✔853 Phoenix Park

By Smidrophenia
Shifnal Town 2-1 Stourport SwiftsMidlands Football League - Premier DivisionSaturday 26th November 2022

Shifnalis a market town and civil parish in Shropshire, about 4 miles east of Telford and 17 miles from the county town of Shrewsbury. (population:about 6,700) The town dates back to the end of the 7th century and was known as Idsall, due to its Roman links.

The first part of the name "Shifnal" is believed to be a personal name, "Scuffa", while the second part, from "halh", means a valley. The town name has alternated through the centuries between Idsall and Shifnal. Idsall is mentioned in a 9th-century charter as "Iddeshale", meaning "Idi's nook" or corner. A Key to English Place-names has an entry for Shifnal that reads 'Scuffa's nook of land'  also known as Iddeshale, 'Idi's nook of land’

Shifnal Town FC was founded in 1964 as St Andrews Youth Club FC, based at Idsall School. The team played in the Wellington and District League. and changed their name to Shifnal Juniors in 1968. After winning promotion they successfully applied to join the Shropshire County Football League. In 1972 the club changed its name once again to Shifnal Town and in 1976 were elected to the West Midlands (Regional) League after winning the County League title. 

West Midlands (Regional) League 1976 - 1986 and 2006-07, 2010 - 2021

Division One champions 1978-79, 2015-16

Premier Division champions 1980-81, 1981-82, 2006-07

Midlands Combination 1993-94 and 2003 - 2006

Midlands Alliance (founder members) 1994 - 2003 and 2007 - 2010

Midlands Football League 2021 - present 

The Acoustafoam Stadium, 

Phoenix Park

Coppice Green Lane

Shifnal 

TF11 8PD

The club was originally based at Idsall School, then moved to Admiral Park during the 1970s. In 1985 the lease on Admirals Park was terminated and they were forced to resign from the league and return to the County league. The team returned to Idsall School, before purchasing land just up the road on Coppice Green Lane

The ground has a neat stand at the far side which is elevated by half a dozen steps and filled with blue and yellow flip seats. The paying entrance is in the corner, on the same side as the Legends Bar, team dugouts and the changing rooms. Apart from the stand, the ground is open, with hard standing and grass banking, plus loads of picnic tables all around courtesy of the Reds Bar in the town. The stadium is decorated throughout in their old blue and yellow colours, but the club have now reverted back to their original red kit. 

Shifnal Town 2(Abbey 17,38)

Stourport Swifts 1(Chilton 74)

Midland Football League - Premier Division matchday 18v19

2nd v 5th

2pm ko 

Att.118

Spondoolicks :

Admission £8

Programme available £2

Pin badge £3

☕ Coffee £1.50 

Hot dog £3 chocolate £1

Shifnal took the lead in the 17th minute when Jez Abbey headed home from a corner kick, then he repeated the feat ten minutes later to make it 2-0 at half time. 

Last Thursday night Neymar just failed to score directly from a corner for Brazil against Serbia, but Lee Chilton managed the trick to put Stourport back in it with just over fifteen minutes left. Following that goal the Reds were under the cosh for the final period but they held on to claim a big win in their pursuit of the Premier Division title. 

#Heedhopper

222 miles door-to-door

I headed down to the home of the North-east Celebrity Groundhopping Couple for a 9am departure, before Katie picked up Hull Hopper Dave on route from Micklefield Station at 10.30.

We were looking forward to our visit to Whitchurch Alport until the suprising news via Twitter that the match was rained off, quickly followed by our back up at Market Drayton failing a pitch inspection. Next on the list was Shifnal, who thankfully confirmed they were good to go following a quick text message from Dave. 

 

The match kicked off an hour earlier, so not much time to look around the town. However, after discovering three good beer pubs on the CAMRA app, Katie dropped me off at the Plough Inn, where I had a quick drink followed by swifties in the Kings Yard Micropub and The Anvil. 

We enjoyed our visit to Phoenix Park and we all agreed it was a great (but totally unexpected and not planned) new tick.