Junior Brown: Put your shirt on Town's survival
Defender Junior Brown has bagged some high-profile jerseys – now he's urging fans to put their shirts on Shrewsbury Town to stay up.
The popular left-back added to his growing souvenir collection on Monday night.
He acquired Juan Mata's Manchester United top to add to Wilfried Zaha's from Crystal Palace earlier in the season.
Brown will put them on display at home when he gets chance, but he admits avoiding the drop to League Two is a far bigger priority. Micky Mellon's side resume their mission at rock-bottom Colchester tomorrow.
Brown said: "I managed to pick up Juan Mata's shirt, it's always nice to come away with a nice memento of the occasion.
"I've got a couple to add to the collection so I need to get them framed and put them up in the house somewhere.
"I've got Wilfried Zaha's from the Crystal Palace game earlier in the season and a few others I've managed to pick up over the years, so it will go nice with the rest of them."
Along with Mata's shirt, Brown walked off with the sponsors' champagne after being named Man of the Match in the FA Cup fifth round clash.
But the bubbly will remain on ice while he concentrates on Shrewsbury's survival bid.
Brown said: "I think I'll give that one away. It's a good achievement but I just want to win football matches. It was a great cup tie, but the most important thing now is to focus on tomorrow."
Monday's 3-0 defeat to a star-studded United team costing £175m – even allowing for them missing 13 players – was a sobering reality of the gulf between a top Premier League side and League One.
For 26-year-old Brown, it was an experience to savour as he measured himself against some of the world's best, but also one that can act as a marker for achieving survival.
The former Mansfield and Oxford man said: "We had a fantastic run and we got our rewards with a tie like United – it was great for the fans, the club and everyone involved with Shrewsbury.
"But with the position we're in in the league it's time to focus on our bread and butter.
"We gave ourselves something to build on for the rest of the season, and if we can acquit ourselves like that week-in, week-out and show that grit and determination, I'm sure we'll be fine."
As for rock-bottom Colchester, barring the loan arrival of striker Elliot Lee from West Ham, they have failed to strengthen this year.
Centre-back Tom Eastman serves a one-match ban after being sent off in last week's 5-2 defeat at Bury, but midfielder Alex Gilbey is available after a three-match suspension.
Ex-England man Nicky Shorey may return at left-back, to allow Richard Brindley to switch to the right.
