Trust Ade – Season 2009/10 – No 4. So here we go again…

In the hope that my new colleague at shrewsTRUST Hannah, will actually understand my garble as she puts it up on the website (pity poor Ant, and Whitters before you!), I cant exactly say I’m overwhelmed by the new season. I’m looking forward to it and all that, but as I sit here, in deepest, darkest Worcestershire, my expectations levels are pretty middle of the road.

I was listening to the exciting ‘Football League Pod Cast’ where supposed rumoured target Michael Bridges (what happened to Lee Trundle I want to know?) actually tipped Salop as second favourites behind Notts County. Ummmmm, that should have the Post Office sorting chaps salaaming over letters over the next few shifts.

My attention was briefly turned this week, to the old Gay Meadow. The press wanted quotes and if I’m honest I didn’t know what to say. I mean after nearly 10 years of trying to get rid of the ‘old bugger’ it would have been churlish and rude to say ‘ what an absolute disgrace it is that this once famous plot of land is nothing more than a brown earth scorch area’. People of Ditherington have similar feelings about the old MEB site.

History is everything in Football. It’s why the MK Dons are pretty much despised. It’s why Arthur Rowley and Graham Turner are LEGENDS! But sometimes I can’t help feeling that the old ways are too romanticised. Look at Newcastle. How much has that burden of history affected the correct change that was required at that club and obviously still is.

Having said all that, I was remembering our time in the Conference. Six years ago we kicked off with a game against Margate. Margate. Bloody Margate, and then of course went to Saturday’s visitors Burton Albion.

That hot sunny day in August when Town could only manage a point against a side that actually played their games in Dover, was the reality check many Town fans needed. The win at Burton, with ten men, steadied the ship and sent Town on their way.

It’s hard to believe the progress the Brewers have made. I think when we played them; they had only just managed to stay up. Their ground? I remember that queue across a grass playing area. Well at least they had two turnstiles open, unlike the Cestrians!

I remember bouncing around with a 1000 other Salopians that night, dreaming of a Football League return. And we got there. Just!

I still say that the accomplishment of winning the Conference Play Off Final in 2004 is probably our finest hour, because actually it was the first major cup final we’ve won! And what a way to win it too!

In the NLP a couple of weeks ago, they had a feature on the team that started a huge party that famous Sunday night in the Salopian capital. It seems a world away from where we are now.

And I’m glad because the progress we have made, when you look at Chester and Wrexham, and all the bull that was spouted at us from those parts, makes me smile, and I wonder if the architects of those comments even bother following those respective teams.

I love Non League Football, but having Shrewsbury there was strange, weird, wonderful and frustrating, but I never want to go back there following Town.

I want to go Norwich, Southampton, Leeds, and maybe one-day Newcastle, West Brom, et al.

And yet I guess most if not all of us will go to sleep tonight, wondering what STFC we will  see come August the 8^th at 3 p.m. and where will it head us.

Personally I haven’t a clue, and maybe that’s a good thing, because it will go two ways. Total surprise us and lead us to promotion, or be a very ordinary middle of the road table team.

Am I bothered which one? To be honest if its going to be as bad as some on the message boards would have you believe then I’m just going to sit back, realise we’ve been here before and enjoy the good points when they happen.

Michael Bridges can’t be wrong though, and for him to say what he said must mean he knows something. Mustn’t he?

For the Trust it’s been a busy period. Following the AGM we held a planning day last Sunday, and it evident just how much the Trust is progressing.

It’s been great to announce sponsorship and a new initiative for the Player of the Month, and highlights our commitment to the club.

A lot of hard work and effort has gone in, and tomorrow you’ll see our new advertising board, our programme page, and sponsorship of Pete Downward.

The Trust continues to work in a lot of areas, and one of our initial successes was the co-ordination of the Supporters Buses from local pubs. As we launched our revised leaflet for the services, news came in that Andrea Caswell, the landlady at the Inn On The Green, was leaving, and tomorrow will be the last bus from Radbrook. L

Andrea has always be a positive force when I’ve spoken to her, and I wish her all the best for the future.

Unfortunately it does leave a hole in our plans, and also possible expansion of the service to take up some of the slack left behind by the Oxon Park and Ride service withdrawal.

ShrewsTRUST will do everything it can to look at a service that covers the Oxon, and now Radbrook Green areas, and hopefully we’ll have some news before the Chesterfield game.

If you haven’t got a copy of the leaflet, please come over and see us at the Brooklands tomorrow from 1 p.m, or download a copy from the website.

We have our first Board meeting following the AGM this coming week, and this is where we clarify our roles going forward. The current board is the most dynamic and innovative it has ever been. I think we all recognise how much the bar is now being raised and it’s been a good influence on us all. We all have a very big part to play in the future of the beloved STFC, and all of us supporters can make a real difference. Just look at the flags going up round the ground. The fans here, I’ve always said, are so passionate about their team, maybe not the loudest, or the largest in numbers, but care so much, and I’m proud that the Trust is playing a real role in helping to facilitate that.

Finally I just wanted to thank ‘Hello Cleveland’ for a wonderful gig last weekend. The Dun Cow rocked simple as, and it was a pleasure to be there. Their fantastic rendition of ‘Catch us if you can’ was well backed by everyone who attended and belted it out. Why then can’t we do this at ‘that place in North London?’ who knows, but maybe the same jazzed up version by one of Shrewsbury’s top bands, with a little help from your friendly Trust may help that. Lets just say after some initial discussions ‘watch this space’

Keep the faith; sing loud, ‘SALOP!’ (And bring a flag).

Yours in trust

Ade Plimmer