THE DUNN THING
Stuart Dunn covers Town’s fortunes for BBC Radio Shropshire and the Shrewsbury Chronicle
I MAY have only been 13 the last time Charlton Athletic paid a visit to Shrewsbury, but I remember the clash in the old second division at Gay Meadow back in April 1986 pretty well. My recollection of lots of matches from the terrific decade Town enjoyed at that
level are fairly hazy, yet the Charlton game stands out probably because Shrewsbury enjoyed such a great result in beating the Londoners 2-1.
It was a bit of an upset at the time as Town, with Chic Bates at the helm, were embroiled in a relegation fight they went on to win by virtue of beating Middlesbrough on the last day of the season while Charlton were riding high in third spot and, just a month after coming unstuck on the banks of the River Severn, would be celebrating promotion back to the top flight for the first time in years as runners-up. Norwich City, comfortable 3-0 winners at the Meadow that season, went up as champions and the other side promoted alongside Charlton was another team from South London, those upstarts from Wimbledon's Crazy Gang, who were held to a 1-1 draw at Shrewsbury a fortnight after the Addicks visited. Charlton had a very good side at the time with future Town bench warmer Jim Melrose up front alongside old stager Mike Flanagan, Valley legend Alan Curbishley and Welsh international Mark Aizlewood in midfield, two good full backs in John Humphrey and Mark Reid, while an up and coming talent by the name of Robert Lee, who would go on to star for Newcastle and England, came on as a sub. But this was destined to be one of Town's better days in a testing season and Charlton were stunned to find themselves trailing 2-0 after just ten minutes. Watching from the Wakeman Stand, I vaguely recall Wayne
Williams charging forward from right back to grab a rare goal to edge Town in front, and with Charlton reeling, it quickly got even better with winger Gary Hackett doubling the advantage. It was all Town in the first half as Bates's side turned the league table on its head, with Gary Stevens and Bernard McNally going close to increasing the lead, only to be denied by Charlton keeper Tony Lange. Stung by a half time dressing down in the old Meadow visitors' dressing room from manager Lennie Lawrence, Charlton were much better in the second half, George Shipley quickly pulling a goal back. Town, whose side that day also included new Hull City boss
Nigel Pearson at the heart of the back four alongside old warhorse Colin Griffin and classy veteran Irish international Gerry Daly in midfield, then had to defend well to hold onto their lead with keeper Steve Perks pulling off a stunning late reflex save from Curbishley to ensure the locals in a modest crowd of 3,380 - hopefully there will be more here for tonight's cup tie - went home happy.
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Gary Stevens has his shirt tugged by Charlton’s Steve Thompson during the London club’s visit to Shrewsbury 24 years ago.
Shrewsbury boss Bates declared himself to be delighted with the three points although he revealed there had been "frank discussions" among his players at the final whistle as they so nearly let their earlier good work go to waste. "The good thing is that we are coming off the pitch disappointed because we felt we could have won more convincingly," said Bates. "We had to defend in the second half and to our
credit managed to win it when Charlton, having pulled a goal back, were always going to put us under pressure.
"They were desperate for a point at the finish and they were
throwing everything at us." Charlton chief Lawrence, the man who did such a fine job for so many years in South East London, conceded his side had got just what they deserved - nothing. "Shrewsbury's whole existence is built on staying in the second
division," said Lawrence. "They have to win two more games so I said to my players 'let's give them nothing in the first 20 to 25 minutes. "But no. We didn't just give them one, we gave them two. "No-one in this league has thrashed us this season, but we were so out-competed in the first half it was as bad as being thrashed." So, 24 years on from that last meeting, Town finally get the chance to do battle against Charlton Athletic once again tonight, and it's easy to say who the intervening years have been kinder to with the Addicks enjoying so many highs in the Premier League up until not too long ago.
If you're looking for a positive omen for tonight, though, cast your mind back no further than this time a year ago when Charlton were knocked out of the Carling Cup at this stage by a Hereford United side managed by John Trewick, now here at Shrewsbury as a member of Graham Turner's coaching staff. Turner, incidentally, made his final Football League appearance as a player when, aged 36, he turned out for Shrewsbury as player- boss in an impressive 4-2 victory over Charlton at The Valley on April 28, 1984, towards the end of a season in which he led Town to an eighth-placed finish in the old second division. Town's scorers that day were Gerry Nardiello and Bernard McNally while a certain Steve Cross netted twice - now I wonder whatever happened to him!
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