Jack Shantry, the Shropshire allrounder, will go head to head with his former Shrewsbury team-mates in an early season showdown after a surprise change of plans saw him sign for Birmingham League champions Walsall.
It means the local lad can look forward to making a quick return to London Road with his new club on May 9, just the second weekend of the season.
Shantry, 21, had initially agreed to join Bradford League club Farsley as a professional after playing a leading role in Shrewsbury’s Birmingham League division one title triumph.
But he has now opted to seek a different challenge after Farsley dragged their heels in allowing him to put pen to paper on a contract after he had agreed terms with the club.
Shantry then became a target for several other sides but has finally decided to join Walsall after the move was instigated by his county team-mate Andy Gray.
“I was sure I was going to join Farsley and I was told it was just a case of travelling to meet the chairman and signing the contract,” said Shantry, an English Language student at Manchester University.
“But in the following couple of months they couldn’t give me a definite answer as to whether they would have sufficient funds to pay me, and a couple of other clubs got in contact.
“Andy Gray called me and said Walsall were interested so now I’ll be staying in the Birmingham League and playing against Shrewsbury this season which should be interesting.”