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Archived News from November 2005

NEW DATE FOR SHREWS GAME/SHIRTLIFF STILL IN SHOCK
22nd November 2005 21:54


www.shrewsburytown.premiumtv.co.uk

The game at home to Mansfield Town has been rescheduled for Tuesday 17th January 2006 with a 7:45pmn kick-off.

The game was called off on Saturday following the tragic news that Mansfield goalkeeping coach Peter Wilson had suffered a heart attack.
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Stags face tough week after tragedy
CHAD website, 22 November 2005

STAGS boss Peter Shirtliff knows he faces a tough week, lifting the morale of his shattered young squad before Saturday's visit of Stockport County (3pm) following last weekend's tragedy.
The club was in mourning this week after their new goalkeeping coach, Peter Wilson (52), collapsed and died on the pitch during the warm-up for last weekend's game at Shrewsbury.
The match was subsequently postponed.
Mr Wilson's death was particularly hard for manager Peter Shirtliff who was an old friend of his and had only brought him to work at Field Mill two weeks previously.
And he knows with such a young squad that it won't just be football coaching on his plate this week.
"It was a very tragic and very difficult weekend," said Shirtliff.
"I was very pleased the game was called off as the players were in no fit state to play.
"It was very distressing for them to see what happened on the pitch.
"We are now trying to get through it. It is difficult but we will do it.
"It will be particularly hard for the goalkeepers who had quickly struck up a nice relationship with him, and Kevin Pressman was also a friend of his from their days together at Leicester City."
He added: "I am still in shock. I am still expecting him to come in tomorrow and do the coaching.
"I was in the dressing room when they told me Peter had collapsed. The emergency services did all they could but it wasn't to be.
"But, knowing Peter as I did, he wouldn't want us moping around as a result of his death.
"It's going to be hard but, by Saturday, we don't want long faces here."
It was a nightmare scenario that unfolded for the 1,500 or so spectators in the ground just after 2pm,
Mr Wilson was warming up the keepers when he suffered a heart attack and collapsed.
After lengthy attempts to revive him, he was eventually taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
After long discussions between the referee, Lee Probert, and both managers, the decision to postpone the match was finally taken around 15 minutes from the scheduled start time.
Stags Supporters Association issued a statement, saying: "All the committee and members of the SSA would like to pass on their sincere condolences to the family and friends of the Mansfield Town goalkeeper coach, Mr Peter Wilson
"It is at times like these that following football with all its trials and tribulations are put into perspective.
"Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.
"We would also like to pass on a thank you to the majority of the Shrewsbury Town supporters who agreed with the game being called off and who have also passed on their condolences."
With no game, Stags slipped back into the bottom two and Shirtliff knows Saturday's visit of fellow strugglers Stockport, just one place and one point above them, is a crucial game.
"I tell you now, this will be a very difficult game for us and we will have to be right on top of our game to get the victory we require.
"Stockport do concede but they also score a lot and are the League's draw specialists."
Simon Brown, who failed a late fitness test on his hamstring last weekend, could now regain his fitness in time for Saturday.
But Mansfield will be without suspnded pair Gareth Jelleyman and Gus Uhlenbeek.
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