Armed Forces Fan Park a huge success

Loud trucks, exciting activities, football, and a helicopter delivering the match ball – topped off with a crucial Shrewsbury Town victory against Burton Albion – all ingredients for a fantastic day.

With many supporters turning up early to meet members of the armed forces and take part in fun activities, there was a great atmosphere and buzz around the stadium.

Available to fans were clay pigeon shooting and rifle ranges, along with the opportunity of getting inside armoured vehicles and competing in a modified assault course.

Not only did fans get the opportunity to meet military personnel and learn more about life in the forces, but they were lucky enough to meet some of the Shrewsbury Town players before the big match.  Present at the fan park were club captain Liam Lawrence, winger James Caton and defender Cameron Gayle.

The reservists are needing to boost their numbers and Lieutenant Colonel Richard Jones believes that engaging the community with days like these is the best way of doing that.

He said:

“The day was a pilot but we are hoping we can run this out to other sporting clubs around the Midlands.

“We need to expand the army reserves and today is all about engaging the community and generating interest in the armed forces.”

David Fairclough, Shropshire Council Community Officer for the Armed Forces Community Covenant, said:

“For over 100 years there has been a strong link between Shrewsbury and the armed forces.  Shropshire is highly synonymous with the armed forces and the military footprint here is huge.

It’s fantastic for fans and families to visit this sort of thing as not even Premier League clubs have held a forces day fan park.

The Community Sports Trust have been brilliant and could not have done any more for the armed forces and Shropshire Council.”

The forces day was attended by many fans and families.  Louise Jones, who has family ties to the army, felt it was important to show their support.

She said:

“This is my first visit to the Meadow and I’m here because of the forces day.  It’s really important to have this link as both the football club and the forces benefit.”

The Corporate Covenant is a pledge by business organisations to support the forces however they can.  This can be through guaranteed interview schemes, discounted tickets or employing Reservists.

Thank you to Simon Wilderspin for his contribution to this news story.