The next Shrewsbury Town Legends are....
Shrewsbury Town are delighted to reveal the identity of the next four recipients of a place in the club's coveted Hall of Fame.
Ten distinguished figures from the club's proud history were the initial inductees in October 2011 and now we are pleased to announce who the next four to have the honour bestowed on them will be after votes were cast by Shrewsbury Town supporters.
Set to enter the Hall of Fame at a glittering Legends night at the Greenhous Meadow on Monday, January 28 are Malcolm Starkey, Chic Bates, Steve Cross and Jake King.
"The four men set to be inducted are all leading figures in Shrewsbury Town's history and fully deserve this honour," said Andrew Tretton, organiser of the Legends night and sales executive at the Greenhous Meadow.
"Malcolm Starkey has served the club with distinction for many years in many different guises and is now club president.
"Chic Bates and Jake King were tremendous servants as players in a very successful period in the club's history and both also had spells as manager.
"Steve Cross is also synonymous with some of the club's glory days of the late 1970s and early 1980s and anyone who has listened to him commentating on Town games for Radio Shropshire in recent years will be aware of his affection for the club."
The club are looking forward to hosting their second Legends night with tickets for the event to be held in the Sovereign Suite at the Greenhous Meadow selling well.
As an added bonus for the night, much travelled striker Steve Claridge, now a leading football pundit on BBC television and radio, will be the guest speaker.
Comedian Jed Stone will also be appearing at the black tie event.
"It promises to be a great night, one not to be missed," said Andrew Tretton. "We received plenty of positive feedback from the last Legends night and we hope this one goes even better.
"It will be exciting to induct four more people into the club's Hall of Fame while both Steve Claridge and Jed Stone have earned impressive reputations on the after dinner circuit.
"It's a night we're all looking forward to."
Michael Brown, Frank Clarke, Peter Dolby, Colin Griffin, Tommy Lynch, Ken Mulhearn, Arthur Rowley, Chris Smith, Graham Turner and Alf Wood were the first 10 Shrewsbury Town legends to enter the Hall of the Fame.
Of the next group of Legends, Malcolm Starkey first joined Shrewsbury as a player from Blackpool in 1959. An inside forward with a keen eye for goal, he found the net 40 times in 140 first team games before joining Chester City in 1963.
He later spent many years as club secretary at the Gay Meadow and was also an associate director before being appointed Shrewsbury Town president.
Chic Bates enjoyed two spells as a player with Shrewsbury, initially joining from Stourbridge along with his strike partner Ray Haywood in 1974.
He moved to Swindon in 1978 and also had a stint with Bristol Rovers before Graham Turner brought him back to Town midway through the 1980-81 season.
Bates, comfortable up front or in midfield, scored 64 goals in 294 league games in blue and amber and became player-manager in July 1984, a role he held until November 1987.
Jake King was Town captain for arguably the club's most successful season, the 1978-79 campaign, when Shrewsbury won the third division and also reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup for the first time.
An accomplished right back, Jake joined Shrewsbury as an apprentice after leaving school in Glasgow and played 306 league games between 1973 and 1982.
He later had a spell as manager at Gay Meadow from May 1997 to November 1999.
Steve Cross was another man to emerge from the apprentice ranks to become a successful Shrewsbury Town first teamer. A utility player, he clocked up 33 goals in 262 league games between 1977 and 1986 when he joined Derby County, later playing top-flight football for the Rams.
More recently he spent four years as expert summariser for BBC Radio Shropshire, offering his thoughts on all Town games home and away.
Tables of 10 are available priced at £400 plus VAT while limited individual tickets at a cost of £40 each plus VAT, which include a three-course meal followed by coffee, also remain available for the Legends night.
Early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.
To reserve your place, call Andrew Tretton on (01743) 289177 extension 218 or email him at andy.tretton@shrewsburytown.co.uk