UK Stadiums: New Meadow Stadium, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
The New Meadow aka the Croud Meadow Stadium for sponsorship reasons is the home ground of Shrewsbury Town in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
The 9,875-capacity arena opened in time for the 2007-2008 season to replace Gay Meadow. Though more centrally-located Gay Meadow suffered from flooding and a narrow access road to the ground.
Previous sponsorship deals have seen the ground named the Prostar Stadium, the Greenhous Meadow, Montgomery Waters Meadow and since 2023 the Croud Meadow following a deal with local marketing company Croud.
Stands
The stadium has four stands named after the compass points. The North and South stands are the two ends while the East and West stands run along the sides of the pitch.
The Roland Wycherley Stand (East Stand) is so named after the current chairman, this stand contains the club's hospitality areas, changing rooms, offices, and club shop. It includes Blocks 1-7 and has a capacity of 2,741.
The Salop Leisure Stand (South Stand) is a sponsorship name from a local caravan dealer, This stand features the stadium's safe-standing section for 555 fans. It includes Blocks 8-12 and has a capacity of 1,955.
The DMOS People Stand (North Stand) is sponsored by a local recruitment agency and is the away supporters' stand. It also houses the stadium control room and scoreboard, which reduces seating capacity compared to the South Stand. It includes Blocks 20-24 and holds 1,796 spectators.
The Rybrook Shrewsbury Stand (West Stand) is another sponsored name after a local BMW dealership. It includes Blocks 13-19 and has a capacity of 3,317.
History
The ground was designed by WDW Partnership architects and was completed at a cost of over £11 million.
Recent developments have included 5G 5-a-side and 7-a-side pitches behind the South Stand, a community centre run by "Shrewsbury Town in the Community" and a memorial garden to remember fans who have passed away.
Shrewsbury Town
Founded in 1886 the club are nicknamed 'The Shrews' or 'Salop' and have never played in the top tier of English football, their highest-ever league finish being 8th in the Second Division in the 1983-84 season.
The club has recently yo-yo'd around the lower divisions and dropped into non-league football for a season in 2003, returning to League Two at the first attempt, after winning the 2004 Conference play-off final v Aldershot at the Britannia Stadium in Stoke.
In 1910 the club moved to Gay Meadow and stayed there for nearly a century.
The Shrews joined the Football League in 1950 and enjoyed some early success, notably a League Cup semi-final in the 1960-61 season losing to Rotherham United 4-3 on aggregate.
Presently in League Two, the Shrews have claimed some larger scalps over the years, especially in their 1980s heyday, including wins over Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Derby County, Everton, Fulham, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Swansea City and West Ham United.
Famous Former Shrewsbury Town Players
The former England goalkeeper, Joe Hart began his professional career at Shrewsbury Town before a big-money move to Manchester City.
Other well-known names who have spent time at the club either as players or managers or both include Mickey Brown, Welsh international David Edwards, David Moyes, Steve Ogrizovic, John McGinlay, Bernard McNally, Jimmy Quinn and Graham Turner.
The record appearance holder for Shrewsbury Town is legend Mickey Brown with 418 appearances over his three spells as a Town player. Defender Colin Griffin, a one club man, also made over 400 appearances in all competitions before retiring and becoming a postman.
The club's all-time record goalscorer is Arthur "The Gunner" Rowley, who scored 152 goals for the club as player manager in the 1950s and 1960s.
Stadium & Club Facts
The official mascot for Shrewsbury Town Football Club is Lenny the Lion. The loveable feline has been a staple at the club's matches for over 30 years.
The Shrews' biggest rivals are now Wrexham after Hereford United folded. In a match in 2025 Wrexham's Irish winger James McClean branded Shrewsbury a 'cesspit full of inbreds' after abuse from home fans.
The record attendance for a home game was 10,210 for a League Cup tie v Chelsea in 2014 when additional, temporary seating was installed.
The first competitive match at New Meadow was a League Cup fixture against Colchester United, who were then playing in the Championship, two divisions above Shrewsbury. The match took place in August 2007, with Shrewsbury winning 1-0, a Darran Kempson header in extra time.
The first league match at the stadium was held on Saturday, 18 August 2007, against Bradford City in League Two. Shrewsbury again won 1-0, with Dave Hibbert converting a first-half penalty.
In November 2007, the England women's national team played Spain at New Meadow. England won the match 1-0, with a goal from Karen Carney.
Accessibility
The stadium offers home and away wheelchair-accessible balcony areas, providing elevated views. Wheelchair spaces are also available at pitch level. Dedicated, paid accessible parking bays are available for registered disabled supporters with a "Blue Badge" within the stadium car park. These should be pre-booked.
Access - Getting There
The nearest railway station is Shrewsbury railway station a little under two miles away. There are no direct local authority buses but there is a STFC Shuttle Bus ST1 from Stand S at the Bus Station, near the train station, in the town center.
Shrewsbury Station has trains to Chester Station in Chester and on to Holyhead on Anglesey.
There are also trains to Aberystwyth, Birmingham New Street, Crewe, Coventry, Manchester Piccadilly Station in Manchester, Cardiff Central in Cardiff, Wolverhampton and Wrexham.
The #436 bus connects Shrewsbury with Bridgnorth, Much Wenlock, and Ironbridge.
By car the town is about 50 minutes from Birmingham on the M6 and M54 motorways. From Aberystwyth take the A44 or A458. Driving time is about two hours.
Address: Oteley Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY2 6ST
Nearby Hotels
Shrewsbury has many superb places to stay. Choose from the Prince Rupert Hotel a timber-framed hotel on Butcher Row, the Lion Hotel is a former 16th century coaching inn and can count Charles Dickens and Charles Darwin among its guests or the Lion & Pheasant Hotel with a restaurant, large rooms and free WiFi.
The Station Hotel is just opposite Shrewsbury Station and offers single, double and deluxe rooms.
See a listing on hotels in and near Shrewsbury
More UK Stadiums
Kirklees Stadium (John Smith's Stadium)
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