Steam Packet, new signings and squad bonding: Shrewsbury Town begin Isle of Man trip

Off on the Steam Packet they go - Shrewsbury Town’s pre-season preparations continue with a trip to the Isle of Man.

Salop have travelled to the island to take part in its annual Summer Football Festival.

Their first fixture sees them take on National League North side Radcliffe this afternoon at Ballacloan Stadium in Ramsey.

After ending a 20-year absence from the sixth tier by winning the Northern Premier League title in 2023/24, Radcliffe consolidated their place in the division and secured a 13th-place finish last season.

The Boro are now managed by Bernard Morley, who stepped up from assistant manager after long-time coaching partner Anthony Johnson departed for Bury in February. The well-known pair - known as ‘Jonno and Bernard’ - earned widespread recognition during Salford City’s rise through the divisions, as documented in the Class of ‘92 series.

For Shrewsbury, the festival offers another opportunity to build fitness and sharpen their match sharpness after Tuesday’s goalless draw at Stafford Rangers in their opening pre-season friendly.

Boss Cowan said: “I’m excited. It’s just about building up to Tranmere Rovers away at the start of the season.

“Everything at the moment is about the process. Everything is about us. It’s about us building.

“Hopefully, in these games, we make more mistakes than we ordinarily would, so we can critique it and give us an opportunity to get better.

“And what it does is, where we’ve been successful is through our process, where we’re not letting players go on their own agenda, which is going to happen, because we’ve got new lads through the building who don’t understand it at the moment.

“The Isle of Man sets it up for us, because we get two games. The lads will all get 90 minutes while they’re out there. They’ll get 45 and a 45 again, which is part of the plan, building up to it.”

A sizeable contingent of Salop supporters has also made the trip across the Irish Sea, giving fans the chance to spend time with Cowan’s squad, including the club’s new signings.

The weekend also provides an important opportunity for the players to strengthen relationships away from the training ground. With several new faces in the squad, Cowan believes the time together will help the group continue to gel ahead of the new season.

After facing Radcliffe, Town will meet either FC Isle of Man or Bury in Sunday’s final or third-place play-off.

Away from the pitch, the squad has activities planned to help build team spirit.

Cowan continued: “We want to rub shoulders with our fans. We want the lads to enjoy that social day that they’re going to get. A bit of togetherness, travelling together.

“Hopefully some of the lads aren't too seasick on the Steam Packet. But it’s a great experience over there.

“I’m looking forward to just getting all the lads together, getting away together, hopefully having a pint. I'm not sure too many of our lads drink. It's a bit of a different culture now.

“Just getting together and building that camaraderie between the group, which you can do more in three days than you can often do in three months when you get away.”