The football heroes who inspired Shrewsbury Town boss Gavin Cowan

Every footballer and manager is shaped by those who came before them – and Shrewsbury Town boss Gavin Cowan has revealed the figures who inspired his own journey in the game.

With the World Cup now under way in the United States, Canada and Mexico, a new generation of stars will have the chance to inspire young supporters watching around the globe.

Cowan was once one of those youngsters himself, glued to the television as he watched football's biggest stage and looked up to some of the game's leading talents.

So who were his footballing heroes?

“Paul Gascoigne was a bit of a hero of mine around the 1990 World Cup,” Cowan explained.

“It was sort of the era - I loved Chris Waddle, I loved Paul Gascoigne, John Barnes, Peter Beardsley.

“I was a QPR fan as well, so I was a big, big fan of Alan McDonald, the QPR centre half.

“And all of that QPR team in and around the 1995 era, including Les Ferdinand, Trevor Sinclair, Ray Wilkins, like a lot of those guys.”

Cowan recently had the opportunity to share a technical area with another of his footballing heroes - Ian Holloway.

And he got the better of him too.

Shrewsbury beat Holloway's Swindon Town 3-1 at the Croud Meadow in February to secure Cowan's second victory in charge, a run that would eventually stretch to five consecutive wins.

“It was a real privilege to me to be in a technical area alongside him, because I'd watched him as a kid many times,” Cowan added.

“There are lots that I can recall from that team - Gavin Peacock, Simon Barker, David Bardsley, Darren Peacock as well, Kevin Gallen. Ones like that.

“Back then England was a big deal, more of a big deal than it is now, and I think some of those England internationals like Chris Waddle, Peter Beardsley and Gascoigne, they were right up there.”

Cowan went on to carve out a professional career of his own, during which he worked under several figures he greatly admired.

After starting out at non-League side Braintree Town, he moved to Canvey Island in 2003 and later represented Nuneaton Borough, Kidderminster Harriers, Grays Athletic, AFC Telford United, Fleetwood Town and Gainsborough Trinity.

But it was during his spell at Shrewsbury between 2005 and 2007 that he built a strong relationship with former assistant manager Mick Wadsworth, who worked alongside Gary Peters until March 2006.

“I really liked Mick Wadsworth when I was here,” Cowan said.

“Mick was an exceptional coach. He'd obviously worked at a really high level with Bobby Robson. You could see it.

“I actually got on really well with him as well in terms of his character. He was an excellent coach.”

Later, while playing for Gainsborough Trinity between 2010 and 2012, Cowan worked under former Aston Villa striker Brian Little.

“Brian Little I've worked with and played under - incredible,” Cowan continued.

“From a distance, I was always a big fan of Ray Wilkins. I thought he was a real, probably the first ever man manager that I'd sort of recognised. Someone who puts his arm around players as opposed to puts his fist under their chin.

“Terry Venables always had a big place in my heart just for the way he was. A really good character and he's always spoken well of by the players.”