The Day Of Reckoning - Adrian Plimmer

 The day of reckoning

I sit here and write on the Friday before the game. I have to say loads of thoughts are going through my mind, and if I’m honest, work will be a total blur today.

I’m sat here on ‘dress down Friday’ at the UK’s No.1 Floor care provider’s headquarters, after listening to Radio Shropshire on the way in. Singing ‘Catch us if you can!’ at the top of my voice, laughing at the banter between Radio Kent and Radio Shropshire. I’m nervous, but nervous excited, and I can’t wait till tomorrow.

I really want to make sure I take it all in this time. Last time our coach broke down, and there were some scenes of worry outside an Off Licence in Tipton as we wondered if the replacement coach would ever come. But it did, and I remember the scenes as we got to the top flight of stairs and stood awestruck at the immense size of the place.

I’ve still got a phone video of Bizzy just speechless, who couldn’t believe Shrewsbury were at this place.

But this time, we are going there, and we are going there, to win! That’s not me being presumptuous or over confident. What I’m trying to say is, believe in that we can win this. Don’t just go for the day out and get behind the team.

It feels different this time. Despite at times this not being a classic season, the history books will show, that by 6 p.m. if Shrewsbury has won, it will be a classic season. Poor results for the majority of league and cup games away from home, will be lost in the memory as penalty saves and dramatic wins at Sheffield (not many times we’ve lost in Sheffield) Victoria Road, and Gigg Lane will be remembered (think back to 79 – and Swindon, Bury and Blackpool!) more.

The club, team and fans, has a chance to become legends. To have Nostalgia Nights about them in the future. And if I were a Player waking up tomorrow morning, knowing that would add an extra spring to my step.

In the end it is of course another game. It’s everything else that makes it special. Going to the capital city of our country, going to our national stadium. Being on live television, the whole event basically pointing a big arrow at a town and area, in an economic climate that needs a boost like everywhere else. I wonder how much the local economy has benefited from Wembley. All the coach firms and drivers. The pubs, and eateries doing special breakfast. T-Shirt, flag and scarf suppliers. The corner shop that will sell more sandwiches and bottles of pop for the journey.

The pubs like the Brooklands and the Prince of Wales who will gain regional and national publicity. Groups like shrewsTRUST and the OSC who have Midlands Today and Central Tonight in there ‘speed – dial’.

It fantastic, and it’s great that so many people are taking the opportunity and grasping it with both hands.

And yet I think how close we came to this not happening. I don’t mean missing the Play Offs, or losing in a semi final or final. I mean if we hadn’t got the Prostar, would STFC be here now!

I just wonder how some of those who campaigned against the Town moving from Gay Meadow are feeling today. Probably not that bothered I guess, but all this really proves a point, of the value of the football club to the Town, area and businesses.

Anyway, put that one to bed. What will happen tomorrow? We’ll its Shrewsbury Town we’re taking about so basically it will be a tight game, and Town will put us ‘through the mill’.  I will be gutted if we lose, and will be in bits whatever happens, but I really want to make sure I take it all in. Take loads of photos, and enjoy it so much. I don’t know if Shrewsbury will be back here, if ever, so I want to walk down Olympic Way with my mates, buy tacky Town souvenirs (to add to all the official stuff I’ve got – which of course I would urge you all to buy), and look forward to enjoy Town playing and winning at Wembley).

I hope we all get behind the team. Hope that those who don’t follow Shrewsbury normally are welcomed into the Blue and Amber family. We need to encourage these guys and girls to follow us. Don’t hurl abuse at them when it appears they aren’t supporting us, because to be quite honest how are they supposed to know the songs, or the fact that you might stand up every now and again when things get exciting!

It would be great if Town could get another 1000 fans following us for the next season. Who knows even more if we do go up? Lets welcome these people into our family. There will always be one or two I’m sure that wont get what it means to us ‘regulars’, but following STFC cant be an exclusive club. They might not have been there ‘when we were crap’, but we need them there if we are going to progress!

Whilst I’m going to be enjoying myself I’m also thinking of those who cant be there. My Dad cant make it, (kidney dialysis patient) as he’s ok, but travelling all that way would be pushing it, and I’m gutted for him. Both him and I were crying our eyes out at Stoke, along with my bro, who due to saving up for his wedding later this year can’t go either. It will strange with both not being there, (bro proposed to his future wife over the phone from the National Hockey Stadium) but I know Mark will be watching on tele, and Dad and Mum are thinking about going down the Steam Wagon to watch it, and if not Radio Shropshire will suffice.

It will I’m sure be a pleasure listening to Stu Dunn and Steve Cross on Saturday. We are so lucky to have passionate ‘Town fans’ commentating. Stu’s legendary commentary at St James Park 9 years ago will go down in the annals of radio history, as will the Conference Play Off Final. Even Radio Shropshire have been playing on the fact that Stu will probably explode over the Wembley press box should we win.

I know Stu organised a very successful 20^th celebration of the 79 team winning promotion, and last Sunday shrewsTRUST and the SuperBlues co-organised an event to celebrate not just 30 years since Exeter and all that, but 50 years since the first ever Football League promotion.

It was a great and very humbling night. The players, who gave up their free time, were fantastic, and I think we could have all listened for hours to their tales and stories.

I was lucky to meet Arthur Mann, a coach for the 58/9 team at his home before the event. What a lovely chap, and we ended up chatting about his time at Town, and what he did afterwards. The old photos came up, and his wife was lovely. You could see when the old players met up, what camaraderie they all had. Wonderful!

Going forward something we want to do is a Hall of Fame. AFC Telford United’s Trust does this, as have Wrexham. The aim would be to induct people into the ‘Hall of Fame’. Ideas such as having a player. Club official, a fan inducted every year, at a showpiece event, raising money, would I think be a fantastic event, and once Wembley dies down, I will be contacting the Football Club, and the other supporters groups to identify how we can go forward with this project.

It was good working with the SuperBlues committee on the Nostalgia Night, and our aim going forward is to work with people like the OSC, and the ASFC and put on these nights. We of course will still do our own thing, as will the other guys, but one of our aims was to work with the other groups, and we are delivering on that pledge.

It’s been good to get interest in the Trust, and we’ve had some very favourable comments. It hasn’t been easy to find a berth between the traditional groups of the OSC and SuperBlues, but we have positioned ourselves very much as the ‘insurance policy’ with fund raising aimed mainly at the ‘long term future of the club’ with a ‘war chest’ should times get tough. As we have stated we have no interest in working against the current board. We believe in the inclusion of responsible supporters in the running of football clubs at board level, but at present, there is no need for that representation at Salop. Longer term, yes definitely, but right now, we want to maintain and improve the communication between fans, using the base of the Umbrella Group and SUFAN as examples of the Fan/ Club co-operation. Fan/ Club co-operation if the way forward for the fans voice to be heard, and we at shrewsTRUST believe we can facilitate that.

I also believe the Trust can facilitate and develop the current groups. Supporters Direct hold training sessions for Board Directors of Trust, which including thing like Secretary role, Treasurers, Meetings, PR etc. We are committed going forward to nominating people from the other groups to attend these sessions.

The Trust will continue to build on the work of the Supporters Buses, with our partners at the Prince of Wales, Dun Cow, Inn on the Green, and The Beeches, and like we say‘ shrewsTRUST is driven by supporters!’

I hope you all have a fantastic day. Take it in and really enjoy. ‘Keep calm and carry on’ is the phrase I need to use today, but these are good times people. They don’t come around very often, and they more than make up for days like Blyth!

Come on Town, become heroes and legends, and make us Proud Salopians.

Adrian Plimmer

Supporters/ Club Liaison Director

ShrewsTRUST