GAY LOVE NOW GAY MEADOW?

After bringing to your attention some film and book news yesterday, I admit I hesitated to use the word "gay" for fear of upsetting somebody. Today I am confident that I am not going to be controversial because I want to tell you about Gay Meadow, the old home of Shrewsbury Town FC, on the bank of the River Severn, England's longest. The ground's name may have originated from the fairs, circuses and celebrations held on the town's green riparian pasture or possibly because it may have been owned a family called Gay.

I was watching Jeremy Paxman's "Rivers" programme on the telly last night. Jeremy didn't talk much about football-he didn't partake much in sport at St Catharine's College, Cambridge, despite his "public" school, Malvern College, having a long reputation for playing good soccer. Jeremy might even have been a "wet bob" (rower) probably a cox!! Instead I suspect he read books and went to lectures.

Gay Meadow was Shrewsbury's home from 1910, a pitch sited on the bank of the River Severn. When the ball was slogged over the Riverside Stand, somebody had to retrieve it.

Jeremy became involved in a charity event on the river, a sort of coracle handball game, where he managed to maintain his dignity but couldn't manouever the boat very well-bless him.

At the original ground, Fred Davies was detailed to sit in his coracle (a small local made boat) during the game and retrieve the ball as and when.

The last coracle was built by Fred in 1992 at the Acton Scott Historic Working Farm. Tim Speller who worked at the farm donated the coracle to the club after the original one had been given to the National Football Museum in Manchester. If you have not been to the NF Museum then shame on you.

Here is Fred and his family-doing their jobs!

The good news is that the club has now moved to New Meadow, up the hill a bit, where there is no fear of losing the ball in the river, but somebody is out of a job.