Shrewsbury Town’s escape from the jaws of non-league football placed a feather in the cap of its local paper.

The Shropshire Star ran a vigorous campaign to get readers behind the Division 3 club – and spurred the players on with a cash incentive.

The climax came on Saturday, when the Shrews beat Exeter 2-1 away to ensure their Football League survival.

The Star produced a late Saturday Special, with match report and pictures on the front and back pages. And tomorrow, it will publish a 16-page supplement, giving more reactions, taking a look back at the season and celebrating the club’s 50 years of League soccer.

Football writers Nic Hanna and Tim Marsh were at Saturday’s game and the entire sports team was at work on Sunday. Sports editor Alun Owen praised their “fantastic” efforts during “probably the busiest time in the history of the sports desk”.

The Star launched its campaign with Kitchener-style “Your club needs you” posters and produced special banners in club colours for fans to hold aloft at matches, creating a sea of blue and amber.

Last month, it announced its Golden Shot scheme, promising £500 to the scorer of each Shrewsbury goal in the remaining matches of the season. By Saturday evening, the bill had reached £2,500 – but there’ll be no cash for Exeter ‘keeper Danny Potter, who scored an own goal.

Mr Owen said the paper’s campaign had clearly helped drum up support, with attendances soaring towards the end of the season.

“It’s just gathered pace and so many people have been getting behind the club. We like to think we played a part in that.”

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