New Meadow facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
New Meadow

The Croud Meadow • Oteley Road • The Meadow
UEFA
Full name	The Croud Meadow
Location	Oteley Road Shrewsbury Shropshire SY2 6ST
Public transit	Shrewsbury (2.3 mi)
Owner	Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Capacity	9,875 (555 safe standing)
Record attendance	10,210
Surface	Grass
Construction
Built	2006–2007
Opened	July 2007
Tenants
Shrewsbury Town F.C. (2007–present) The New Saints (2024) European Competitions

New Meadow, also known as The Croud Meadow, is a football stadium in Shrewsbury, England. It is the home ground for the Shrewsbury Town football team. The stadium is located on the southern edge of Shrewsbury.

It was finished in the summer of 2007. This was just in time for the 2007–08 football season. New Meadow was built to replace Gay Meadow, which had been Shrewsbury Town's home since 1910.

About The Croud Meadow Stadium

How the Stadium Got Its Name

When the stadium first opened, it didn't have an official name. For a while, people called it "New Meadow." In 2008, it was named the "Prostar Stadium" after a sports kit company.

Later, in 2010, a new sponsor, Greenhous, let fans vote for a new name. Many fans wanted "Meadow" to be part of it. So, it became "Greenhous Meadow."

In 2017, Montgomery Waters took over the naming rights. Then, on June 13, 2023, a local company called Croud became the new sponsor. Now, the stadium is officially known as "The Croud Meadow."

Building the Stadium

Plans for a new stadium at Oteley Road started in the late 1990s. Permission to build was given in September 2003. The old Gay Meadow site was sold to help pay for the new stadium.

The stadium was designed to hold 10,000 people. It also has rooms for events and parties. The project cost about £11.2 million.

The building work included four main stands. There are also offices, a club shop, and places to eat. A large car park and training pitches were also built. Everything was ready for the 2007–08 football season.

The Stands at the Stadium

The North Stand, where away fans sit.

The Croud Meadow has four main sections for fans, called stands. Each stand has seats and a roof. They also have their own food stalls and toilets.

• Roland Wycherley Stand: This is the East stand. It is named after the club's chairman. This stand has the club's offices, changing rooms, and the club shop. It can hold 2,741 fans.
• Salop Leisure Stand: This is the South stand. It is named after a local business. This stand has a special "safe standing" area. It can hold 1,955 fans.
• DMOS People Stand: This is the North stand. It is named after a local company. This is where the away team's fans usually sit. It can hold 1,796 fans.
• The Rybrook Shrewsbury Stand: This is the West stand. It is named after a local car dealership. It is the largest stand, holding 3,317 fans.

The West Stand at The Croud Meadow.

Stadium Upgrades and Changes

In December 2019, the stadium's capacity grew by two luxury seats. These were added to the Roland Wycherley Stand.

For the first nine seasons, about 5,612 fans came to league matches on average. This was about 57% of the stadium's full capacity.

Temporary Seating for Big Games

New Meadow with extra temporary seating for a big match in October 2014.

In September 2014, Shrewsbury Town played Chelsea in a big cup match. To fit more fans, temporary seats were added. These extra seats raised the stadium's capacity to 10,361 for that game.

Other additions to the stadium site include 5-a-side and 7-a-side football pitches. There is also a community center that opened in 2016. A memorial garden for fans, staff, and players is also near the stadium entrance.

A supermarket was built at the stadium site. Planning permission for this was approved in April 2017.

Safe Standing Area

In June 2017, Shrewsbury Town asked to add a "safe standing" area. This would make them the first club in the English Football League to do so. Permission was given the next month.

Fans helped raise money to install special rail seating in the South Stand. This area can hold 550 fans. Safe standing allows fans to stand safely during matches.

Getting to the Stadium

The stadium is not in the very center of town. There is some parking, but it is limited. The club encourages fans to walk, cycle, or use public transport.

Shrewsbury railway station is about two miles away. There is also a Park and Ride bus service nearby.

Exciting Matches at New Meadow

The very first match at the new stadium was a friendly game on July 14, 2007. Shrewsbury Town played an "All Stars" team and won 4–0. Dave Hibbert scored the first-ever goal at the new ground.

The first official match was a League Cup game on August 14, 2007. Shrewsbury beat Colchester United 1–0 in extra time. The first league game was on August 18, with Shrewsbury beating Bradford City 1–0.

In November 2007, the England women's national football team played Spain here. England won 1–0.

On March 27, 2012, a fire in the East Stand caused a match to be stopped. Shrewsbury Town was playing Port Vale. Shrewsbury won the replayed match 1–0.

Shrewsbury Town had an amazing run between 2011 and 2012. They went 34 matches without losing at New Meadow. This streak ended in September 2012.

In 2024, The New Saints F.C. played their UEFA Conference League home matches at New Meadow. Their own ground did not meet UEFA rules for these games. They hosted teams like Astana and Panathinaikos.

Highest Attendances

These are the biggest crowds for Shrewsbury Town's competitive matches at New Meadow.

Average Fan Numbers Each Season

This table shows the average number of fans who attended Shrewsbury Town's league matches each season.