History

Like all good clubs Shrewsbury can trace its origins to a bar, in this case the now demolished George Hotel. In 1908 a casual conversation between Freddie Richards, Bill Jones and a man called Deakin led to the formation of the club and a first fixture at Sutton (now Sutton Road) against Stafford. The pitch was rented from a farmer and attendances at the first game were sufficient to buy goal posts, jerseys and balls; how times have changed! The result of that first match remains a mystery, but obviously it was enjoyed by all who participated.

The first Club headquarters were at the Unicorn Hotel in Wyle Cop which is still functioning and the first President was Dr Turner, and the captain Bill Jones. After a break for the First World War the club reformed in 1924 with Dr Turner still President C.B. Peeker as captain and T. Gordon Hector as Secretary. The latter was for the next forty odd years to become the guiding light of the Club. The two main trophies presented annually are the Freddie Richards and T. Gordon Hector cups.

The ground had moved to Upper Road Meole Brace with the headquarters moving from various hostelry to hostelry dependant on the behaviour of the members and friendliness of the landlord. After the second World War a subsequent President Geoff Warn reformed the club with himself as Secretary and T. Gordon Hector as President. Matches were played at Longden Road or Shrewsbury School, until the club moved to the West Midlands Showground in the 1946/47 season. Bert Williams who was originally captain in 1938/39 then re-took over the Captaincy until 1955/56and followed Mr Hector as President in the early 1960’s

Then came the the highly successful years of the sixties during which time the 1st XV were virtually unbeatable. The playing success led to a very good club fund raising, through the Shrewsbury Amateur Sporting Guild run by Arthur Richardson, enabling the purchase of the present ground at Sundorne Castle in 1964. The early seventies saw the club going through indifferent times with the loss of some familiar fixtures and sadly the death of Sir Derek Capper in his first year as President.

In the 1980’s the club enjoyed further success under the captaincy of first Chris Pittaway and then Keith Faulkner. After some lack lustre years in the nineties the club became regenerated with the enthusiasm of former coach and Chairman Alan Davies Secretary Graham Jackson and Chairman David Brown. This work has been continued by Glyn Jones Chairman/Treasurer and Gary Dean Secretary who together with others have seen through the financing and construction of extensions to the club house and the improvement of facilities which have recently seen the addition of a Gym.

The club can now boast of a large and ever increasing mini and junior section, under the Chairmanship of Rod McNamara ably assisted by Stephen and Sarah Wild and Rae Evans. The club has a Colts XV under the guidance of Paul Pryce and Andy Rogers, and a Ladies XV. Sadly former President and Chairman Chris Pittaway died prior to the Centenary Celebrations, but one would hope that he would have approved all that has been achieved on and off the field since his demise.