Shrewsbury Town manager Gavin Cowan has spoken about his deep personal connection to Colchester United ahead of their League Two fixture. The 45-year-old was raised in the town and his family lived close to the U's former Layer Road ground.
Cowan's father was in the Army, which brought the family to Colchester, and they have always supported the local club. He attended school in the area, forging a lasting bond with the team he will now face as an opponent. "I was brought up in Colchester, I didn’t live far away from Layer Road," Cowan said.
Cowan told local media that his Shrewsbury side have prepared thoroughly for the challenge. He described Colchester as a team that likes to play on the front foot. "They are a very good footballing team, happy to mix it, want to get on the front foot, want to get on the ball, brave, it’s a typical Colchester team," he stated. Cowan believes if his team perform at their best, they can win the game, but he also addressed his side's recent struggles in front of goal and the disruption of international call-ups.
The two teams last met just days ago, playing out a dramatic 2-2 draw at Croud Meadow. Colchester currently sit 15th in the League Two table with 10 points from their opening eight matches. Their next assignment after this weekend is a home game against Port Vale, who are 23rd in the standings.
Shrewsbury Town host Colchester United at Croud Meadow this weekend.
This story first appeared at BBC Shropshire
