Capacity: 9,875 (all seated)
Address: Oteley Road, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ST
Telephone: 01743 289177
Fax: 01743 246942
Ticket Office: 01743 273943
Pitch Size: 115 x 77 yards
Pitch Type: Grass
Club Nickname: Shrews, Salop, Town or Blues
Year Ground Opened: 2007
Undersoil Heating: No
Shirt Sponsors: Energy Check
Away Shirt Sponsors: Shropshire Homes
Kit Manufacturer: Errea
Home Kit: Blue and Amber Stripes
Away Kit: Orange with White Trim
Shrewsbury Town have created history this season by becoming the first League Club in England to install rail seating, at their Montgomery Waters Meadow Stadium, thus creating a safe standing area. Six rows containing 550 rail seats have been installed at the back of the South Stand and can be switched between standing and seating. It is hoped that this will help boost the atmosphere at the stadium and attract more fans. I am sure this will be the first of many safe standing areas to come at other clubs in the coming years.
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 Pro-Vision CCTV Stand at one end of the stadium where the away fans are located also houses a prominent looking Police Control Box. Four small floodlights pylons are present on the roofs of the 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.
In 2017 the stadium was renamed the Montgomery Waters Meadow Stadium in a corporate sponsorship deal. Montgomery Waters are a leading bottled water supplier.
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 as to when this will take place.
Away fans are located in the North Stand at one end of the ground. 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, although the swing doors at the entrances to the toilets were met with a bit of trepidation. Although they were clearly marked one for entrance and one for the exit, the inevitable occurs with fans piling out of each.
The catering has a selection of pies made by Wright’s, including; Steak and Ale, Chicken Balti and a ‘Pie of the Day’ (all £3.40). The club also provides plastic forks to tackle those hot pies, which come in handy. I have to say that my steak and ale pie was very tasty, one of the better that I have had on my recent travels. There are also large plasma screens on the concourses showing Sky Sports throughout the afternoon.
I had a pleasant visit to the Montgomery Waters Meadow and was surprised by the reasonable atmosphere inside. This is boosted by a drummer in the home end, whilst most of the Shrewsbury singers tend to congregate close to the right of the away supporters in the West Stand. Hopefully, this will be boosted more by the home safe standing area in the South End. Even though I was at a local derby, the atmosphere was not hostile and I encountered no problems.
David Matthias informs me; 'There are a couple of pubs within walking distance of the stadium. Firstly there is the 'Wild Pig (known before as the Brooklands Hotel)', just off Meole Brace Island, about five minutes walk away. It also has about 100 car parking spaces costing £5 each. Big screens and catering on matchdays, plus real ale from the Salopian Brewery. Also handily located just up from the BP Garage across the road is the 'Flippin Fish' Fish & Chip Shop. The Wild Pig is situated on Mill Street. From the stadium turn left along the B4380 Oteley Road. Head around the large roundabout towards Shrewsbury Town Centre. Then turn left into Roman Road and then left again into Mill Street. The hotel is down on the right. Please note though that for certain high profile games the Wild Pig reverts to a home fans only pub.
The other pub (and in the opposite direction) is the Charles Darwin; which is around a ten minute walk away. It has a car park (70 spaces) which is free as long as you patronise the pub. It is family friendly shows Sky Sports, as well as offering cask ales and food. To find this pub; then from the stadium entrance turn right along the B4380 Oteley Road. Take the second left into Sutton Road and the pub is down on the right. Opposite the pub is the Tasty Plaice fish & chip shop.
Derek a visiting Wolverhampton fan informs me; 'As the Wild Pig pub was packed I walked to the Meole Brace Bowling club, which was little more than a stone's throw away. They had a large car park which was only about half full (approx an hour before kick off) and cost only £3. The club has a bar and welcomes all non-member visitors whether home or away supporters. It wasn't overcrowded in the two rooms, and they had a good selection of beers including Old Speckled Hen on draught. A selection of baps were also available'.
James Bradbury a visiting Sheffield Wednesday fan informs me; 'After being unable to gain access to the Wild Pig we were directed to the Grove pub on Belle Vue Road. Inside it had a mix of home and away fans, but there were no problems'. The pub is located just over a mile away from the stadium and is about a 20 minute walk. Next door to the pub is the 'Cod Father' fish and chip shop.
Neil Le Milliere a visiting Exeter City fan recommends; 'The Prince of Wales Hotel on Bynner Street. Although near the town centre (albeit on the new stadium side), in the Belle Vue area, this CAMRA Good Beer Guide listed pub was an excellent find. Good ale, food and a friendly welcome. The pub also runs a coach to the stadium for each home game, which away supporters can use for £2.50 (if there is space)'. More information can be found on the Prince of Wales Hotel website.
Gareth Hopkins informs me; 'There are some other pubs and some off-street parking to be had along the Hereford Road (A5191) going towards Shrewsbury Town Centre'. Otherwise alcohol is available to away fans within the stadium before the game but the bars close 15 minutes before the kick off, before opening again at half time.
There is a Retail Park nearby to the stadium, which has some eating outlets such as a McDonalds, Pizza Hut and a supermarket cafe.
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 (although I have received reports of fans turning up early and being admitted for £7). 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. Check though for any parking restrictions detailed on posts, before parking up. 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).
Tony Morris a visiting Portsmouth fan informs me; ''At the top of Oteley Road which leads to the ground, there is the Meole Brace Roundabout. Around the roads leading onto the roundabout there are a number of private car parks providing match day parking, each of which charges £5. One is located behind the petrol station on the corner of Roman Road which is where we parked. We got there about an hour before kick off and there was plenty of room – I’m guessing at a capacity of around 200-300 cars. On the roundabout itself is the Wild Pig pub, which also offers parking".
Alternatively you can use the Park & Ride scheme operated by the Club. This costs £2 per person and commences at 12.30pm on Saturdays & 5.30pm for evening matches. It operates from Shire Hall (but not the nearby Meole Brace which is a park & ride for the town centre). It is located off the A5 (just take the A5064 towards the town centre) and at the roundabout with Lord Hill's Column, take the 3rd exit and then first right into the car park. I have heard though of delays in getting back to you car after the match (in some cases up to 40 minutes) so bear this in mind.
For any fans wanting to make a full day of a Saturday at Shrewsbury, I would recommend the use of the Meole Brace Park & Ride site. It is only a 10-15 minute walk from the ground and is well signposted from the A5. For £1.60 per passenger (return ticket), people can park at the site, catch a bus into Shrewsbury town centre, find plenty of food and drink outlets, and then catch a return bus back to the site. Journey time between 10-15 minutes depending on traffic volumes. Please note that parking is provided for those using the Park & Ride and not for matchday parking. There is also the option of renting a private driveway near in the local area via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.
Post Code for SAT NAV: SY2 6ST
Shrewsbury Railway Station is just over two miles away from the Greenhous Meadow Stadium, 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 (although I have heard that taxis at the station can sometimes be scarce, so you may wish to find the number of a local firm before you go). 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 and the cost of a ticket is £1.60. It doesn't run though in the evenings. There is a Football Special Bus Service that runs from the Town Centre Bus Station up to the stadium, which costs £2.50, In addition bus service numbers 8, 16, 23, 25 and 544/546 all stop near to the stadium (but are rather sparse or non-existent in the late evening after midweek games). The Football Special Bus Service promptly departs from behind the South Stand, ten minutes after the final whistle back to the town centre. Shrewsbury train station is served by trains from Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Crewe and Newport (Gwent).
Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets:
The Club operate a category policy (A & B) for the pricing of matchday tickets. This means that the more popular games (Category A) cost more to watch. Category A prices are shown below with Category B prices in brackets:
All areas of the stadium (excluding Family Stand)
Adults £22 (B £20)
Over 65's £17 (B £15)
Students/Under 22's £17 (B £15)
Under 19's £12 (B £8)
Under 12's £10 (B £6)
Under 8's Free*
* Under 8's can gain free admission, providing that they are accompanied by a paying adult.
Official Programme £3
Shrewsbury Town FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website).
Wrexham, Walsall, Port Vale and Crewe.
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
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
2017-2018: 6,249 (League One)
2016-2017: 5,507 (League One)
2015-2016: 5,481 (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.
If you require hotel accommodation in Shrewsbury then first try a hotel booking service provided by Booking.com. They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will help towards the running costs of keeping this Guide going.
Access their Shrewsbury Hotels pages.
Remember that you can use the above link to book any other hotels that you may need for business or leisure, at home or abroad.
Booking.comOfficial Web Site
Unofficial Web Sites
Goodbye Gay Meadow (Book For Sale)
Vital Shrewsbury (Vital Football Network)
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: duncan@footballgroundguide.com and I'll update the guide.
Special thanks to Danny Davies providing the photos of the Salop Leisure Stand including the rail seating.
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 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 Barnsley
League 1
Tuesday 23rd October 2018, 7.45 pm
David Crossfield (Barnsley)
Shrewsbury Town v Fleetwood Town
League One
Tuesday 1st January 2019, 3pm
Josh Ruck (Fleetwood Town)
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 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 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
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 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 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!
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