Crowd Meadow - Shrewsbury Town
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- Ground Layout
Last Update:
August 21, 2024
The stadium, which is located on the outskirts of Shrewsbury, has four separate stands, which are simple single-tiered stands, that are covered. Below the roof at the back of the stands is a sizeable strip of perspex that runs along the length of the stands. This is to allow more light into the stadium to facilitate pitch growth.
Each of the stands are 18 rows high, with the Roland Wycherley Stand (named after the Club Chairman) on one side, being the ‘Main Stand’. This stand has a slightly different layout to the others with a press area and eight corporate boxes at its rear, the type of which that you can sit outside of.
The DMOS People Stand at one end of the stadium is where the away fans are located. Opposite is the Salop Leisure Stand where safe standing has been incorporated. The final stand, The Rybrook Shrewsbury Stand, is the largest stand at the stadium with a capacity of 3,317.
Four small floodlight pylons are present on the roofs of both side stands. An unusual feature of the stadium is that the areas for disabled fans are high up at the very back of the stands and are accessed by lifts. There is also a small electric scoreboard located beneath the roof of the away end.
Before moving to the New Meadow the Club played between 1910 and 2007 at Gay Meadow.
Away fans are located in DMOS People Stand at one end of the ground. The leg room is good and the stands are quite steep keeping the fans close to the action and there is good height between rows. The concourses are quite well laid out, and typical food and drink offerings are available.
Outside the stadium, behind the Salop Leisure South Stand, is a small Fan Zone which has bar facilities and away fans are able to enter. In terms of local pub options, here are three suggestions:
- The Charles Darwin – Sutton Rd, Shrewsbury SY2 6HN
- The Hole in the Wall – 1 Shoplatch, Shrewsbury SY1 1HF
- Cromwell’s Tap Houe – 11 Dogpole, Shrewsbury SY1 1EN
The food at Crowd Meadow is widely held to high regard by fans all over the country, with social media full of pictures of various dishes, including the famous Cottage Pie, a favourite for many supporters.
Below are some examples of the type of scran you can expect at the ground:
Cottage pie at Shrewsbury Town (@shrewsburytown)
💷 £3.50 pic.twitter.com/nLd7rgloyH
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) November 9, 2023
Curry sauce n chips at Shrewsbury town (@shrewsweb)
💷 £3.50 pic.twitter.com/jK7HApGoYO
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) April 10, 2022
Shrewsbury Town’s Crowd Meadow has a total of eight turnstile areas – comprised of two per stand.
The turnstiles for away fans are situated behind the ground’s North Stand, which is where travelling supporters are seated, and are conveniently located near the coach park too.
Homw fans, then, can make use of the remaining six turnstile areas in the stadium and should head to those that grant direct access into the stand their respective seat requires for a hassle-free experience.
At the end of the M54 continue onto the A5. After about seven miles, there is a traffic island which is at the junction with the A49. Bear left at this island still following the A5. At the next roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the B4380 (Thieves Lane). Continue along Thieves Lane going straight over two roundabouts and this will lead you into Oteley Road. You will reach the stadium down further down Oteley Road on the left.
There is a large car park at the stadium, holding almost 700 cars, however, this is for permit holders only. Parking is prohibited in the nearby Retail Park and nearby streets, so to find some street parking you may have to drive a bit further away.
Otherwise, there is a car park at the Meole Brace Bowling Club, which also offers parking at £3 per car and has a bar on site too. It can be found at Meole Rise (Off Upper Road, SY3 9JF).
Post Code for SAT NAV: SY2 6ST
Shrewsbury Railway Station is just over two miles away from Crowd Meadow, so if you do decide to walk it is going to take around 40 minutes. Otherwise, you can grab a taxi up to the ground which should cost about £10.
Alternatively, you can catch the Meole Brace Park & Ride service (operated by Arriva) from the railway station which takes you to the Meole Brace Retail Park, which is close to the stadium. Services on Saturday afternoons run every ten minutes but it doesn’t run in the evenings so isn’t a viable option for night games.
There is also a Football Special Bus Service that runs from the Town Centre Bus Station up to the stadium.
Shrewsbury is a quaint town, in which places of interest, such as parks and shopping halls are plentiful. As such, some fans who travel away may decide to spend the night after the game exploring some of the scenery.
With that in mind, here are some local hotels, close to Crowd Meadow, with good reviews:
- Travelodge, A5, A49, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury SY3 0DA
- Abbots Mead Hotel, St Julian’s Friars, Shrewsbury SY1 1XL
- Lion + Pheasant Hotel, 49-50 Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury SY1 1XJ
Availability at these establishments is often reliable, but it is worth noting that on matchday demand will understandably be higher than usual, so always book rooms in advance.
Prices for tickets at New Meadow for the 2023/24 season:
- Adults: £24
- Senior 65+: £17
- Student (NUS Card): £17
- Young Adult 19-23: £17
- Juniors 14-18: £10
- Juniors 13 and underL: £1
Shrewsbury have played their home games at a vast array of grounds over the years with Gay Meadow unquestionably the most well known of the lot; the club called Gay Meadow home from 1910 through to 2007. After that, they moved to their current home, New Meadow, but before 1910 they’d called several places home including Monkmoor Racecourse, Ambler’s Field and Sutton Lane.
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
In the words of our @lukeleahy
‘YESSSSS! COME ONNNNN’
It’s great to see the fans stood at the boards and making a fantastic atmosphere and applauding the lads for their hard work 🔶🔷
Well done to all the boys tonight #salop @shrewsweb pic.twitter.com/fM3icTUVGo
— Andy Austin (@AndyAustin25) November 27, 2021
Record Attendance
At the Montgomery Waters Meadow Stadium:
10,210* v Chelsea
League Cup 4th Round, 28th October 2014.
At The Gay Meadow Ground:
18,917 v Walsall
Division 3, April 26th, 1961.
Average Attendance
2022-2023: 6,430 (League One)
2021-2022: 6,216 (League One)
2020-2021: N/A (Covid)
2019-2020: 6,059 (League One)
2018-2019: 6,407 (League One)
2017-2018: 6,249 (League One)
* This record attendance is higher than the quoted ground capacity, as additional temporary seating was brought in for this game to fill the corners on either side of the Salop Leisure (South) Stand.
Shrewsbury created a bit of history in 2017 when they became the first club to trial safe standing sections at a stadium in English football.
In terms of the latest developments, the club announced in January 2024 that planning permission has been approved to build an industrial estate next to Crowd Meadow, the first phase of which has now been completed.
But in terms of stadium renovations, nothing is in the pipeline at present.
The stadium has been built in such a way that the corners of the stadium can later be filled with seating, which would raise capacity to around 12,500. However, the Club have not announced when or if this will take place.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Shrewsbury Town v MK Dons
League 1
Saturday 8th February 2020, 3pm
Peter Williams (MK Dons)
Shrewsbury Town v Oxford United
League 1
Monday 22nd April 2019, 3pm
Thomas Inglis (Oxford United)
Shrewsbury Town v Oxford United
League 1
Monday 22nd April 2019, 3pm
Rob Pickett (Oxford United)
Shrewsbury Town v AFC Wimbledon
League One
Saturday 2nd March 2019, 3pm
David Matthews (AFC Wimbledon)
Shrewsbury Town v Luton Town
League One
Saturday 2nd February 2019, 3pm
Sam Jones (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Montgomery Waters Meadow?
With the team I support not playing, it was an ideal chance for me to tick another ground off the list. I was also very keen to check out the newly installed safe standing section, which Shrewsbury had opened for this season. I have experienced safe standing in other countries, but this is the first of its kind in England.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
A simple train journey with no issues. From reading other reviews I was aware that there was a shuttle bus service in place, however, I decided to head to the ground on foot. This took just over 30 minutes from the train station.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Montgomery Waters Meadow?
Like most modern stadiums, Shrewsbury's home is on the outskirts of the town with little immediately surrounding it. The stadium is uniformly designed with the away fans being allocated the entire North Stand at one end, which is the first stand as you approach the ground on foot. The larger East Stand houses the club shop and ticket office, with a small car park immediately behind it. There are several banners inside and outside the ground dedicated to some famous names from the history of Shrewsbury Town. There is a fan zone in the corner of the South & West stands serving the usual selection of food/drink along with local ales at a reasonable price.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Shrewsbury had the better of the early stages, however, it was Luton who scored with their first attack and after that, you could see the confidence drain out of the home side. The Shrewsbury defence looked very nervous and uncertain as Luton continued to press forward in the second half, adding a couple more goals for a deserved 3-0 win.
Shrewsbury are having a play off hangover from last season and this was reflected in the atmosphere, with plenty of home fans leaving early and voicing their displeasure at their side's performance. There was a large following of over 1,300 from Luton who understandably grew louder as the game progressed. As for the facilities, the concourses were larger than average, there was plenty of room in the stands and the stewards were very friendly. I was very impressed with the safe standing area and men, women and children of all ages were making use of it. The area required a silver wristband for entry which is obtained from stewards in the concourse as you enter the ground, however this was not pointed out to me when I purchased the ticket and I was directed by one of the stewards.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Easy walk back to the train station the same way as I arrived. As a number of the home supporters had left early, the traffic was minimal.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good day out and one step closer to completing the 92! Shrewsbury is a very picturesque market town full of winding streets, quirky pubs and medieval buildings, which is well worth a visit in its own right. I was very impressed with the safe standing area and it can surely only be a matter of time before this is implemented right across English football. I would happily visit the ground again and would recommend the trip to anyone.
Shrewsbury Town v Luton Town
League One
Saturday 2nd February 2019, 3pm
Chris Morton (Newcastle United Fan – Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Montgomery Waters Meadow?
I was unable to get a ticket for Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United, so I decided to look for a new ground to visit on my way to doing the 92. I got a ticket for the away end as the atmosphere is generally better and I could root for Luton keeping Sunderland out of the automatic promotion places.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled on the train and decided I would catch the Park & ride bus to Meole Brace later. However as a result of struggling to find a pub in the town centre showing Sky Sports I ended up walking to the ground which actually wasn't too bad if you have plenty of time to get there.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Wanting to watch the Spurs v Newcastle game a pub ahead of the game, I went looking for a suitable pub. There are plenty of pubs in the town with character and a great range of real ales but none showing football. I ended up in the Crown which is about half way to the ground. A decent pub with friendly staff and beers. Only a family of Shrewsbury fans and a single Luton fan in the pub so there was never going to be any trouble!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Montgomery Waters Meadow?
A tidy modern ground with easy access and good views from the away end, apart from ten minutes or so at the start of the second half when low sun meant everyone (including some if the players) having to shield their eyes. Shrewsbury are very proud to have introduced the first safe standing area, but as it is behind the goal more of the 'fan banter' was with the fans in the adjacent stand and the atmosphere was helped by the home drummer.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Luton dominated the game and ran out comfortable 3-0 winners including an excellent second from wide on the right wing. The stewards were accommodating and did not have a problem with the Luton fans rushing down the concourse to the front to celebrate each goal. I didn't try the pies but disappointed to see they weren't served upside down (it's a northern thing I think). As has been noted in previous reviews, at half time nobody observes the one way in/out doors which does cause a bit of a crush.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
As I was catching the 5:15pm train home I left five minutes early and due to the score, plenty of home fans had the same idea (prompting the Luton fans chant 'is there a fire drill ?'). Tip for other fans catching the train – unless you can walk very quickly, you probably should aim for a later one.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Interesting town, nice pubs, but the ground being so far out can pose some challenges and means the town and the club seem quite separate. Friendly place and well worth a visit.
Shrewsbury Town v Fleetwood Town
League One
Tuesday 1st January 2019, 3pm
Josh Ruck (Fleetwood Town)
Shrewsbury Town v Barnsley
League 1
Tuesday 23rd October 2018, 7.45 pm
David Crossfield (Barnsley)
Shrewsbury Town v Plymouth Argyle
League One
Saturday 10th February 2018, 3pm
Neil Boughton (Plymouth Argyle fan)
Shrewsbury Town v Plymouth Argyle
League One
Saturday 10th February 2018, 3pm
Les Herbert (Plymouth Argyle fan)
Shrewsbury Town v Plymouth Argyle
League One
Saturday 10th February 2018, 3pm
Bryan Davis (Plymouth Argyle fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Montgomery Waters Meadow?
Shrewsbury Town v West Ham United
FA Cup 3rd Round
Sunday 7th January 2018, 2pm
Boysie (West Ham United fan)
Shrewsbury Town v Oldham Athletic
League One
Monday 1st January 2018, 3pm
Dom Weiss (Oldham Athletic fan)
Shrewsbury Town v Blackburn Rovers
Football League One
Saturday 23rd September 2017, 3pm
Christian Lyth (Blackburn Rovers fan)
Shrewsbury Town v Bolton Wanderers
Football League One
Saturday 25th March 2017, 3pm
Anthony (Bolton Wanderers fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Greenhous Meadow?
While I go to every Bolton game that I am able to attend, the Greenhous Meadow was a new ground for me (54 of 92 done now), and another important game in Wanderers' promotion push.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Came on the train, and got a bus from the town centre to the ground. Shrewsbury is a lovely town but the traffic was not so.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Went to the Brooklands pub which about a 15 minute walk from the Greenhous Meadow ground. The away fans had their own function room bar which they were directed to, but as it was nice everyone was outside. Didn't speak to any home fans, but we were all outside the pub and all was well.
What you thought on se eing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Greenhous Meadow Stadium?
The Greenhous Meadow is a tidy, functional, modern ground, there's little else you can say about it really.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
We won 2-0 after a hard fought first half. A sell out Bolton following were brilliant. The stewarding was reasonable, can't vouch for the food as I didn't have any.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Rubbish really, again poor traffic and ended up missing my booked train. I ended up having a pint in the town centre before finally leaving.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Good – just wish the ground was closer to a train station!
Shrewsbury Town v Bolton Wanderers
Football League One
Saturday 25th March 2017, 3pm
Ian (Doing the 92)
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We travelled by train, first from Wigan to Crewe and then from Crewe to Shrewsbury. Pretty straightforward journey with the total travelling time just over an hour. The ground is approx.two to three miles from the town centre. We caught the Park and Ride bus, which cost £1.60 single journey.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had breakfast in "The Old Post Office" pub. A full English breakfast cost £4.99 including toast, tea, or coffee. Well worth it and they serve it till 11am. We also had a beer in the Three Fishes, The Anchor Inn and also the local Wetherspoons pub. The Anchor had a lovely little beer garden at the rear which came in useful as it was a lovely sunny day.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Greenhous Meadow Stadium?
You could walk past the ground and not know it was there! It is set back off the main road behind trees, shrubs, bushes etc.The ground is a very tidy little place with a picturesque view from the away end. We had a very good view of the match.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was nothing special but it was another important win for Bolton. I think it was their fifth in a row. There was a decent atmosphere considering there were only just over 7,000 spectators and also there are large gaps in the corners which will, in my opinion, reduce the atmosphere. The stewards were very friendly the facilities were good although the concourse under the stand was on the narrow side. At half time the stewards opened an exit and erected a steel fence so if you wanted to go outside the ground for a smoke you could. I thought that was a nice gesture Shrewsbury Town must be applauded for that.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was a bit of a nightmare in my case! I came out the game early and could not see a bus or taxi so I decided to walk back to town. It took me almost an hour. However, I followed the main road into town, but apparently, I learned later there is a shortcut as my friends found it and the did the walk in half the time.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a good day out. Shrewsbury is a lovely town and well worth visiting. We never saw a hint of trouble and the locals must also be applauded for their hospitality. The only negative point is that the ground is a long way out of town so allow yourself plenty of time in order to get there. It took me 10 minutes to reach it after getting off the bus. You have to travel up a main road and then turn right and double back on yourself. In my opinion, access could be improved by constructing a path/road off the main road. This would considerably reduce travelling time for spectators travelling via bus and on foot.
Shrewsbury Town v Oxford United
Football League One
Saturday 12th November 2016, 3pm
Ioan Griffith (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Greenhous Meadow?
I had never been to Greenhous Meadow before, and this was a relatively local one to me (although living in Mid Wales your options are limited), as I am fairly new to the 'groundhopping' lark, I am keen to get the closest grounds out of the way first before the more costly further away ones.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I took the train with my mother (not a football enthusiast whatsoever!) along the 'Heart of Wales' line cutting through the beautiful Welsh countryside. The journey took two and a half hours so we were glad when we finally made it to Shropshire. Upon arrival we walked to the 'Prince of Wales pub on Bynner Street (which was packed with home and away fans), 20 minutes walk out of town; we found out that we could get transport from the pub [to the ground] as advised on this website. Rather than having food in the pub we walked to the Nando's a five minute walk away from the 'Prince of Wales' and then returned after eating to try and catch their own bus to the ground, which was sold out on our arrival; but the pub kindly arranged a car journey for us and a few other late arrivals.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As mentioned before we walked to the Shrewsbury Nando's, which was quick and delicious pre-match food. The home fans were very friendly, no problems with them.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Greenhous Meadow?
The Greenhous Meadow ground looks fairly modern (not surprising considering the ground opened in 2007), there is a rather small car park outside the stadium which was full. The Oxford away fans had been allocated the whole of the North Stand at one end. The largest stand at the stadium is the West Stand, which is very impressive. A similar looking East Stand, which surrounded the dugout, also had a decent-sized wheelchair platform for home fans; a feature many grounds in the UK lack. The South Stand (where we sat) was similar to the North Stand in its appearance, and was also covered with pro-Shrews flags at it's rear; a nice touch. Overall a nice array of all-seater stands.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was poor, a rather boring first half with sporadic attacks from both teams; although a goal was scored after 20 minutes following a goalmouth scramble. I left to buy some much needed hot drinks on a cold November's evening just before half time. There was only one kiosk with three tills in our stand (South), which meant it was almost second half kick off before I returned with two warm cups of Bovril at £2 each. There were a collection of hot and cold drinks available as well as an array of pies and snacks, as well as a vending machine inside the concourse. I can't say there was anything wrong with the stewards, as they didn't have much to do.
The second half displayed a much more bullish performance from the away team Oxford, who had many attacks, bringing out many good saves from the Shrews keeper. Oxford did not take their chances however and were caught out by a Shrews counter-attack deep into injury time to make the final score 2-0, which would mean a first win in 10 league games for Salop. The atmosphere in the South Stand was mediocre, there were a few chants of 'Salop! Salop!' in a stand which swearing was a rarity. Most of the noise was coming from a group of Shrews fans in the East Stand and the visiting Oxford fans, who were in good number; 900 making the journey from Oxfordshire.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We got back to the 'Prince of Wales' at 5:20pm; walking straight back to the train station to get our train back to Wales at 18:01, with 20 minutes to spare, a nice rarity.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good, eventful day out with the mother (even she enjoyed!) in a beautiful town with some unique architecture. The match wasn't the best but at least we saw two goals in a nice stadium, with some nice fans. Another ground ticked off the lengthy '92' list.
Shrewsbury Town v MK Dons
Football League One
Saturday 6th August 2016, 3pm
John Scott (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Greenhous Stadium?
It was the first day of new English football season and a new ground to me. Plus I had heard that Shrewsbury itself was an interesting town with allegedly good pubs!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I'll elaborate in course, but first walked to the Prince of Wales pub in Bynner Street. Had a pint there, and then jumped on the supporters bus that goes from the pub to and from ground. The bus cost £2.50. This was good but it is also feasible to have halfway pint there and then walk to ground rather than catching the bus. All in all the Greenhous Stadium is located about two miles from the town centre. The walk was very pleasant in the sunshine. I had spotted the Nags Head in the town centre and planned a visit after the match which I did. I really enjoyed it. Real ales, beer garden, quaint, and very friendly service.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I had a pint before and after game at Prince of Wales above. There's also food available and I counted six real ales on tap. Service was excellent and everyone I spoke to was friendly and helpful. It was a very pleasant pub indeed.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Greenhous Stadium?
Clean, plenty of space around it , lots of people sunbathing on grass areas. I could tell I wasn't in Scotland! Everything was very fresh looking.Underneath the stands plenty of space, decent football food, and usual beers available as well as local Shropshire Lad bitter which I quite liked.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
As a neutral I'm afraid to say game was very relaxing. I'd expected a bit more passion and aggression for first game of season but, given sunny conditions it was more like a pre-season game. Both sets of fans did try to get things going but didn't work. One goal was going to decide it….and it did, giving the visitors an away win.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Pub bus right outside, I was back in the pub having another pint at 5.10pm. Very efficient.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I was myself and I had a lovely relaxing, friendly day out. The football wasn't the highlight, though, the pubs were. I'll certainly go back though, although I've seen Shrewsbury twice now and no goals!
Shrewsbury Town v MK Dons
Football League One
Saturday 6th August 2016, 3pm
David Drysdale (MK Dons fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Greenhous Meadow?
It was the first game of the season after MK Dons' relegation back to League One. It would be interesting to see how we fared against League One opposition after a summer of questionable transfer activity. I had never been to Shrewsbury's ground before and was another one to tick off for me.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We decided to drive and followed the sat-nav to the Greenhous Meadow Stadium post code to find that the nearest "pay on the day" car park was nearly a mile's walk away. Instead we parked in the Brookland's Hotel/Pub car-park near the roundabout by the stadium, which charged around £5 for the pleasure – lots of fans from both clubs parked here and were enjoying a few drinks in the pub nearby.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We were fairly late arriving so walk straight from the pub car park to the ground in search of a our standard "burger van burger." To our disappointment we found that there were no burger/hot food vans outside the ground itself, despite doing a full lap of the stadium. Instead we headed inside and had a beer in the away end.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Greenhous Meadow Stadium?
It was a lovely summer's day and baking hot – the stadium looked modern and it situated in a very well kept area. The away end is pretty smart, with some nice views of the Shropshire countryside/hills visible through the gaps in the stadium at the other end. The view of the pitch was very good and it was a very plea sent place to watch football.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was quite tight for the first half, but MK Dons finally showed their quality and scored mid-second half with a powerful Daniel Powell strike. Home fans were very friendly and good natured, although due to the low attendance the atmosphere wasn't particularly exciting from either set of fans. Food and drink were standard football overpriced fodder, but I enjoyed a very nice "pie of the day" which I believe was 'Cottage Pie'. Stewards were friendly and were no problem at all.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
An very pleasant walk from the stadium back to the roundabout and then to the pub car park. Got away very quickly from the car park and back on to the main roads with minimal traffic.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A very enjoyable, easy-going and pleasant day of football. Shrewsbury fans were a friendly bunch and the atmosphere was relaxed. I am looking forward to returning to the Greenhous Meadow whenever that may be.
Shrewsbury Town v Bradford City
Football League One
Saturday 16th April 2016, 3pm
Nick (Bradford City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Greenhous Meadow Stadium?
As it was nearing the end of the season, it was an important game as Bradford were going for a play off spot and Shrewsbury were just one place above the drop zone.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I took the opportunity to visit a friend in Welshpool, who drove us to the game. We parked at Meole Brace Park and Ride facility for free. The club website advises you not to park there, but it seemed that quite a number of supporters were doing so, with no problem. It was then about a 10 to 15 minute walk to the Greenhous Stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We got there at about 2.30pm so no time to go drinking. Plus we didn't see any pubs nearby. As the away end was sold out, we had bought tickets online for the Family Stand to sit with the home fans. Although one of our party had dropped out, we managed to get a refund on the ticket from the nice lady at the ticket office kiosk.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Greenhous Stadium?
The Greenhous Stadium is nice and modern. Inside the atmosphere was good, with the Bradford fans in full voice as were the Shrewsbury fans, especially those closest to the away support, lots of noise coming from that end and corner.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
A good game with Bradford attacking and delivering cross after cross into the box which always got cleared by the defenders. Eventually on 71 minutes, Bradford went ahead and I somehow managed to refrain from celebrating! I thought we were home and dry, except with six minutes remaining a freak back header from a free kick, and a keeper mess up meant we had to settle for a draw, after dominating for long periods.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was very slow getting out of the car park. It took about 20 minutes to get back out onto the main road, as we were queuing with both shoppers as well as match goers.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A very pleasant day out and would definitely make the trip again. Other results did not go too badly for both teams, so it keeps the season alive for both.
Shrewsbury Town v Wigan Athletic
Football League One
Saturday 2nd April 2016, 3pm
Daniel Norkus (Wigan Athletic fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Greenhous Meadow Stadium?
I have previously visited Shrewsbury on two occasions and it's a lovely historic town. So I was delighted with the prospect to follow my team to there when we dropped into League One.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We travelled by supporters coach and were delivered to within yards of the turnstiles. Great organisation.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had a beer and a pie inside the ground prior to the game. Decent service and not too expensive. The staff I encountered were very helpful and friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Greenhous Meadow Stadium?
On arriving at the ground it looked modern and well situated for access by coach. Not sure how much parking there is if you travel by car however.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
We won 5-1 so everything was hunky dory! We brought lots of away support so it was a great atmosphere. The stewards were fine and it was a very comfortable afternoon.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Fantastic arrangements to get the away fans' coaches away speedily by the Police. First class organisation which has to be commended.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A great day out. The big win and moving to the top of League One certainly helped, but it's a good friendly club with decent facilities.
Shrewsbury Town v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 25th July 2015, 3pm
Aimee Henry (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the Greenhous Meadow?
After my first match for months away at Burton, I only had to wait another week for my next one. As is often the case, Wolves were staying fairly local for their friendlies, this time making the short trip across the county border into Shropshire, to face League One new boys Shrewsbury Town. The game was made all ticket, and fairly priced at £10.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Me and my dad made the trip, leaving Wolverhampton train station just after 11am. The journey itself took around half an hour, but was a rather pleasant journey, taking in Wolverhampton’s leafy suburbs (yes they do exist!) Bilbrook, Codsall, passing the RAF Museum at Cosford, before some lovely views of Wenlock Edge and the Wrekin. Without wishing to turn this into a travel log, it is probably one of the more enjoyable train journeys I’ve had to a ground. And then you have Shrewsbury itself, which is a rather quaint, picturesque and really quite stunning town.
The ground itself is some way out of town, at the back of a retail park. To get there, we found the easiest way was to use the Park and Ride service. When you leave the train station, turn left, and follow the road up the hill, past the Castle. The bus stop is a short way up that road, and buses run regularly on Saturdays. It takes all of 5 minutes, and drops you off at a car park only 5 minutes’ walk from the ground itself. As for tickets, a return costs £1.60, but you can only buy returns from the car park, not the town. What you can do though is ask for a day saver for £2.10, which will save you £1.10. Unlike Walsall’s ground, the Greenhous Meadow isn’t accessible from the retail park, instead leave the retail park, and follow the road round, bearing right onto the dual carriageway. Eventually the main entrance will be on your right. This was made far easier by following a Shrewsbury fan. Using the mantra “follow the home fan, they’ll know where they’re going” doesn’t always work, but on this occasion it did.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Having been out the night before and got, in his words, “a bit kaylied”, my dad and I decided to skip a pre-match drink. The nearest pub that we saw though was the Brooklands, a short walk from the ground, on the other side of the roundabout. Speaking to some fans, it was pretty good. Instead we had a brief walk round the ground, greeted the players off the coach (they’ll be getting sick of the sight of me at this rate!), and went into the ground.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Grounds like Shrewsbury’s often divide opinion, and the division line tends to be based largely on age. Speak to someone like my dad, or my uncles, or anyone who travelled to grounds in the 70s/80s, and the best thing about football back then was terracing, ramshackle away ends, getting soaked in the rain, that sort of thing. From my (relatively) young view, having been born a year before the Premier League, I actually enjoy the comforts of modern stadia. I think what they lack in ‘character’ or ‘charm’, they try to make up for in ‘comfort’ and ‘convenience’. With the awful events at Hillsborough still quite rightly in people’s minds, modern all seater stadia are a reminder of how far football has come since that tragic day.
In terms of location, the fact that it is ‘out of town’ has its pros and cons. Shrewsbury itself is a gorgeous town, and a metal and glass football stadium would look slightly out of place amongst the Medieval and Tudor splendor. That said, it could possibly be a bit of a trek to get to it.
The ground itself consists of four equally sized stands, all one tiered. The away end is at the far end of the ground, with the main stand to your left. One nice touch is a collection of banners adorning the home ends, including such monikers as ‘Floreat Salopia’ (May Shrewsbury Fluorish), and the rather bizarre ‘Breathe on ‘em Salop’. I felt this toed the line between passion and plain old creepiness. It also reminded me of an ex-boyfriend, but that’s another tale…
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Shrewsbury had the first chance of the game, Tyrone Barnett hitting the side netting with a snapshot. Wolves took the lead with practically our first foray into the home side’s territory. Scott Golbourne earned a corner on the left hand side, which he took himself. His short pass found Kevin McDonald on the edge of the box, who clipped a lovely ball into the six yard area, where Nouha Dicko leapt highest to nod the ball past Jason Leutweiler and into the net.
The game never really threatened to explode into life, and although Shrewsbury had chances through Mat Sadler and Liam McAlinden, on loan to Salop from Wolves, their equaliser was pretty much the only other chance of the half. A corner was whipped in, and Barnett stole a march on Wolves skipper Richard Stearman, and headed the ball past Carl Ikeme and into the far corner.
Kenny Jackett opted to change the entire side at half time, sending out a side containing a few first team players (Dominic Iorfa, Matt Doherty, James Henry), but plenty of the club’s younger players, such as Aaron Hayden, Donovan Wilson and much hyped winger Jordan Graham. It was Graham who provided Wolves’ best moments of the second half, twice floating in delicious crosses from the left which were crying out for a finishing touch which never came. Dave Edwards, captaining the side second half against his old side, did rattle the crossbar with an acrobatic volley, but that was it. At the other end, Aaron McCarey made a great point blank save to deny James Collins, and Ryan Woods’ thunderous 30 yard volley cracked the crossbar, which seemed to rattle for at least 5 minutes after.
In the end, a lacklustre 1-1 draw didn’t constitute the best use of a pre-season friendly, something a rather frustrated Kenny Jackett echoed in his post-match comments. On balance of play, Shrewsbury edged the game, but not with enough conviction to suggest they deserved to win.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Very straightforward, out of the exit and back onto the main road. After a quick walk back to the park and ride, we only waited for around 5 minutes before a bus came to take us back into Shrewsbury. It does drop you off in a different place though, but the railway station is well signposted.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I always enjoy visiting Shropshire, and Shrewsbury in particular. Although the game was pretty drab, I can certainly think of worse ways to spend a Saturday afternoon. The Greenhous Meadow is certainly a nice ground, and provided Shrewsbury with a nice place to play football, but I’m sure the traditionalists out there will still bemoan the loss of Gay Meadow.
Shrewsbury Town v Plymouth Argyle
League Two
Saturday 5th February 2015, 3pm
John Bonney (Plymouth Argyle)
Why you were looking forward to going to the Greenhous Meadow Stadium?
We needed a point to make sure we got into the play-offs, so this was a vital game and one not to be missed. Plus I has not visited the Greenhous Stadium before.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I decided to drive to the stadium and then travel into the town centre to meet friends. Although the stadium was easy to find, you could see that it was right on the edge of town with not much around it. I parked at the 'park and ride' in the nearby retail park and took a bus into the town centre.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Met my friends at the Hole in the Wall pub. With the stadium being out of town, it seemed a good idea to meet up at a pub in the town centre, before the game. However, we probably made the wrong choice of pub, as service at the bar was very slow and the facilities not great. We then caught the 'Football Special Bus' from the town centre bus station. However it seemed to take an eternity to travel the two miles to the ground. I thought at times that t would have been quicker to walk.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Greenhous Meadow is a fairly new and is a decent ground. There was a good atmosphere inside, with Shrewsbury fans celebrating their promotion. Although it was a sell out crowd, there were a number of empty seats at the start of the game, I guess to fans experiencing travel problems.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Although a victory for Shrewsbury meant that they could still win the League Title, Plymouth wanted it more dominated most of the game. Two goals in the first half were enough to see the Pilgrims run out worthy winners and secure that play off spot. The facilities inside the stadium were good.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Although I hadn't parked at the stadium, it still took ages to get away due to the amount of traffic in the area.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I'm glad we won but I'm not thinking of visiting the Greenhous Meadow again. Poor local transport links make the day too much hassle and that's after a 250 mile trip just to get there!
Shrewsbury Town v Notts County
League One
Saturday, November 23rd 2013, 3pm
Sam Hodgson (Doing the 92)
It was the next ground of our 92 so it was another one to tick off the list and it wasn't too far for us to travel. Also it was a big game in the division, with Notts County rock-bottom of the league and Shrewsbury perilously close to the drop zone.
It was about an hour by train to Shrewsbury Castle Forgate Street but that wasn't a problem. What was the problem was the 50 minute walk to the stadium. Since we had no idea where the bus station was we relied on my friends' phone to guide us to the ground. It was too far to walk and there was not a single sign post until you reached the island that was directly next to the stadium.
We just got our tickets (for an extortionate price as we paid on the day – I did try to book in advance but I had trouble with the ticket shop online) and went in, got a drink and a pie, and found our seat. I did feel that it was a generally friendly atmosphere and I had no worries that there would be any trouble.
When we entered the ground the first thing I noticed was how simple looking the stadium was. It was rather bland and didn't have the character you would find at other grounds, just four basic, similar-looking stands in a very open setting.
The game wasn't very entertaining, although both teams had plenty of chances, however most them were poorly executed. Shrewsbury's striker finished well for the only goal in the 75th minute or so, but it was a nerve-racking end with County having the ball cleared off the line and they also hit the under side of the bar and the post as well, but Shrewsbury took the all-important three points.
The atmosphere was quite poor with the Shrewsbury fans remaining very quiet throughout the game, with the exception of one chant that was repeated occasionally when the moment was with their team. I had a balti pie which was delicious but cost £3.10, the most I have ever spent on a pie at a football match, so yet again I was quite disapointed. The facilities were very modern, and the seats had plenty of leg space, and the stewards were barely noticed all game.
We had to leave early to catch the train and we had to run the majority of the route as we had 35 minutes to get to the station, so I did not particularly enjoy that part of the day-out either.
If I'm honest I didn't entirely enjoy the day taking in that the everything was over-priced, the journey was very long, the game wasn't much to cheer about and the stadium was rather bland, one that I would unfortunately not look forward to returning too. I hope my remaining ground visits I have left to do of the 92 will be more enjoyable.
Shrewsbury Town v Gillingham
League One
Saturday, October 12th 2013, 3pm
Martyn Beadle (Gillingham fan)
1. Why you wee looking forward to going to the ground?
Was looking forward going back to this ground to hopefully erase some bad memories of my last visit here when my team Gillingham lost 7-0. That was a woeful day that day apart from the sun shining! Other than that I have found Shrewsbury to be a brilliant stadium and one of the best I have been too.
2. How easy was your journey/ finding the ground/car parking?
Our journey wasn't too bad. We left Orpington at 8:15am and arrived at the ground just after 12pm. This wasn't too bad considering we stopped at a couple of service stations and got caught in a bit of traffic on the M1. The ground was pretty easy to find, as it is well signposted from the outskirts of the town. A special mention to the car parking. I emailed Shrewsbury on the Friday before the game and asked them about the parking and they said only permit holders are allowed to park in the stadium car park itself at £10 a time and sales were on the internet, but we arrived at the ground and spoke to a couple of car park attendants asking where we could park because our driver couldn't walk too far, so they told us to pull over into a space in the car park while their manager came and spoke to us. The manager came over and asked if we had a blue disabled badge, but my uncle said he is waiting for one so the car parking manager told us we could park in a disabled bay just outside the away turnstiles which was very helpful indeed and it didn't cost us a penny. So I must thank the Shrewsbury car parking staff for their generosity.
What did you do before the game/home fans friendly?
When we got out of our car we saw that there were five-a-side football pitches behind the stadium and a bar right opposite them. So my mate asked if we could go in there to have a few drinks before the game started and they let us in. I dont know if away fans know anything about this bar because we were then only three other Gillingham supporters in the bar and it was reasonably well-priced, The home fans were friendly they came around with a raffle ticket £1 a strip and the winner would receive a signed Bobby Charlton photo from when he made a guess appearance for Shrewsbury in 1980 against Zambia, the fella who sold the tickets came up to me to draw the raffle an number 32 came out and fortunately my Uncle won the prize! Also when we left the pub some Shrewsbury fans shook our hands and wished us all the best for the game.
What you thought of the ground/first impressions of away end/ other sides of the ground?
From the outside the ground looked brilliant. The away end wasn't too bad as we stood up at the back so had plenty of leg room, the other sides of the ground were pretty much the same. We had a bit of banter with the Shrewsbury fans who were stood to he left of us but it was all friendly.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, Stewards, pies, toilets?
The game was pretty poor from a Gillingham point of view, we lost the game 2-0 and apart from a 5 minute spell before half-time and after the break we didn't look like scoring at all. It turned out in the end to be Martin Allens last game in charge of the Mighty Gills. The atmosphere was good from the Gillingham fans who tried making as much noise as we could generate especially at the start of the 2nd half, the stewards were no problem at all didn't have anything to eat at the ground and the toilets were nice and clean and spacious.
Comments on getting away from the ground?
Getting away from the ground was quite relatively easy, took time getting out the car park but once outside it took us about 4 hours to get home that is with traffic and service station stops.
Summary of overall thoughts off the day out?
A brilliant day out, apart from the result and the performance, I would recommend Shrewsbury for a day out, friendly stewards and very friendly fans.
Shrewsbury Town v Hereford United
League Two
Saturday, September 10th 2011, 1pm
Patrick Burke (Doing the 92)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Even though I had an awful day out in the away end of Gay Meadow in 2003 (with Everton), I decided to brave Shrewsbury again and see if the new stadium would be a better experience. I am also fed up with the most overrated, money-spinning league in the world – The Premier League. So the chance to go to a local derby, just an hour's drive away persuaded me more than a protest over Bill Kenwright a 30 minute train ride away.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It was a relatively easy trip down the A5, we left a little late (12pm) as we had forgot the Everton flag, which we have taken to every ground that we have been to. Shrewsbury must be the worst ground for parking; everywhere was either residents only or no parking at all. Maybe we made a mistake, when we followed a sign saying 'Football Stadia'. It took us 15 minutes to find a parking spot, then a pub which was closed and we were a mile away from the stadium. Very annoying! We used the 'follow the fans' technique to find the stadium, which was probably best, as you can't see the ground until 100 yards outside it.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We had no time to do anything before the game. I must comment on how well behaved and helpful the home fans were, particularly for a local derby! We got talking to an Aston Villa fan (who Everton were playing on the day) and had a good discussion over who was going to win Everton's game for much of the second half!
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
From the outside, the ground new and tidy. A very well set out stadium! What was particularly noticeable was the attractive Main Stand with a great facade. We choose the Salop Leisure stand and had front row seats (and got ourselves and our flag on tele). There no pillars in any stand so wherever you decide to sit, you are guaranteed a great view of the action.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
It was an entertaining derby, ending 3-1 to Shrewsbury. I also saw something I've never seen in my life at a game before. At 2-1, the Shrewsbury goalkeeper came 25 yards out, hit the ball straight into the path of a Hereford player. The Hereford player shot and hit the bar, with the ball bouncing back to the very relieved goalie! The attendance was disappointing however the train line was off apparently. Good banter was created between the fans, as you'd expect for a huge game. The stewards were very friendly, and even let us down the player's tunnel at the end! I didn't have a pie however the toilets looked as though they had been cleaned by someone who wanted it to look good.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I had no troubles leaving the ground although were held up by a tractor on the way back which was frustrating to say the least.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I thoroughly enjoyed a day out a the football league's family club of the year, which is justified! Great views, friendly stewards and fans, however, don't make the mistake of going by car, you'll regret it!
Shrewsbury Town v Crewe Alexandra
League Two
Saturday, August 20th 2011, 3pm
Paul Dickinson (Doing the 92)
As I watch Leeds at every home and away match, I don't get much time to attend other games but as our game at West Ham was put back until Sunday, this was an ideal opportunity to do one of my last 8 grounds in the current 92 and Shrewsbury is the nearest of those to my home in West Yorkshire
Shrewsbury was a 140 mile trip from home and it was a straightforward two and a half hour trip via the AI, M18,MI,A38,A5 & M54
Having read a few of the previous reviews, I parked up in a lay-by at the bottom of Oteley Road and it was an easy 15 minute walk to the ground from there.
I got to the ground at 2.15pm and as I was on my own, I just bought a ticket for the Main Stand from the ticket office and went straight inside. The atmosphere outside was very relaxed, with fans of both clubs mingling without any problems
The ground is like many other new stadiums, has a fairly bland design with four individual stands but it does provide good viewing from all areas and my seat just to the right of the halfway line provided an excellent view
The food and drink I had was above average in quality but probably more expensive than other League Two clubs. I also overheard some home fans specifically commenting on this.
The atmosphere was disappointing given this was a derby game, but it probably reflected the poor start, both clubs have made this season.
As for the game itself, Shrewsbury should have been comfortably ahead by half time but seemed sluggish at the start of the 2nd half and the result was only confirmed when they scored their 2nd goal in injury time
With only 5,000 fans in attendance, it was a straightforward walk back to the car and I was home in West Yorkshire by 7.30pm
I always enjoy these trips as a neutral as it allows me to watch games without the usual tension and anxiety that watching Leeds entails!
Today was my 124th English league ground and my 218th in total and I'd recommend it to other fans as a good day out in pleasant surroundings
I've only got seven of the current 92 to do and with three of these planned for next month, the finishing line is now in sight!
Shrewsbury Town v Plymouth Argyle
League Two
Saturday, August 6th 2011, 3pm
Will McCormack (Plymouth Argyle fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
The initial excitement of going to this ground is the fact of it being the opening day of the Npower League Two season which was a huge milestone to make for a club (Plymouth Argyle) being in so much turmoil over the past months. The fact the ground is fairly new and modern also made it seem to be what would be a comfortable trip.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
After travelling with the official club coach finding the ground was very simple as the coach drivers were guided on nearing Shrewsbury, by a Police escort consisting of two motorbikes. The ground had a substantial car park where the coach was directed to.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
After arriving at 1pm it there was plenty of time to find a local pub. The first pub we went to was the Brooklands Hotel, which was a short 5-10 minute walk from the ground itself and had a good atmosphere as this was where a large contingent of travelling supporters congregated. The pub itself struggled with such a large influx of supporters which lead to a lack of change behind the bar and people being turned away! We decided to leave and go to the the Charles Darwin Pub, which was located on the opposite side of the stadium. This is also had a fair contingent of Argyle fans in attendance. The pub had screens showing Sky Sports and the bar itself provided quick and helpful service. I strongly recommend either of these pubs, as long as the Brooklands has plenty of change!
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
First impressions of the ground were good, a neat tidy looking place and well laid out. The away stand was of a high quality with good views of the pitch from all areas. This was also the case with the concourse although with a large following of 1207 supporters it became overcrowded around the food outlet. The seating itself gave a great and generous amount of leg room and the seats themselves were comfortable. The other sides of the ground all very similar to the away stand gave the only negative point of the ground was that it looked quite basic looking in design.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game itself turned out to be a great day for the travelling supporters. The Argyle fans made an amazing atmosphere which was rarely if at all matched by a small contingent of voiceful Shrewsbury supporters in the West Stand. With a 90th minute equalizer for Argyle it made what was turning out to be a disappointing result into a great one. The stewards were present but unobtrusive and when a small contingent of troublemakers started to cause a disturbance they dealt with the situation swiftly and calmly.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground after the game was a very quick and easy process on the travel club coach. The police led a group of coaches and minibus's away from the ground effectively and quickly back onto the main road out of Shrewsbury.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall the trip itself was a great one! A brilliant atmosphere in the away end, a good quality ground with a high quality away stand and 90th minute equalizer from the team captain for a 1-1 result! Definitely a trip worth making and would be well recommended to anyone considering doing so!
Shrewsbury Town v Chesterfield
League Two
Saturday, January 22nd 2011, 3pm
Chris Connolly (Chesterfield fan)
Gay Meadow was one of my favourite grounds, being right next to the river in an interesting and picturesque town, so it's a shame that the new ground is away in the middle of nowhere, meaning there is no longer any need to visit the town of Shrewsbury itself. Having said that, the new place is very easy to reach by car, since it is situated just off the main A5 road to North Wales. Parking for the football is officially not allowed in the nearby Meole Brace Park & Ride but you'd never know, and at the end of the match a slow-motion procession made the road out of the Park &Ride, which looked like a scene from Exodus.
Chesterfield fans are inevitably going to make comparisons with our own new stadium when we visit other new or newish gounds. I'd say the New Meadow is a decent ground with a good view for away supporters, but it needs to have some buildings around it to provide some atmosphere. Football grounds always benefit from having streets and houses around them in my opinion. The view of the pitch may well be excellent but all is bleak behind and outside, which would be a pity anywhere but particularly so when Shrewsbury is such a nice place.
The match itself was forgettable in the extreme but in any case the experience on the away end was affected by the constant stream of foul-mouthed abuse towards the home fans from a section of the visiting support , some of whom were old enough to know much better. It's hard to concentrate when someone is bellowing in your ear all afternoon and this game was not interesting enough to be diverting, although a point for the Spireites was enough to keep us nicely clear at the top of the table.
No problem with stewarding nor with the home supporters. The concourse inside the away stand is a home from home for Chesterfield fans as it is exactly like our own ground. Warm water and dryers in the lavvy illustrate that the 21st century has arrived here but being a vegetarian I can't offer any opinion on the pies, I'm afraid. I didn't see any pubs nearby but the usual dismal crop of fast food outlets are all close by. The stadium's close proximity to a retail park does make it a tad reminiscent of Scunthorpe's Glanford Park (which isn't meant as a compliment) but if you like McDonald's burgers then this is the place for you.
In summary, pick up the new stadium and pop it into the space vacated on the riverbank by Gay Meadow and you'd have a pretty good place to watch football.
Shrewsbury Town v Southend United
League Two
Saturday, November 20th 2010, 3pm
John Spooner (Southend United fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
New ground not visited before.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Easy to find from A5 and parked at Brooklands pub for £5 by roundabout on A5112. Then a short five minute walk to the stadium.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Watched Arsenal lose 2-3 to Spurs on Sky in away stand. Locals were friendly and as we parked home fans were asking how long the trip was etc.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Ground looks impressive from outside but is plain inside with four matching stands and nothing special about the architecture. The pitch is obviously in good condition being new and the view from the away end is great. Plenty of leg room, although floodlights are blinding if you look up at any high balls.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game was lifeless in first half with both teams cautious but Shrewsbury came out early from half time and ran through a series of warm up exercises and it paid off when they took an early lead. Stewards were quick to control fans from both sides after a fracas on the pitch when a Southend defender apparently fouled the goalkeeper going for a loose ball. Southend then took the game to Shrewsbury and deservedly equalised with 4 minutes from time when Grant volleyed home a great goal.
I thoroughly enjoyed the cottage pie at half time even if a bit pricey at £2.70p. Toilets were clean and stewards friendly. Allowed fans to sit anywhere in the whole of the away stand and no problems displaying Southend flags.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No problem leaving the ground but care is needed on crossing road outside the ground as traffic can be heavy and fast moving.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
An enjoyable day out and a good football match.
Attendance: 5,406
Shrewsbury Town v AFC Bournemouth
League Two
Saturday, February 27th 2010, 3pm
Alex Jones (Bournemouth fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
The trip to Shrewsbury represented a new ground for me, and from fellow supporters reviews of last year I new it was a trip I couldn’t afford to miss. Also Bournemouth were in great form, and promotion was looking a certainty for the debt riddled club. I was going hoping that it would conjure up 3 points, and it wasn’t as far as trips to Grimsby and Rotherham!
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey from Bournemouth was rather straight forward. It took around 4 hours, which wasn’t as bad as it seemed. The signposting around the ground was very helpful, albeit supplemented with program notes I had on me. However, the ground really is in the middle of nowhere, so leave plenty of time for drinking and getting a bite to eat. The car parking directly outside the ground was for home supporters only, so we found a local car park and I reckon a fiver is pretty much standard.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Before the game we just wandered round the ground, and had a look in the club shop. We then had a bite to eat inside the ground, and I found the food to be extremely good at a reasonable price. The added luxury of watching Sky Sports was great, and the choice of refreshments was also good. I tucked into my usual chicken balti pie, and it didn’t fail to disappoint.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
My first impressions of the ground was that it was fairly modern, but quite bland looking. Like many nowadays, it compromised of four similar one tired affairs. The away end and its facilities were extremely good, and a good noise could be generated.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game itself wasn’t great, ending in a one nil win for Shrewsbury. Bournemouth deserved to get something out of the game, but in all fairness if it wasn’t for the wood work it would have been at least three.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The atmosphere was relatively good, with the home fans who made the noise congregating in the stand to the right of the away end. We had no problems with stewarding, while the pies were quality! The toilets were also fairly standard.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Shrewsbury is definitely a ground I would visit again. Its combination of modern facilities, welcoming fans and good atmosphere makes it a better ground to go to for league two club’s fans.