Tim Beard and Alasdair Wilson share the story of the Shrewsbury Town coracle.
After a number of years in the National Football Museum, Fred Davies’ original coracle has returned home to the Montgomery Waters Meadow.
For many years, Fred would launch his coracle into the River Severn to retrieve footballs kicked over the stands at Town’s old stadium Gay Meadow.
Thought to be over 100 years old, the coracle now takes pride of place in the corner of the Club’s Sovereign Suite – on show to 1000’s of Town fans every week.
Kindly donated to the Club by Tim Beard and Alasdair Wilson in 2008, the pair returned to see the coracle and gave ShrewsWeb the story behind the historically significant artifact.
“It all started because my sister was running a charity event at Attingham Park and she obtained the coracle from Fred Davies’ widow, Tim told ShrewsWeb. “She put it up as an auction prize and we purchased it.
“We then gave it back to the Club a few years later at the Hereford United game back in 2008 – Graham Turner was here. The Club didn’t know what to do with it so they donated it to the Football Museum.”
Alasdair added: “Fred retired from retrieving footballs and shortly after he passed away. The coracle was left to the family and Tim’s sister was able to retrieve it.
“Tim and I have known each other for years and we have been coming to the old Meadow and the new Meadow ever since. We felt it was important to keep some of Shrewsbury Town’s history.”
The pair also thanked Town’s Commercial Manager Andy Tretton for bringing the coracle home and are pleased a part of Town’s history is now on display for all to enjoy.
“We had a small conversation with Andy and just asked where the coracle was,” said Alasdair. “We have to thank him hugely for his contribution in rescuing it from relative obscurity.
“We are grateful to the Club and Andy. Tim and I are very proud to be associated with this bit of history and thank the Club very much for putting this bit of history together.
“We thought it was a great shame that it was elsewhere without Club connection. It’s a part of the Club’s history, so it’s nice to have it here back home.”