I come in peace. I'm traveling to the game on Saturday at your place, so would be grateful for some local info. ie away pubs, real ale etc. Walk to the ground. I generally do a lighthearted write up for my trips...something to do with the location and a little bit of previous history, although the write is generally only intended to designate one paragraph to the game itself...ie some info on local history would be good that we are likely to be closest too on route. Previous stuff I've done... http://www.not606.com/showthread.ph...mels-travel-to-Crawley-Gillingham-FC-Football http://www.not606.com/showthread.ph...mels-travel-to-Swindon-Gillingham-FC-Football http://www.not606.com/showthread.ph...amels-travel-to-Wolves-Gillingham-FC-Football I already have my as yet undisclosed theme...just would be grateful for some contribution...Castle's, Abbey's...the Welsh Border and 1069...I'm sure you get the idea. The funnier the better. brb
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Cadman - Climbed a rope from the location of the old footy ground to a church spire, which is no mean feat if you could ever appreciate the pitch that the rope would be at! please log in to view this image http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Shropshire - Part of what was Mercia, "The origin of the name "Shropshire" is the Old English "Scrobbesbyrigscīr" (literally Shrewsburyshire), perhaps taking its name from Richard Scrob (or FitzScrob or Scrope), the builder of Richard's Castle near what is now the town of Ludlow. However, the Normans who ruled England after 1066 found both "Scrobbesbyrig" and "Scrobbesbyrigscir" difficult to pronounce so they softened them to "Salopesberia" and "Salopescira". Salop is the abbreviation of these" The entire area of modern Shropshire was included within the territory of the Celtic Cornovii tribe, whose capital was the Wrekin Hill fort (There is a phrase in the West Midlands "going around the Wrekin", pronounced ree-kin, meaning take a long route) The Battle of Shrewsbury was a battle fought on 21 July 1403, waged between an army led by the Lancastrian King, Henry IV, and a rebel army led by Henry "Harry Hotspur" Percy from Northumberland. The battle, the first in which English archers fought each other on English soil, demonstrated "the deadliness of the longbow" and although Hotspur was on the verge of winning it didn't go very well for Harry Hotspur in the end shall we say. the Industrial Revolution started down the road in Ironbridge, I wonder what they made there? Thomas Telford built the A5 through Shrewsbury and in the process knocked down a wing of the local Abbey!! Alton Towers' land is/was owned by the Earl of Shrewsbury. A bloke called Fred Davies in a coracle used to fish footballs out of the river during games. Renowned War Poet Wilfred Owen, Charles Darwin, author Mary Webb, Clive of India, and of course England No1 Joe Hart are from the area. Lee and Herring made a sketch about Shrewsbury talking of the Shrewsbury Pie Pie, look on you tube!! The Fast Show filmed a sketch where someone gets chucked out of a window in one of the best pubs in Town, The Three Fishes. Charles Dickens possibly wrote/based some of his books in or around shrewsbury as he visited twice, staying at the Lion Hotel Good Real Ale pubs in Town centre- http://www.pubsurvey.co.uk/ - click on the central part of the map and it will list loads of ale pubs in Town. Some of the better ones are below: The Three Fishes - Fish Street - 6 Very high quality variety of ales, does food if you get table as busy Admiral Benbow - Swan Hill - 6 Local good ales plus euro beers, no kids, only snacks Coach and Horses - Swan Hill - 6 v.Good ales, recommend Salopian Oracle (hoppy & pale), good food The Salopian - Smithfield Road - Modern look but friendly and busy, close to station and premier inn, Wide range of good ales and loads of euro/craft bottled ales, snacks & rolls only but can get pizzas in from next door. The Armoury - Victoria Avenue - quite large but unique pub, loads of ales and does food its but a bit expensive. The Wheatsheaf - High Street - Marstens Pub, but in excellent condition and does a great lunch that is actually proper food! The Nags Head - Wyle Cop - Does 5 odd ales in good nick, can get busy The Lion and Pheasant - Wyle Cop - Hotel and a bit contemporary, but does three local ales in good condition. Goodif you have a partner with you! --- The Prince of Wales - Bynner Street - On the way to the ground, can park there if early enough and get a bus to ground and back. Great choice of beers, local and from afar. The Belle Vue Tavern - Belle Vue Road - On the way to the ground, should be friendly but others might know better The Charles Darwin - Sutton road - All welcome here, can park in pub carpark if early enough and as long as you spend in the pub can leave it there. Estate around it is warden controlled in match time. the Brooklands - Roman Road - Never been in, closest to ground and supposed to be for both fans but... Local brewery beers to look out for - Salopian, Three Tuns, Hobsons, Ludlow, Six Bells, Rowton, Dickensian, Stonehouse Others that are popular in the town - Oakhams, Darkstar, Depends how you're travelling up. If you are getting train then there is a dedicated bus from the Station and other Arriva buses also head that way. Taxi's are dead cheap too, Central Taxi's 01743 44-11-44 if you book earlier. http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/serviceInformation.aspx?id=17216&r=Midlands Number 27 bus route If driving there are several park and rides to choose from and there is a P&R by the Meole Brace retail park that people use. Many park in the Meole Brace retail park, but be wary as they ticket on a saturday during games! Sainsbury's doesn't seem to, but that is a risk you take!
Matster...some excellent insight thank you. A few of your extracts will fit nicely with my unrevealed story. I will be travelling over by coach so maybe restricted for time but assuming we cover the distance in good time and no traffic jams on the way, will be hoping to visit one of the drinking establishments for at least an hour. I'll also pass the details on to my friend.
matster what an excellent history of the town. I would add that successive kings in medieval days kept their court in shrewsbury for about 200 years.
Brooklands is probably the best bet for being close and full of away fans. Charles Darwin is also pretty close and does cracking food too - better value and far more tasty than at the ground. Rob (landlord)'s a good guy too, and the HT/FT game run by the trust might even be an option as a more exciting version of the golden gamble, albeit with smaller prizes. As an aside, any STFC posters on here not presently members of shrewsTRUST - may I encourage you to do so? Hoping for some pretty big progressions in the near future, including (hopefully) more movement on the badge issue having recently backed the BBTL campaign. I also hear the media guy is a great bloke
How apt that on International weekend we have an 'International match' of our own down in league one. Gillingham of England Versus the Shrews of Wales.
Salopian brewery vs Shepherd Neame No contest, Salopian gets the win any time!! Possible starting formation weale Woods, Mkandawire, Jones, Jacobson Taylor, Summerfield, Wildig, Reach Bradshaw, Lopez Will assume that Winfield and Goldson will be on the bench but rate them as better than Mkandawire in someways. I guess that Mcalinden will come on later on to replace one of the front two. Feel sorry for parry if he doesnt get some game time, would often be a better sub on than McAllister if we want a rounded player.
Line up 01 Weale 22 Woods 03 Jacobson 08 McAllister 16 Mkandawire 06 Winfield 11 Taylor 15 Wildig 27 C. López 09 Bradshaw 17 Parry
Cracking performance. Completely outplayed Gillingham from start to finish, excellent use of substitutes - Goldson was a brick wall when he came on - and particularly encouraging performances from Bradshaw and Wildig - our lower league Andrea Pirlo has been my player of the season so far.
Whole team was pretty useful today apart from the final ball or too slow to shoot. McAllister did well but is no Summerfield. Lopez looked classy amd McAlinden took his goal well. MOM Bradshaw for his workrate but should have got on the scoresheet.
Sorry I had to miss this one but I will be at Peterborough on Saturday hoping we can continue our good form against a team that look like strong promotion candidates.
http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/article/martin-allen-leaves-1112310.aspx Blimey, we helped get a manager the sack rather than play a team who have just appointed one.
