Football season 24-25 review, part 1

The three clubs I've taken an interest in this season have concluded their campaigns. How did they do?

Shrewsbury Town

The headline news is that Shrewsbury were relegated as the very bottom club in League One. But that doesn't really tell the whole story of a chaotic season. 

Suitably gloomy Shrewsbury game

Firstly, there were two managerial changes. Paul Hurst, who was only appointed in January 2024 was out the door by October. He was replaced by Gareth Ainsworth, who inspired an incredible win against big-spending Birmingham City. He also managed to get a win against Wrexham. But aside from that results were dismal. 

And then in March, out of nowhere, Ainsworth quit and was quickly installed as manager at Gillingham. It was a shock given how much he had been saying he liked Shrewsbury as a club and a place. 

There was a lot of fan rage and betrayal on social media. But also the feeling that, behind the scenes, the ongoing takeover saga with an unknown (and possibly phantom) interested party was influencing things. At some point it became obvious nothing was happening - which might be why Ainsworth walked - and since then Mike Harris, owner of TNS, has gone public that he wanted to buy the club but was rebuffed.

Shrewsbury had been the club with the longest continuous run in League One. Personally I did quite well in a relegation season - I saw seven games with 2 wins, 3 draws and only 2 defeats. But I'm also gutted because Cardiff City will be playing in League 1 next season and that would have been an incredibly easy "away day" for me.

Barry Town

Barry had a moderately successful season. They finished top of the lower half of the table meaning they qualified for the post-season play-off but then lost heavily in the first round of the play-offs. 

They shouldn't have been in the lower half of the table when the league split in January - but for some woeful decision-making by the FAW they would have been in sixth. There was mayhem at the end of phase 1 with fixtures moved at the last minute to make sure everyone finished the phase at the same time because Bala Town had a fixture backlog due to their planning ineptitude (scheduling games on Friday nights and then having to cancel them due to freezing conditions). 

The FAW cited "sporting integrity" as a reason to change the fixtures. After accommodating Bala by moving everyone else's games, there was further monkey business when Bala had their game called off while they were losing, only to win their rearranged game, which was played after everyone else's games. The result was allowed to stand by an FAW committee. So much for sporting integrity. Bala lost most of their games in a miserable phase 2 and then lost their play off game to a very late goal. I have zero sympathy.

The other big talking point for Barry towards the end of the season was really quite sad. One of the players was imprisoned for selling drugs - the club, and fans, only found out about it on the day he was sentenced. It was a nasty shock and suddenly scheduling shenanigans didn't feel so important. 

Cardiff Draconians

And some good news to finish - a promotion! The Dracs are Ardal South West champions and will be playing in the second tier of the Welsh system next season, although not at their home ground because it doesn't meet tier 2 licensing requirements. 

The Dracs didn't lose a league game until January (away at Swansea University; a game I went to) but they did exit the various cups quite early on. That enabled them to concentrate on the league, to use the old cliche. I was at the game where they clinched the championship - away at Morriston - and even made it into the official celebratory photo. I also saw them lift the trophy in their last game of the season. 

I enjoy watching the Dracs. Not just because my friend Scott's son plays for them. The people involved are doing it for the love of football. It's been really heartening to see the club do well this season and the old boys on the committee walking round with massive grins on their faces. 

I've got a couple more games on the calendar before I officially call time on my season. Look out for the next part of my football round up soon.