Happy memories and some sadness for Shrews' Ken Mulhearn

When Ken Mulhearn reflects on his 65th birthday weekend, a mountain of happy memories will be accompanied by a tinge of sadness.

Thanks to current manager Graham Turner, Mulhearn took his rightful place as the Shrewsbury Town guest legend - a season-long feature to mark the club's 125th anniversary - for Saturday's visit of Lincoln.

It was an afternoon he will not forget in a hurry.

"I was going to come at some stage during the season anyway, but Graham's a personal friend of mine and said let's do it against Lincoln because you will turn 65," said ever-popular former goalkeeper Mulhearn.

"That was a nice touch and I had a great day.

"My brother used to live in Bristol so I used to pop in and see Graham (at Hereford) when I went down there and I wrote a letter when they got promoted.

"We were room-mates for five years when we were players and he is doing a wonderful job - just what Shrewsbury need."

Perfect

A 2-0 success for Town accompanied by a victory by the same margin for Everton - the club he has supported since his boyhood years - over Liverpool in the Merseyside derby 24 hours later made for the perfect Mulhearn result double.

But the landmark weekend wasn't without its upset, with Mulhearn left saddened by the death of legendary coach and manager Malcolm Allison, who he worked under at Manchester City.

"Malcolm and Joe Mercer took me from Stockport to Manchester City in the mid 1960s," recalled Mulhearn.

"I had five years there winning a Division One championship medal, Charity Shield and the FA Cup so I had a good time.

"Malcolm was the first real modern day coach so Friday was a sad day to go with the niceties of Saturday."

After relinquishing the No 1 spot at Maine Road, Mulhearn's next career move took him to Shrewsbury in 1971 where he would spend nine years, making 411 appearances in all competitions.

Mulhearn's Shrewsbury career ended in 1980, after which he brought his football days to a conclusion with a stint at Crewe.

But he remained true to his Shrewsbury roots, running three pubs in the town - The Exchange, The Springifled and The Saddlers - before starting his current job as porter at Shelton Hospital.

Turner's return has heightened his interest in Shrewsbury, a club which has remained close to his heart since those heady playing days.

And his links with Town may not be over just yet.

"My grandchildren (12-year-old Harry and nine-year-old Max) are both at the Shrewsbury School of Excellence," he added.

"Harry is a goalkeeper but I do stress I'm just grandad on that front.

"I think he has got enough on his plate without having a millstone like me around his neck.

"But I do watch but from a distance!"

By JAMES GARRISON