Gay Meadow was a football ground in Abbey Forgate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, that served as the home of Shrewsbury Town F.C. for 97 years, from 1910 until the end of the 2006–07 Football League season. Nestled on the banks of the River Severn with views of Shrewsbury Castle and the Abbey rising above the town, it was widely considered one of the most picturesque lower-league grounds in England.
The ground became famous not only for its scenic setting but for its quirks — most notably the long-running tradition of local coracle maker Fred Davies sitting on the River Severn during matches to retrieve footballs that sailed over the Riverside Terrace. By the time Gay Meadow closed in May 2007, tightening safety regulations had reduced its capacity from around 16,000 to just 8,000. Demolition began in September 2007, and the site was later redeveloped into luxury apartments.
Stats at a Glance
- Team: Shrewsbury Town F.C.
- Location: Abbey Forgate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England
- Opened: 1910
- Closed: 2007 (final match 14 May 2007)
- Demolished: September–October 2007
- Capacity at Closure: 8,000 (3,639 seated)
- Record Attendance: 18,917 vs. Walsall, 26 April 1961
- Field Size: 114 × 74 yards
- Notable Fact: Housed what was described as the oldest working football turnstile in the country
Life on the Riverside
Gay Meadow’s location along the River Severn gave it an atmosphere unlike almost any other English football ground, but it also brought constant practical challenges. The ground flooded regularly during autumn and winter months, forcing postponements throughout its history. Access was severely restricted by ‘The Narrows,’ a tight side street that became the main route into the stadium, and this bottleneck — combined with post-Hillsborough safety regulations — steadily squeezed the official capacity down from around 16,000 in its peak years to just 8,000 by the time the ground closed. Despite these limitations, the Riverside Terrace remained one of the most vocal ends in the lower leagues, beloved by supporters who made the cramped conditions part of the experience.
Final Days and Legacy
The last competitive match at Gay Meadow was played on 14 May 2007, a League Two play-off first leg against Milton Keynes Dons that ended 0–0. Within months the bulldozers moved in, and by October 2007 the ground had been reduced to rubble. Items including the oldest working football turnstile in the country were auctioned off, with that turnstile fetching £3,050. Shrewsbury Town relocated to the New Meadow (later rebranded Montgomery Waters Meadow) on the southern outskirts of town — a modern 10,000-seat all-seater that fulfilled safety requirements but could not replicate the character of the old riverside ground. The Gay Meadow site was eventually redeveloped into 150 luxury flats, completed around 2014.
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Gay Meadow FAQs
When did Gay Meadow open and close?
Gay Meadow opened in 1910 and closed at the end of the 2006–07 Football League season, with the final match played on 14 May 2007. Demolition followed in September–October 2007.
What was the record attendance at Gay Meadow?
The record attendance was 18,917, set on 26 April 1961 for a Third Division match against Walsall F.C.
Why did Shrewsbury Town leave Gay Meadow?
The club left because the ground’s cramped riverside location, limited access, and repeated flooding made it impossible to meet modern safety standards or expand capacity. Shrewsbury moved to the purpose-built New Meadow in 2007.
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Photo: David Ingham from Lancashire, England / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.