INTERVIEW WITH SAM POOLEY. OF I LOVE COMPOST.COM FAME

My first engagement of the day was a 11.00 interview with Sam Pooley at the Guildhall. She is a fantastic person who has done so0 much to make the Shrewsbury Indoor Market Hall a place we must visit every time you go to town.

My interview lasted an hour and it went really quickly. I think she really likes the Mayors Parlour with the views over the river etc. Sam runs a business in the Market Hall called Compost Kids. (Now that is a nice one recycle your children at Compost Kids.) only joking Sam.   ilovecompost is a site showcasing her wares, which are all available for purchase from prints to paintings. She is also available for commissions, creative consultancy and has even been known to design and coordinate an entire event from invites to goodie bags. Please click on the following link to go to her Web-Site. Thank you: http://ilovecompost.com/

Her studio is situated in the Market Hall Shrewsbury where she also runs Compost Kids, parent and toddler art workshops that run through out the year, currently on a Tuesday and Thursday morning.

INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY AWARDING CRERTIFICATES AT OTTLEY HOUSE

My next engagement was at Ottley House Residents Care Home where I handed out certificates to nurses who work at the home as it was International Nurses Day. Below is a pictorial of those awards.

We were presented with a scrapbook covering the past two years that we had visited them first as Deputy Mayor/Mayoress and this year as Mayor and Mayoress. The Mayoress was gifted some lovely flowers and I was given a nice bottle. Thank you we have enjoyed all of our visits and we will return without the chains as the residents and staff have become part of our extended family.

Please click on the following link to go to the Ottley House Web-Site. Thank you: http://www.barchester.com/Care-Homes/West-Midlands/Shropshire/Shrewsbury/ottley-house-care-home.htm

SHREWSBURY AND DISTRICT SCHOOLS FA. PRIMARY SCHOOLS FINALS

The third engagement of the day I attended was to the Greenhouse Meadow for the finals of the Shrewsbury and District Schools FA Primary Schools Finals. There were both boys and girls teams playing and I have to say that the standard of play was fantastic, a credit to the young people playing and to the staff at the schools.

I would also like to Thank Shrewsbury Town Football Club on behalf of the SDSFA for allowing these finals to be played on this now a league division one pitch. Thank you. I could only stay for a couple of games as I had another engagement to attend and time was tight. But I did enjoy my time there. Last year I was able to spend all day at this event as Deputy Mayor.

Please click on the following link to take you to the SADSFA Web-Site. Thank you: http://www.sscfa.co.uk/boys/news.php?go=newslist&cat=Shrewsbury%20and%20District%20Schools%20FA

Now for the official team photo shoot a real must on this special day for these youngsters.

I then had to leave so that I had chance to get ready for my last engagement of the day.

PAST MAYORS DINNER

This evening we were guests at the annual Past Mayors of Shrewsbury Dinner held at The Lord Hill Hotel. I is always nice to meet and talk with the past Mayors of our great town. They still have a great deal to offer people like myself, and the past Mayoress’s all took to Tricia and she soon felt at home. The dinner is an informal do and has a fun atmosphere about it. What a great way to end a long day of engagements.

As normal for the Lord Hill Hotel the food was great and the staff fantastic, after the meal we all went on our ways, all looking forward to next year.

Click on the following link to go to the Shrewsbury Town Council’s Web-site.   Thank you. http://www.shrewsburytowncouncil.gov.uk/shrewsburytowncouncil

Please click on the following link to take you to the Shropshire Live Web-Site. Thank you.                     http://www.shropshirelive.com/

Please click on the following link to go to the Shropshire Star Web-Site. Thank you: http://www.shropshirestar.com/

 THANK YOU 

LEAGUE ONE HERE WE COME

Please see below a pictorial of the open top bus outside the Guildhall where it parked up so that the fans could see the promotion winning players and directors. It was a fantastic moment and when I went onto the bus I was met by the board of directors and manager. The bus was crowded but not one complaint. Just looking down onto the fans showed to me just how much it meant for everyone that Shrewsbury Town Football Club gaining promotion into league one.

Please enjoy the pictures, thank you.

The bus then left the Guildhall and we then left but had to get to the Shirehall before they did, now that took some doing with the amount of people walking around, but we did.

I then escorted the manager and the directors into the Shirehall where we all had a lovely meal and talked about the happy times of football and about past years as far back as 1957/8 through to the present time. After the meal the team and directors coaching staff etc all boarded the bus to return to the Greenhous Meadow where just a few hours later they had their Player of the Year award/dinner. I returned home a happy Mayor. League one here we come.

The whole event was a partnership between Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Town Council in agreement with Shrewsbury Town Football Club.

Well done to Shrewsbury Town Football Club and the Suporters that together make up “Team Shrewsbury”.

Please click on the following link to go to the STFC Web-Site. Thank you: http://www.shrewsburytown.com/page/Home

Click on the following link to go to the Shrewsbury Town Council’s Web-site.   Thank you. http://www.shrewsburytowncouncil.gov.uk/shrewsburytowncouncil

Please click on the following link to take you to the Shropshire Live Web-Site. Thank you.                     http://www.shropshirelive.com/

Please click on the following link to go to the Shropshire Star Web-Site. Thank you: http://www.shropshirestar.com/

 THANK YOU 

FIRST APPOINTMENT OF THE DAY MEETING IN MAYORS PARLOUR.

This morning I had a meeting with Mr Paul Pascoe, President of The Rotary Club of Shrewsbury, where we discussed issues regarding Relate and Relateen and how we could best work to help fund this important service to many of our local schools.

One of their fund raising events is to hold an Indian Night in support of young people at home and abroad, through the Woodford Foundation, Relateen and the Shropshire Bangladesh Welfare Society. It is to be held at the Lord Hill Hotel, Three course meal, musicians and dancers. The price per ticket is £20. For more details and tickets please ring The Third Place on 01743 272041, or Rotarian Alan Copplestone 01743 231059 or Phil Henshhaw on 01743 861071.

Please click on the following link to go to the Woodford Foundation Web-Site. Thank you  http://www.woodfordfoundation.org.uk/

Please click on the following link to go to the Relate Web-Site. Thank you  http://www.relate.org.uk/relate-office/189/index.html

Please click on the following link to go to the Rotasry Club of Shrewsbury Web-Site. Thank you  http://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.asp?ClubID=1262                               

TABLES ARE TURNED ON MAYOR WHEN HE RECEIVES A COMENDATION AWARD FROM CRIMESTOPPERS

This afternoon I attended a meeting in my role as Vice Chairman of West Mercia Crimestoppers held at Shrewsbury College of Art and Technology at their London Road Campus. The meeting was with our many partners from all over the West Mercia Force area and it was a what we called a pre launch meeting. The launch we are working on is a new web-site aimed at young people and designed by young people. To find out what it is all about please click on the following link to the Fearless Web-Site. Thank you  http://www.fearless.org/

Whilst we were there the regional manager Pauline Hedley presented me with an award from Crimestoppers a comendation for the volunteer work that I have done for Crimestoppers in the West Mercia area, including my dedication to young people via such things as Crucial Crew events.

Below are a few pictures taken today with people attending the meeting as well as one of my presentation.

As you will see above we had attending The High Sheriff of Shropshire and his wife Patricia and Martin James from Shrewsbury Town Football Club sitting is Anna and Nathen who are two students who have volunteered to be part of our team to launch Fearless soon in Shrewsbury.

At this point I felt like standing up and starting to thank my Mother, Sisters, Sons, Daughters, the in-laws, my fellow Board Members, those who voted for me and not forgeting my Crimestoppers widow Tricia, Blah-Blah, somewhat like they do for a TV award, but they just all walked away and I had to follow. But I am honoured to receive this award and it felt strange to be receiving an award, not presenting one as I normally do as Mayor. I think it is the first award I have received ever so it is rather special, most likely be the last one as well.

Look out for the Launch of Fearless soon it is aimed at young people, the same people myself and the Mayoress are dedicating our year of office to.

Please click on the following link to go to the Crimestoppers Web-Site. Thank you   http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/

Please click on the following link to go to the Fearless YouTube Vidio, that shows why saying nothing is not an option. thank you.   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbnbwb0WVTI&feature=player_embedded

A COLUMN IN THE SHREWSBURY CHRONICLE EVERY WEEK

A feature all about good positive stories, a must read if you want to put a smile on your face and be Proud of Shrewsbury, and become Part of the Team. Make sure you get your copy this week and read the article. Thank You.  Tony

 http://www.shrewsburychronicle.com/

Click on the following link to go to the Shrewsbury Town Council’s Web-site.   Thank you.

 http://www.shrewsburytowncouncil.gov.uk/shrewsburytowncouncil

Click on the following link to go to the SHREWSBURY/ ZUTPHEN Twinning Web-site. Thank you.

http://www.shrewsburyzutphentwinning.co.uk/live/welcome.asp?id=3506#page_content

Please click on the following link to go to theZUTPHEN Holland web-site. Thank you.  http://www.zutphen.nl/

Please click on the following link to go to the KLAGENFURT Austria web-site. Thank you.

 http://www.klagenfurt.co.uk/

Please click on the following link to go to the CARPITERIA CAL USA    web-site. Thank you.

http://www.carpinteria.ca.us/

MAYORS CHARITY SPRING BALL

 Please have a look at the MAYORS CHARITY SPRING BALL page as I have added a preview of what the menu of the evening should look like. Please click on the following link to take you there. Thank you.
http://mayorofshrewsbury.wordpress.com/mayors-charity-spring-ball/

Please click on the following link to take you to the Shropshire Live Web-Site. Thank you.   http://www.shropshirelive.com/

MY NEW ON-LINE SURVEY

Please click on the link below to go to my new on-line survey. You can only vote once per computer. Thank you.

http://mayorofshrewsbury.surveydaddy.com/s/new-survey

As reported in the Shropshire Star, I am campaigning to have the footbridge from the Frankwell Car Park to the Riverside Shopping Centre called “The Zutphen Bridge”. As many will know that we are twinned with Zutphen a town in Holland and this connection between the two towns goes back further than the official 1977 Twinning ceremony, also further back than the Second World War. In fact our association with Zutphen goes back as far as 1586, when a certain Sir Philip Sidney was killed whilst attempting to push the Spanish out of Zutphen.  In Zutphen they have Shrewsbury a traffic island named after Shrewsbury, as they are Proud in being twinned with Shrewsbury, I feel we should show our pride in a similar way and what better than a bridge.

THANK YOU

This evening we held a small civic reception at the Guildhall for Shrewsbury Cricket Club in recognition of their outstanding achievement in winning the ECB National Knockout, after defeating Cambridge Granta at Derbyshire’s County Ground.

I invited the team, committee and their spouses for  a few drinks and to award them a framed certificate and the Shrewsbury Town Council ”Floreat Salopia” Shield on behalf of the people of Shrewsbury.

Pictured above from Left to right: Club Chairman Andy Barnard, Mayoress Tricia Durnell, Club Captain Ed Foster and Yours Truly.

Our new Shrewsbury Town Council Crest is the three logerheads without the bridge above them, as we no longer have the Atcham part within our areas since the Unitary Authority was set up. In fact our new Crest is almost the same as the old Town Counil one of the early 1970′s, befor3e we became Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council.

Whilst at the Guildhall a number of the team took up my offer of being shown the town silver collection and accompanied me into the Mayors Parlour, where I gave them a brief history on a number of the items on display. Below is a photograph taken with the group whilst in the Mayors Parlour.

 This evening was also the evening of their annual Dinner and presentation event this year being held at the Grennhous Meadow. The Mayoress and myself were invited guests and so in a timed fashion we left the Guildhall only to meet again fifteen minutes later, on a role reveral situation.

 We had a most enjoyable night at the Greenhouse Meadow and met with many people who I had not seen for many years, one such person was a certain Steve Gayle, whom I had not seen since we went to watch Shrewsbury Town at the Gay Meadow in the late 1950′s early 1960′s I remember that Russell Crossley was in goal, ex Liverpool GK who was with Shrewsbury 1954-59. (I know and now admit that I am old, because  that was over 50 years ago, but I do have a good memory). Steve went with his mother and I went with my sister, as my sister and his mother worked together at the old Hartley Electronics firm that fully occupied what is now called the Hartlys Business Park and that is only a hundred or so yards away from where I now live, small world we live in. I also met people who I knew from Ford from many years ago, as my wife said to me on our way home, “is there anywhere we will ever go that you will not meet someone who you knew from the past”, my answer was I dont supose so why?

Over the years there have been many Shrewsbury Town footballers who have also been very good cricketers, the last one who I can remember was Joe Hart. So nothing wrong with my short term memory either. These days with injuries being a threat it seems to be frowned upon for footballers to also play cricket, yet it is or was a good way for the players to keep fit throughout the year.

Please click on the folowing link to go to the Shrewsbury Cricket Club Web-site. Thank you.

http://shrewsbury.play-cricket.com/home/home.asp

A COLUMN IN THE SHREWSBURY CHRONICLE EVERY WEEK

 A feature all about good positive stories, a must read if you want to put a smile on your face and be Proud of Shrewsbury, and become Part of the Team.

Make sure you get your copy this week and read the article. Thank You.  Tony

 http://www.shrewsburychronicle.com/ 

 Click on the following link to go to the Shrewsbury Town Council’s Web-site.   Thank you.

 http://www.shrewsburytowncouncil.gov.uk/shrewsburytowncouncil

Click on the following link to go to the SHREWSBURY/ ZUTPHEN Twinning Web-site. Thank you.

http://www.shrewsburyzutphentwinning.co.uk/live/welcome.asp?id=3506#page_content

Please click on the following link to go to the ZUTPHEN Holland web-site. Thank you.

http://www.zutphen.nl/

Please click on the following link to go to the KLAGENFURT Austria web-site. Thank you.

 http://www.klagenfurt.co.uk/

Please click on the following link to go to the CARPITERIA CAL USA    web-site. Thank you.

http://www.carpinteria.ca.us/

We’re Canadian Eh

http://gse5550.blogspot.com/

Please remember to keep ane eye on the Mayors Charity Spring Ball Page. you can get to it through the menu bar at the top on my page just under the picture of the castle flower bed that my wife and I designed for the Battle of Shrewsbury 600th anniversary. Thank you Tony.

ON-LINE CAR PARKING SURVEY

Please click on the link below to take part in my survey, it will open in another window. I am interested in what you think and trust you to answer with your true feelings. The survey is not part of any official consultation for either Shrewsbury Town Council or Shropshire Council, but is just my own thoughts and questions of what I personally feel need answering, you will only be able to vote once from your PC. I just ask that you please take a look and let me know your answers to my questions. Thank You. Tony

 http://mayorofshrewsbury.surveydaddy.com/s/new-survey

THANK YOU

Today we attended the Guildhall to present the winners of our own Town of Flowers competition with their awards. The Council Chamber was nearly full, we started with a buffet for those attending, giving the Mayoress and myself time to mix and have a chat with people from all parts of our community.

Above the selection of trophies on display before the presentation began.

The winning entry for the commercial sector was the Prince Rupert Hotel.

There were winners from all over the town and at a later date I will porst a pictorial of those winners. Above most of those you can see were there to collect a prize, it was just great being able to present the prizes, best part of any job is being able to give something to someone.

Above children from Greenfields School picked up 1st prize and below are the young people from The Wilfred Owen School who took second prize in the School Garden Competion.

Above the representatives from Budgen Motors who also won an award.

Above is the group picture of most of the winners, but I have noticed one very quite man who is missing from this picture. The person I refer to entered this year for the first time and he is an allotment holder at the Sutton Allotments, on his first attempt he walked away with three (yes three awards) two shields and a bowl. with him to help him carry them home was his daughter and grandson. I will post his picture along with others when I get them from the office.

I would like to say well done to all those who took part in the competition and if you didn’t win this year well there is always next year, if you were on of the winners this year then well done.

Both the Mayoress and myself entered garden competitions before we started judging and we both know how much work and effort it takes to get everything just right for the time when the judge arrives.

A COLUMN IN THE SHREWSBURY CHRONICLE EVERY WEEk

A feature all about good positive stories, a must read if you want to put a smile on your face and be Proud of Shrewsbury, and become Part of the Team.

 Make sure you get your copy this week and read the article. Thank You.  Tony

 http://www.shrewsburychronicle.com/ 

 Click on the following link to go to the Shrewsbury Town Council’s Web-site.   Thank you.

 http://www.shrewsburytowncouncil.gov.uk/shrewsburytowncouncil

 Click on the following link to go to the SHREWSBURY/ ZUTPHEN Twinning Web-site. Thank you.

http://www.shrewsburyzutphentwinning.co.uk/live/welcome.asp?id=3506#page_content

Please click on the following link to go to the ZUTPHEN Holland web-site. Thank you.

http://www.zutphen.nl/

Please click on the following link to go to the KLAGENFURT Austria web-site. Thank you.

 http://www.klagenfurt.co.uk/

Please click on the following link to go to the CARPITERIA CAL USA    web-site. Thank you.

http://www.carpinteria.ca.us/

We’re Canadian Eh

http://gse5550.blogspot.com/

Please remember to keep ane eye on the Mayors Charity Spring Ball Page. you can get to it through the menu bar at the top on my page just under the picture of the castle flower bed that my wife and I designed for the Battle of Shrewsbury 600th anniversary. Thank you Tony.

ON-LINE CAR PARKING SURVEY

Please click on the link below to take part in my survey, it will open in another window. I am interested in what you think and trust you to answer with your true feelings. The survey is not part of any official consultation for either Shrewsbury Town Council or Shropshire Council, but is just my own thoughts and questions of what I personally feel need answering, you will only be able to vote once from your PC. I just ask that you please take a look and let me know your answers to my questions. Thank You. Tony

 http://mayorofshrewsbury.surveydaddy.com/s/new-survey

THANK YOU

This morning we visited the Abbey Church to officially open the Festival of Golden Pedestals.

The festival will run from to-day through until Sunday 16th October. It is being presented by the Shrewsbury Flower Club and it celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Mercia and North Wales Area of NAFAS (National Association of Flower Arrangers) and is in aid of the Shrewsbury Abbey Organ Restoration Fund.

 The Shrewsbury Flower Club would like to thank all those who have made this festival posible, with particular thanks to all those who have arranged flowers plus the helpers who have contributed to this spectacular event.

On display are arrangements from locally well known people such as a fantastic arrangement by Howard Franklin as you enter the church off Abbey Foregate, there are arrangements from two daughters of Percey Thrower, (Margaret Thrower and Ann Kirkham) as well as one from a very young person Ifan George, in fact I am led to understand that he is in his mid teens. So please go along and have a slow relaxing time wondering around a lovely building looking at these fantastic creations, then follow this up by sitting down with some home made cake and a cup of tea and people watch, like I did.

LIGHT INFANTRY & RIFLES ASSOCIATION REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION DINNER

This evening we attended what the LI & Rifles Regimental Association dinner at the Greenhous Stadium. The Rifles is the amagamation of the many Light Infantry regiments into one, they call it modernisation, but to me it does lose the magic or history of those famous regiments it replaces. But I am maybe just getting old and sentimental.

Pictured above Left to Right: Mrs Tricia Durnell Mayoress of Shrewsbury, The Bugler of the evening and Lieutenant Colnel Nick Jenkins (Shropshire County Colonel The Rifles)

I am sorry to say that I missed the name and correct rank of our Bugler and for that reason I apologise, as it was unforgivable of me not to have paid full attention. The evening went really well with amny old friends meeting up and having fun going over old times as well as thinking of future events that are planned this year.

I was pleased to have been able to answer the questions that many had regarding the vision of the Town Council and its future plans. The association thanked the Town Council for the help it had given the Rifles in the past and look forward to our continued support in the future. I was pleased to tell them that the Town Council and its residents have always held the Rifles close to its heart and will continue to do so, as the army in Shrewsbury is a very important part of our history and our future.

Once again our thanks go out to the Greenhous Stadium for the service and good quality food they provided, it was truly a fantastic meal and the service could not have been bettered.

A COLUMN IN THE SHREWSBURY CHRONICLE EVERY WEEK

A feature all about good positive stories, a must read if you want to put a smile on your face and be Proud of Shrewsbury, and become Part of the Team.

 Make sure you get your copy this week and read the article. Thank You.  Tony

  http://www.shrewsburychronicle.com/section/news/

 Click on the following link to go to the Shrewsbury Town Council’s Web-site.   Thank you.

 http://www.shrewsburytowncouncil.gov.uk/shrewsburytowncouncil

 Click on the following link to go to the SHREWSBURY/ ZUTPHEN Twinning Web-site. Thank you.

http://www.shrewsburyzutphentwinning.co.uk/live/welcome.asp?id=3506#page_content

Please click on the following link to go to the ZUTPHEN Holland web-site. Thank you.

http://www.zutphen.nl/

Please click on the following link to go to the KLAGENFURT Austria web-site. Thank you.

 http://www.klagenfurt.co.uk/

Please click on the following link to go to the CARPITERIA CAL USA    web-site. Thank you.

http://www.carpinteria.ca.us/

We’re Canadian Eh

http://gse5550.blogspot.com/

Please remember to keep ane eye on the Mayors Charity Spring Ball Page. you can get to it through the menu bar at the top on my page just under the picture of the castle flower bed that my wife and I designed for the Battle of Shrewsbury 600th anniversary. Thank you Tony.

Players, clubs and managers benefit from the system every year. Many high profile footballers kickstarted their careers with loan moves to lower league sides.

Former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham scored two goals in five matches for Preston North End in 1995 before going on to make 265 appearances under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, winning six premier League titles and a Champions League in the process.

Current England captain John Terry made six appearances for Nottingham Forest in 2000. The tough tackling centre-back gained the vital playing experience required to lead Chelsea to three Premier League trophies and four FA Cups.

Spurs striker Jermain Defoe equalled John Aldridge’s post-war record by scoring in ten consecutive games during a loan spell at Bournemouth from West Ham United in the 2000-01 season. The 28-year-old’s impressive displays earned him a call up to the England U-21 squad, scoring against Mexico on his debut.

The aforementioned international stars may not have enjoyed such successful careers if it wasnt for their loan moves in earlier years.

However,it is not just the individual players who get the best out of the system – the clubs do too. Today, many Premier League sides have feeder teams. For example, Manchester United have a link with Belgian club Royal Antwerp. These feeder agreements are a two-way arrangement as youthful talent are sent on short-term or season long loan to bolster lower league sides and promising youth can be sent the other way to prove they are worth a contract to become a future star.

Nonetheless, a feeder agreement does not have to be in place in order for players to go out on loan and develop as footballers.

Shrewsbury Town are one of many clubs at the English League Two level who use the system every year. In fact, the Shropshire side have loaned 30 players in the last four seasons.

Many sides at Shrewsbury’s level do not have the financial firepower to buy players outright on a regular basis and have to use the loan system extensively to keep their squad fresh.

Shrewsbury manager Paul Simpson has dipped into the market frequently during his nine year managerial career in the dugouts of Rochdale, Carlisle United, Preston North End and Shrewsbury Town respectively.

The former Manchester City winger understands the importance of having the option to add to their squad throughout the season on an emergency basis as all teams will suffer from an injury crisis at some point during their campaign.

“You can bring players in on a short term period and then you don’t have the expense of paying for them for the whole year,” declares Simpson, who has been in charge at Greenhous Meadow since 2008.

It is a very basic concept, but one that works wonders for smaller clubs up and down the nation where money is hard to come by.

Cureton is currently on loan for the third time in his career

Training grounds are always an eclectic mix of youth and experience as manager’s look to create the perfect blend required to succeed. Shrewsbury are no different.

34-year-old Jamie Cureton is currently on loan from Norwich City as he searches for more playing in the twilight years of his career. Cureton has a wealth of experience in the game which includes loan spells at Bournemouth and Colchester United and a stint at South Korean side Busan I’cons during his seventeen years in the game.

Cureton is a man that many younger players can learn from. Players like goalkeeper David Button and defender Joe Skarz.

Button, on loan from Spurs, and Huddersfield Town’s Joe Skarz are currently attracting attention from a number of clubs during their loan spell at the Prostar Stadium.

The Tottenham Hotspur stopper already has vast experience of being on loan himself, as is the case with many young Premier League goalkeepers. The 21-year-old is currently amidst his ninth loan spell as he looks to prove he has the talent to challenge Heurelho Gomes for the number one shirt at White Hart Lane in the future.

Shrewsbury have recognised that it is often difficult for young players to settle in when on temporary deals at the club, so chairman Roland Wycherley bought somewhere for the players to stay.

http://www.onmvoice.com/player/player.swf?a=50936&ap=0&color=undefined

The house is only a five minutes drive away from the stadium and allows the young loanees to get to know each other and the area; creating an all important home away from home that means they can concentrate on their football.

Button has impressed during his season long loan at Shrewsbury

A watchful eye is always cast over their subjects by the player’s parent clubs’ and as both players continue to impress in a Shrewsbury shirt, they may just remember their loan spells fondly.

Button is already proving that the loam system works, having recently signed a new deal with Spurs that will keep him at the club until 2013 and Button may challenge another former Shrewsbury goalkeeper, Joe Hart,  for an England spot before then.

Both Button and Skarz have developed their friendship by living together that has produced an almost telepathic understanding on the pitch.

So, Shrewsbury Town continue to push for another play-off position with the aid of a number of talented loanees, young and old.

The club are just one example of how the loan system is utilised on an annual basis. Their loaned players may not have long term plans with the club but they can give the side a boost that could mean promotion or safety from relegation.

For the players themselves, they may lack a sense of loyalty to their loan clubs but their will to play football and progress in their careers means the loan system is a win-win for all involved.

Shrewsbury Town Football Club

Graham Turner had told the Salop faithful on multiple occasions over the previous month via his programme notes that he was hoping to add one or two to the squad but very few would have expected the volume of deals that the club would conclude come transfer deadline day. It was known for the week leading up that Shrewsbury were looking to sign Coventry’s on-loan defender Jermaine Grandison on a permanent basis and this would turn out to be the first concluded deal of the day for the Shrews. The permanent acquisition of Grandison led to the mutual agreement to release right back Dean Holden from his contract. Aware of the Grandison situation, Holden’s agent had been touting him to several clubs the week previous, which only solidified the inevitable decision for Turner to release the defender. To further the view that it was a departure that Turner wanted, Shrewsbury acquired a further right-sided defender in the shape of Kelvin Lomax following his release from Oldham, on a 6-month contract.

The final minutes of the transfer window saw Shrewsbury Town acquire Torquay’s want-away midfielder Nicky Wroe on an undisclosed fee. The move for Wroe, who had been on the transfer list at the Gulls since October, saw Jake Robinson go in the opposite direction on a loan deal. Robinson had started the season as first-choice on the Town frontline alongside Matt Harrold before poor-form and the emergence of youngster Tom Bradshaw had reduced the former Brighton man to cameo appearances from the bench.

No Graham Turner transfer-spree is complete until there is at least one if not several loan acquisitions. In this case there would be three of them, all from the reserve teams of Premier League clubs. Goalkeeper Lee Nicholls was acquired from Wigan on an initial month’s loan to fill the gap made by the departure of Shrewsbury’s 3rd choice keeper Hakan Duyan to Turkish side Gaziantepspor. Young defender Paul Downing arrived from West Bromwich Albion, that too a month’s loan as was the deal to bring Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder David Davis to the Greenhous Meadow.

Ambitious: Shropshire's leading club

Like most clubs less than 24 hours after the winter transfer window closed, Shrewsbury would have a match on their hands: a home tie against Burton Albion. However of the new arrivals only David Davis’ registration had gone through in time for him to feature in the game. Davis started from the outset and provided the centre of the Shrews’ midfield with an energy that has been lacking over the previous weeks, maintaining defensive responsibilities when Jermaine Grandison would overlap on the right as well as covering some of right-winger Jon Taylor’s defensive duties thereby enabling Taylor to play higher up the pitch. This of course was of great benefit to the home side as Taylor would score two of Shrewsbury’s three goals in a morale-boosting 3-0 win. Davis would be replaced with some 10 minutes of the game to go by a relative Shrewsbury veteran in the form of Craig Disley. Town’s attacking play subsequently slowed in pace with Grandison and Taylor taking it in turn to humiliate the Brewers unlucky left-back. Jermaine Grandison provided further justification of his permanent acquisition, attacking and defending well. He did have some moments of over-exuberance (a fair few step-overs, bamboozling some of the opposition while occasionally even bamboozling himself). However, the showboating combined with his constant willingness to attack and relative assuredness in defence, will add weight to the likelihood of him becoming a firm fans favourite at the Greenhous Meadow. It’s worth noting that while Shrewsbury hosted Burton, Jake Robinson made his debut for Torquay, opening the scoring in the game in fact before Torquay succumbed to a 3-1 home defeat to struggling Hereford. His debut may be at a price to the Gulls as his eligibility to have played in the tie has been questioned as it is believed he was fielded unregistered, meaning that Torquay may face sanction in some capacity by the Football League.

Graham Turner: League 1 in his sights

Before last night’s game with Burton, Shrewsbury had endured a rather torrid run of form, picking up ten points from a possible thirty on offer. Their victory over Burton, while hopefully restoring confidence to a side that had looked bereft of it in the past month, has put them back in to the play-off places, a place Shrewsbury have appeared rather accustomed to over the years. Whether or not Shrewsbury can get that elusive promotion is open to debate but it is hoped that Graham Turner will be the man to lead them there this season. Not without help from those trusty loan dealings of course.

Shrewsbury are the only League Two side with an unbeaten home record Pic: Impact Tarmac

Bet you can’t guess what this is about if you look at the headline!

Following Chesterfield‘s 2-1 home defeat to Burton Albion yesterday (Nov 14) we are the only club in League Two to have an unbeaten home record.

Now, I have probably tempted fate here and we will go and lose the next game at home, but a strong home record is vital in a successful season.

The longer we remain unbeaten at home, even if the odd game ends as a draw, the stronger position we will be in come the end of the season.

Graham Turner and his boys are going about things the right way and the Greenhous Meadow is soon becoming a bit of a fortress for us.

Excuse me for not jumping up and down celebrating this news, but frankly this is about as good news to me as a visit to the dentist for multiple fillings!

Many fans are telling me to think of the money, but will we really be making that much money? We will be getting a fee obviously from tour operators, but we are more than likely to see nothing from the sky-high ticket prices.

Add to that the damage it will do to the pitch, probably resulting in it needing to be re-laid. OK, the tour promoters may have to pay for the repairs, but it is a pain nevertheless.

Safe to say I won’t be attending this “wonderful” occasion and it will be interesting to see how many do actually go to this!

For more information on the Elton John concert, click here.