1 - 0 Lincoln City
2 Apr Milton Keynes 2 - 0 Shrewsbury
Ipswich Last 5 Matches – currently in 9th place with 64 points
8 Mar Ipswich Town 2 - 0 Lincoln City
12 Mar Ipswich Town 0 - 0 Portsmouth
19 Mar Oxford Utd 1 - 1 Ipswich Town
26 Mar Ipswich Town 1 - 0 Plymouth
2 Apr Ipswich Town 0 - 1 Cambridge Utd
Match Referee – Darren Handley
SHREWSBURY TOWN 0 IPSWICH TOWN 1
