Paul Bolland has been handed the task of trying to bring the good times back to Shrewsbury Rugby Club – and making their centenary season a memorable one.
The long-serving scrum half was elected Shrewsbury’s new captain at the club’s AGM on Tuesday night, replacing Mattie Morris in the top job, and he will have Simon Evitts as his vice-captain.
It could be Bolland’s final season as a player and, if that is the case, he will be determined to sign off on a high note by leading Shrewsbury to some well overdue success after the bitter blow of relegation this term.
The influential Bolland was a frustrated figure on the sidelines having to watch his team-mates struggle after suffering a badly broken leg and dislocated ankle in September.
And he now takes over a side preparing for life in Midlands Four West (North), the lowest level Shrewsbury have found themselves at for many years.
“Paul wanted to be captain and I was more than happy to let him do it as this will probably be his last season,” said Morris, standing down as skipper after just a year in charge.
“He’s slowly getting back to full fitness after his injuries and I’m sure he will do a good job. It’s a special season for Paul to be captain with it being the club’s centenary.”
Morris added there was a real sense of wanting to do well within the Shrewsbury first team squad next season after the misery of relegation.
“It reflects badly on the first team as the seconds and thirds plus the junior teams all had good seasons,” he confirmed. “But our season went disastrously.
“It’s not going to be easy next season and it will probably be even harder to try and go up than it was to stay up last season.
“But that’s what we’ll be trying to do and with it being the club’s centenary, we want to make it a double celebration.”
Shrewsbury also have a new chairman with life member Glyn Jones taking over the reins from Charles Morris who reverts to vice-chairman.
There’s also a change of second team skipper with Phil Wintle replacing Finn Macken although Dave Roberts will continue to lead the third team.
Plans are also in place for Shrewsbury to introduce a fourth team as a number of players were often left without a game last season.
