Shrewsbury Town fans were looking to the future today after the Wembley play-off final defeat which dashed hopes of starting life at the New Meadow in League One.
Many of the 23,000 Shrewsbury fans were left in tears at the final whistle on Saturday after Bristol Rovers sealed a 3-1 win with a cruel late goal.
Town captain Richard Hope praised the “unbelievable” support his side had been given on what proved an ultimately disappointing day for the Meadow men.
He said: “It is the first time a lot of the lads here have played in front of that many people.
“Obviously before the game we could see how many were there but once we started we were all focused on our own games.
“But our fans were unbelievable and it is a shame we couldn’t give them the victory they wanted.”
It was a sad end to a week in which play-off fever struck Shropshire with supporters snapping up tickets and merchandise throughout the week before packing trains, coaches and cars on the way to Wembley.
Many fanatical fans had travelled from across the world to be at the game which was watched by thousands more at pubs throughout Shropshire.
Supporters leaving the ground reacted with a mixture of pride and disappointment at the end of Town’s 2006/07 campaign.
Adam Fleet, from Pontesbury, said: “Gary Peters often says you sometimes need to win playing ugly football and I think today was a good example of a day when we would have taken that.
“We have a never-say-die attitude though and I am so proud of the team. The whole of Shrewsbury can be proud of what we’ve done today.”
Steven Turner, from Wem, said he believed Town were robbed of a deserved victory.
He said: “Bristol can count themselves very lucky. We were all over them for most of the game. I think if we can keep most of the squad together for next season then we will comfortably make the play-offs and come back to Wembley and win.”
Maggie Jennings, from Meole Brace, said: “Gary Peters said there was no point getting to Wembley and losing and I know what he meant now.
“I’m still so proud of the team and what they’ve achieved though. The fans were fantastic too.”
5 Comments
Heads up boys! You did us proud and thanks for giving us all the chance to go to Wembley.
we were the better team, and we lost it on missed chances. our boys gave everything, if derek asamoah’s close range shot had gone in, it would have tipped it our way. At least we have scored more goals at the new wembley than manchester united, and played there more times than liverpool or arsenal, and we had 2000 more people there than the league 1 final. well done to gary peters and all the team.
Fate conspired against us. The lads put up a tremendous performance but I felt the loss of Ben Davies, Scott Shearer and Luke Jones unbalanced the side and just tipped it in their favour. We really needed that elusive second goal early on. If Derek’s superb late effort had gone in for the equaliser it may well have been a different result.
I was proud of the lads on Saturday, theres always a looser and unfortunately it was us.
I was sad to see so many fans leaving the stadium merely a second after the whistle had gone, the least the lads desereved was an applause from the fans at the end.
I can only assume those who were quick to leave, came to see Wembley and not to see the lads play for a place in league one.
Shrewsbury performed fantastically well but the loss of Ben Davies was too much. At times our central midfield players had no outlet and the lack of pace of our front two told. I have great faith in Gary Peters and the players we have. One or two additions will see us achieve automatic promotion next time. Well done Shrewsbury Town. I am a very proud Salopian.