Latest news with #Salop
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Tributes paid to ex-Shrews and Stoke manager Bates
Shrewsbury Town and Stoke City have paid tribute to their former manager Phil 'Chic' Bates after his death at the age of enjoyed a long association with Salop, having joined the club as a player from Stourbridge in 1974. He made almost 300 appearances across two spells with the club and was named manager in 1984 when Graham Turner left for guided Shrewsbury to their highest-ever English Football League (EFL) finish - eighth in the Second Division - in the 1984-85 season. He managed the side until 1987 and had further spells as caretaker boss before retiring from football in also worked as Lou Macari's assistant at Stoke during the early 1990s and succeeded him as manager in 1997 when the club moved to Britannia Stadium. 'A real gentleman' Bates' arrival from non-league Stourbridge was the beginning of a 50-year bond with Shrewsbury as a player, coach, manager and scored 17 goals in his debut season, helping his side to promotion to Division Three, and his goalscoring exploits led to him being signed by Swindon Town for £30,000 in returned to Shrewsbury two years later and made a further 160 appearances in his second spell before joining the club's was inducted into Salop's hall of fame in 2013 and was often seen at the Croud Meadow watching his team club said its thoughts were with Bates' "family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time".Former Shrewsbury defender Darren Moss called Bates an "absolute legend of the football club".He added: "[He was] A real gentleman and brilliant guy to be around. I was proud to be in his company and [he] will be sadly missed. RIP Chic, will never be forgotten." Trophy success Stoke City also sent their condolences to Bates' loved ones, adding that he had been diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer's in 75-year-old had been assistant manager to Macari in the 1990s when the Potters lifted the English Football League Trophy and won the Division Two also worked with Macari at Celtic for a short spell before they returned to Stoke to lead the club to the Division One play-offs in then took over as manager for a few months before he worked as an assistant under Chris Kamara and Alan Durban.
Powys County Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Llanfyllin Town bolster squad with three new signings
LLANFYLLIN Town Football Club has begun its strengthening ahead of next season with three new signings. The MMP Central Wales League North club has struggled this season but manager Liam Braisdell has wasted no time in bolstering his squad ahead of next season. Matt Morris heads the cast of new arrivals following his signing from JD Cymru North side Newtown. Braisdell said: 'As soon as myself and Jensen knew there was a chance of bringing Matt back to the club, we jumped at it. "Matt has qualities beyond his years and has had many clubs chasing him at this level. He is very confident and technically brilliant for such a young age. "It's a huge first step in our recruitment and there will be others soon.' Former Morda United, Shrewsbury Town and St Martins goalkeeper Oakley Taylor also lands Cae Llwyn. Braisdell said: 'Having had a good chat with him about our plans, he was keen to join. "He's a fantastic shot stopper, a brilliant personality with a voice for his defenders. I feel we have a very good young goalkeeper on our hands with real quality in his distribution also." Ex-Brickfield Rangers player Harvey Jones arrives from Salop Leisure League One club St Martins. Braisdell said: 'Harvey is an outstanding competitor who's aggressive and hates losing duels. 'He's a good passer of the ball with a strong aerial presence which we feel we're lacking a little bit at the moment. 'Harvey will no doubt be a huge asset to us moving forward. We still need to go further to ensure this club is competitive next season but it's been a good week.'
BBC News
04-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
I'm not a Salopian but I'm still proud
Shrewsbury Town head coach Gareth Ainsworth says he is proud to be the boss of the struggling League One club whatever division they are he insists that Town can still stay up, despite their untimely run of four straight got to within three points of safety last month, Saturday's latest loss at Peterborough - after having skipper John Marquis sent off just 13 seconds in - plunged Ainsworth side's back to the after Tuesday night's home date with Bristol Rovers, who have themselves lost three games on the bounce, Town face two more of the teams in and around them - Exeter City at St James Park on Saturday and Burton Albion at home a week later."We will fight and scrap to get as high as we can in whichever league we're in," Ainsworth told BBC Radio Shropshire. "And I still intend it to be League One."I look at the fixtures and still think we can do this." Town start the night on Tuesday eight points behind Bristol Rovers - and have been dealt a double suspension Marquis begins his three-game ban for that record-breaking red card on Saturday, while Grenada defender Aaron Pierre picked up his 10th booking of the campaign at London Road and is also Ainsworth, who is currently contracted until the end of the 2025-26 season, is still hoping for another passionate Salop night to inspire his side - just as they did in wins against Birmingham City, Lincoln City, Wrexham and Mansfield Town."When the fans are all behind me and all with me and with the team, I love this place," he said."I'm never going to be a Salopian as I wasn't born there. But I feel as Salopian as possible."I get proud crazily with this team. We're going to go on one hell of a journey. Stick with us."The start is always tough when you're working things out. I took over a team. We didn't have a pre-season together. It's hard to get the philosophy and structure in."We're getting there slowly. But I'm a proud manager of a Football League club, whichever league that will be."
