FL2: Shrewsbury v Torquay Utd - 24 Sept 2011

As a side line, here’s a tale from Shrewsbury: that of Robert Cadman, a one-time resident of the town who - like footballers of the more recent past - plied his trade at Gay Meadow. According to Wikipedia, Cadman:

"… was an 18th century steeplejack and ropeslider who between 1732 and 1739 performed feats of daring by sliding or flying down a rope from Shrewsbury's St Mary’s Church to the Gay Meadow across the River Severn. Cadman walked some 250 metres up the rope that connected the 68-metre high spire on St Mary’s Church from where the rope was fixed to the ground in Gay Meadow. Climbing up the rope, performing tricks on the way, across the River Severn. When at the top, near the pinnacle of the spire, he then fastened on a wooden breastplate with a central groove for stability and hurtled to earth along the rope. On 2 February 1739 he plummeted to his death when the rope broke".

He’s buried in St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury, where a plaque in his memory reads:

"Let this small Monument record the name
of Cadman, and to future time proclaim
How by'n attempt to fly from this high spire
across the Sabrine he did acquire
His fatal end. 'Twas not for want of skill
Or courage to perform the task he fell,
No, no, a faulty Cord being drawn too tight
Harried his Soul on high to take her flight
Which bid the Body here beneath good Night
Feb.ry 2nd 1739 aged 28"

This encouraged me to get on his case yesterday and I tracked down his memorial tablet next to the entry to St Mary’s church – an absolutely splendid place if you’re partial to stained glass – before pottering down to the river to get a fuller picture of Cadman’s escapades. Gay Meadow, Shrewsbury’s former ground, remains a pile of rubble and overgrown embankments on the opposite bank of the river. You can’t help thinking that Shrewsbury Town could have made more of the Cadman connection on the night they played their final match at Gay Meadow. A re-enactment, perhaps, with a man in a coracle ready to fish out the remains?

Perhaps such a re-enactment could have involved a former pupil of the town’s independent school? With the likes of Nick Hancock (a proletarian Stokie to his bootstraps), Michael Heseltine and Nick Owen (what was wrong with being educated in Luton?) amongst its’ alma mater surely there would have been sufficient scope to have featured a celebrity on a tightrope?

And, on my walk to the ground yesterday, I came across livestock (and their deposits) on the embankment between the school and river. This begs the question: at which (former) Football league ground would you sometimes leave the away end to be immediately greeted by cattle? The answer may surprise those not in the know.

A small incident too at yesterday’s game involving Paul Bastard when he was angered – in his inimitable fashion – by a steward returning the ball to the nearest point of the pitch rather than to the corner where play was due to resume in our favour. Maybe the stewards are working to instructions on things like that – or perhaps there’s no conspiracy after all – but it did produce a few unfortunate chants at Paul’s expense. His reaction was stoical.

Finally, a tip that may interest some of this site’s older readers. After playing around on the web for a relatively cheap rail fare I arrived at Shrewsbury only to discover Arriva Trains posters for Club 55, an autumn deal (certain companies only) for those of a certain age. Bollocks! How did I miss out on a £35 return to Shrewsbury? Answer: First Great Western hasn’t got publicity ready in time.

So, old gits take note – you can turn-up-and-buy £35 return tickets between places such as Torquay and Paddington for the next few weeks: www.club55.co.uk/

Indeed. I am ashamed to admit that instead of helping Barty out, I took two steps back, threw both arms in the air and exclaimed - "I never touched him ref".

I was so shocked by the incident, however, that I had to resort to comfort eating - and I was VERY shocked.

My point being two fold, first that ML didn't "waste all that money bringing in those players" as none of them cost anything and second, that had it been obvious for several matches you had failed to mention it before when results were better than they were of yesterday.

..........always a pleasure to read your posts my dear Barty - in fact my dear old bean, at the mention of a "Club 55" I was just wondering what other fringe benefits may become available at a later stage possibly? - half price Werthers sweeties, a cut-price comfy cardi, suede slip-ons (shurely shume geography teacher slip(!!!)-up?), Horlicks on demand at away games, physio from a nubile, female masseuse to stop those sciatica pains, the list goes on and on! - I alas, have just under five years to await those pleasures - hmmmm..........................


.........btw, I can think of several of our "directors" who could have been made to "walk the tightrope" in the dim and distant past............

still waiting for Jeff Stelling to say "Morris dancing down the wing"

The group of young women leaving Montgomery's Tower, a mere one hundred yards away, were absolutely convinced it was a straight red. They felt you should have gone. Admittedly they were slightly pissed after a Friday 5pm session and there was a bend in the road with several parked cars. It's all about perspective from where you're watching, isn't it?

And, yes, there are occasions when it is wise to feed shock: gammon steak, rump steak, lamb chops, pork steak, 2 Lincolnshire pork sausages, with chips and peas, tomato, a flat mushroom, a fried free-range egg and six beer-battered whole onion rings.