Yesterday (Tuesday) we took a look at Burton Albion, the first of four teams to be promoted to League One. Today we focus on Shrewsbury Town, a team who ran them close but ultimately had to settle for second place in the League Two table – although automatic promotion was their reward nonetheless.
Town were relegated from League One in 2013-14 and bounced back immediately; recruiting well in the summer under new manager Micky Mellon, Shrewsbury benefited from a real clear out. The club’s top three goal scorers come the end of the campaign, were all new recruits. James Collins led the way with 17 goals, then followed Andy Mangan with 10 goals, and then Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro with 9 goals.
Behind the attackers stood an experienced midfield which included the likes of Liam Lawrence and James Wesolowski, and the ingredients for promotion were always there. They will be very much hoping to do significantly better than the last time they were in League One; a 23rdplace finish, with the least wins in the division that season (9), they will certainly be fancied to avoid the drop this coming season.
Shrewsbury Town
F 1886ormed:
New MeadowGround:
9,875Ground Capacity:
2Last Season:ndin League Two
6/1Promotion Odds:
13/2Relegation Odds:
Courtesy of SkyBet.com
Manager – Micky Mellon
Yet another young manager amongst the ones we have previously covered in this feature, having three promotions already on his CV at the age 43 will do his future in the game no harm whatsoever. The Scottish born former midfielder took over at Conference North side Fleetwood Town in 2008 and he was in charge as the club rose from the unknown, and up into League Two.
Mellon was only the manager for half of their first ever season in the Football League, following his dismissal in December 2012. The job he had done at Highbury though was a tremendous one, and although his successor Graham Alexander eventually steered them into League One, the foundations were laid by Micky Mellon.
He had a spell as caretaker manager at Barnsley in 2013, before taking over at Shrewsbury Town in May 2014. The 2014-15 season was a memorable one for the club and Micky, as not only did they earn promotion, but they reached the fourth round of the Capital One Cup – eventually going out to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea at the New Meadow.
Micky began his playing career with Bristol City in 1989 and had spells with Cork City and West Brom, before his arrival at Blackpool in 1994. Micky was a hit for the Tangerines, going on to make 125 league appearances (14 goals). He had spells with Tranmere Rovers and Burnley, before a return to Tranmere in 2001.
He made 115 league appearances for The Whites the second time around, before brief stints with Kidderminster Harriers, Witton Albion and Lancaster City brought his playing career to a close.
Key Player – James Collins
James was a raw 21 year old recently released by Aston Villa when he first signed for Shrewsbury Town back in 2011, but following two years away, he returned in 2014.
The Coventry born frontman began his professional career with Aston Villa in 2009 after coming through the club’s youth system. Although he failed to make an appearance at first team level, he had successful loan spells with Darlington and Burton Albion before his move to Shrewsbury Town.
Collins scored 22 goals in 68 league appearances for his new club which attracted immediate attention from clubs elsewhere; subsequently, in 2012 he moved to Swindon Town, who had just been promoted back into League One, for a compensation fee settled at £140,000 plus add ons.
relegated to the Scottish Championship.ultimately15 league goals were scored for the Robins by Collins in the 2012-13, and this led to a £200,000 move north of the border to Hibernian, who were then in the Scottish Premier League. He spent just a season in Scotland, and it was a reasonably disappointing one on the goal scoring front, as he bagged just 6 league goals, but was still the joint top goal scorer for a team who were
He made the return to England in summer 2014, confirming a return to his former club Shrewsbury Town on a two year contract. James played a pivotal role in Town’s return to the third tier, scoring 17 goals in all competitions – 15 of those in the league to keep up his commendable career scoring record.
Head to Head
Bradford wins: 6
Draws: 3
Shrewsbury wins: 7
Last Meeting
Shrewsbury Town 2-1 Bradford City
22/03/14Date:
New Meadow Venue:
Football League OneCompetition:
Scorers:Davies (79),Taylor (80),Miller (90+4)