Shrewsbury Town will kick off their Isle of Man Summer Festival of Football campaign at 3.30pm on Friday against National League North side Radcliffe - but Sunday’s second game starts at 11am, no matter Friday’s result.
The early start comes after hosts FC Isle of Man confirmed travel arrangements forced Shrewsbury to play their Sunday fixture in the morning slot. League Two’s Salop currently sit 19th with 49 points from 46 games, level on points with Gillingham but 38 behind Bromley in the title race.
What are the confirmed kick-off times?
Shrewsbury’s first match at Ballacloan Stadium in Ramsey kicks off at 3.30pm on Friday, July 19. Their second outing - either the third-place play-off or the final - starts at 11am the same day, regardless of Friday’s outcome.
A statement from FC Isle of Man read: “Due to Shrewsbury Town’s travel arrangements, they will play in the 11am fixture on Sunday, July 19, regardless of Friday’s results. The remaining two teams will then compete in the afternoon fixture.”
Why does the early kick-off matter?
The travel-driven early start means Shrewsbury’s players will get two 90-minute runs in one day. Manager Gavin Cowan confirmed both games will see squads split into two XIs, mirroring their 0-0 draw with Stafford Rangers last Tuesday.
“Players will play 45 minutes in each game,” Cowan said. “We’ll use this to assess depth and fitness ahead of the new League Two campaign.”
Where and when are the matches?
The festival is held in Ramsey, the Isle of Man’s second-largest town. Shrewsbury’s last result was a 1-0 loss at Gillingham on May 2, part of a run of two straight defeats and three draws in their last five games.
With 42 goals scored and 69 conceded, Shrewsbury’s -27 goal difference ranks among the league’s worst. Their recent form (LLDDD) leaves them needing a strong pre-season to turn things around before the new campaign.
What’s next for Shrewsbury?
The two matches in Ramsey give Cowan a final chance to test fringe players and youngsters before League Two’s curtain-raiser. The squad’s travel constraints mean Sunday’s fixture is locked in - win or lose on Friday, Salop will face an early start and a quick turnaround.
