Mat Sadler's Shrewsbury finish makes up for a tough start
Mat Sadler cleaned up at Shrewsbury Town's end-of-season awards – but admitted he was considering his Town future last autumn.
The popular defender claimed the players' player of the season, the player in the community and overall player of the season awards at Greenhous Meadow on Sunday night.
It capped a remarkable turnaround for the 32-year-old Brummie, who played only 89 minutes of league football before interim boss Danny Coyne's decision to promote him to first-team duties in October.
Sadler, who has since been reinvented as a centre-half under Paul Hurst, also passed the milestone of 100 Town league appearances this term.
But after accepting the awards, he admitted that things had a very different feel about them half a year ago.
"Of course, back in August and September, I wasn't thinking about winning all of the awards," said Sadler, who is expected to sign a new deal with Town. "Not in my wildest dreams was I thinking that. If I'm honest, I'm thinking about the next chapter in my career at that point. I'm thinking 'What can I do to get out and play first-team football?' as any player would be. I wasn't getting a look-in, I wasn't travelling at times."
Sadler has since become one of the first names on Hurst's team sheet and has taken the captain's armband in the absence of Abu Ogogo and Adam El-Abd
Hurst has praised Sadler's experience and attitude behind the scenes at the Meadow. Sadler has begun taking his coaching badges and has acted as a link between the new management and Town's squad.
"I have no qualms about it, that's fine in terms of not blaming the person in charge – everyone's got opinions in football," he said about being left out in the cold. "If I carry on into football (coaching or management), I'll potentially have that affect on other players' careers. At the same time I knew I needed to be in the best possible shape if the opportunity came, and luckily it did."
Modest Sadler credits luck as a part of his recovery. While also praising goalkeeping coach Coyne for handing him a route back into the first-team.
"Football can hinge on a kick or a deflection." he said. "These are the small margins that change matches and it could've changed the season for me. I was just very fortunate that it went my way and things have gone my way from there on in. The manager's picked me and it's gone OK since then!"
He added: "It's been some achievement. We were rock-bottom and destined to go down
"This club deserves more, deserves better, we shouldn't be in relegation scraps each season.
"The aim for next year is to improve on this year and looking forwards."
