Local ace Scott Ruscoe is gearing up for a European Champions League crack at Belgian giants Anderlecht after the “best night” of his career with Welsh champions The New Saints.
Shrewsbury-born Ruscoe, who will shortly return to live in the town in Monkmoor, was a key man in midfield for TNS as they thrashed Irish side Bohemians 4-0 at rain-lashed Oswestry on Tuesday night to set up a glamour third qualifying round clash with Anderlecht.
The first leg will be played at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground instead of the club’s much smaller Park Hall headquarters next Tuesday night with the return in Brussels a week later.
“The Bohemians game was my 20th European game and I was telling the lads it was about time I went through one of these rounds for a change instead of losing and thinking what could have been,” said Ruscoe, now into his 11th season with the border club.
“Playing Liverpool a few years ago was good but we were underdogs then and there was really no chance we were going to go and beat them, but Tuesday ranks very highly and it makes all those league games playing down in south Wales on windy and rainy Saturdays all the better.
“It’s the best night I’ve had so far European wise.“We made a great start and the lads were on fire early on with the shots flying in – it was dream stuff.”
Ruscoe, a former pupil at Shrewsbury’s Belvidere School, is now relishing the chance to pit his wits against Anderlecht, one of the stellar names of European football.
“We’ve got Anderlecht over two legs and if we don’t beat them we’re guaranteed to go into the Europa League where we would have at least two games as well,” he said.
“When we heard we could be playing Anderlecht everybody was getting a bit carried away but we knew we first had to beat Bohemians who are a very good side.
“But now that we’re through I’m looking forward to next Tuesday at the Racecourse.”
Ruscoe had a spell as a youth trainee with Shrewsbury Town many years ago before launching his pro career with Stoke City via a short stint at Aston Villa.
He then played for Port Vale and Chester before signing for TNS where he is now into his 11th season having scored 67 goals in just under 400 games for the Saints.
He has recently been living in Oswestry but, having got married to Charlotte in May, Ruscoe said he was looking forward to moving back to Shrewsbury having just bought a house in the town. His parents are also still based in Monkmoor.
Tuesday was a historic night for Ruscoe and his excited team-mates as it was the first time TNS had triumphed over two legs in Europe at the 13th attempt.
By Stuart Dunn