511: Kevin Summerfield and Tommy Lynch, Shrewsbury Town, Panini Football League 95 Official Sticker Collection

Another week and another request post this time for Meadow Memories. In fairness the request itself was only for one of the esteemed gentlemen depicted below but that might make more sense as we get into it. Anyway Shrewsbury Town fans it’s time to reacquaint yourselves with both the man known affectionately as ‘Pointer’ due to his love of giving directions on the pitch and a genuine club legend who “typified Shrewsbury” and “made sure no winger would ever say they had an easy time against him”. Hope this does the trick!

When the Premier League launched in 1992 Sky’s “whole new ball game” brought many footballing traditions to an end. Among these was the emergence of Merlin as the provider for the English top flight’s official sticker collection after fifteen years of Italian giant’s Panini leading the market. Undeterred by this significant dent to their prestige the company ploughed on with some questionable collections in collaboration with the Professional Footballers’ Association and the remaining clubs of the Football League. Although lacking the widespread success of their new rivals’ collections they provided some succour for those of us not dining at the game’s top table and allowed Panini to showcase some of their infamous quirks like dubious snaps from pre-match team photos and split stickers to pack in as many players as possible.

Kevin Summerfield and Tommy Lynch both arrived at Gay Meadow in 1990 and departed in 1996 so them pairing up together for this particular sticker makes some sense. Summerfield had started his career as a forward at boyhood club West Bromwich Albion but, after his most fruitful spell at Walsall on loan, was convinced to drop back into midfield during his time at Plymouth Argyle. Lynch meanwhile began at hometown club Limerick before crossing the Irish Sea to join Sunderland. By the time both men left Shropshire they had made nearly 400 appearances for Shrewsbury and chipped in with around forty goals between them as well as seeing the club through a relegation, promotion and run to Wembley in the Football League Trophy.

When Kevin Summerfield arrived at Gay Meadow he had endured a tough year recovering from a broken leg which had put the brakes on a good spell with Plymouth Argyle. Despite lacking the goal threat he had possessed in Devon he made his mark at Shrewsbury becoming club captain and, after ending his playing career in 1996, joined the club’s coaching staff. Although he was dismissed following the Shrews’ relegation in 1997 he continued his coaching career at former club Plymouth and has subsequently served in a variety of roles alongside former Pilgrims’ manager Paul Sturrock. During this time his son Luke came through the ranks at Argyle where he was touted as one of the Football League’s brightest prospects in 2007 by The Guardian alongside the likes of Billy Sharp and Matt Jarvis. Although Luke may not have hit the dizzying heights predicted by the newspaper he did follow in his father’s footsteps and spent two years at Shrewsbury between 2012 and 2014.

Tommy Lynch instantly won the hearts and minds of the Gay Meadow faithful with his uncompromising commitment to his fullback role. In more recent interviews the defender has stated his love of “wet mucky days” where he could make an impression on opposing wingers and his tough tackling and composure on the ball led to many comparisons with Stuart Pearce. Perhaps the best example of Lynch’s no nonsense approach came during the visit of Stoke City in the 1991/92 campaign. Stoke’s centre forward Tony Ellis took exception to Lynch’s attentions and decided to drop the nut on the defender. Lynch hit the deck but bounced back up to help the club earn a 1-0 victory. Ellis, meanwhile, was taken from the field on a stretcher at the same time as being shown a red card for his indiscretion. His trip to the hospital revealed he had suffered a fractured skull. Although his progeny are yet to pull on a Shrewsbury shirt Lynch’s name is etched forever into the club’s history as one their first inductees to their ‘Hall of Fame’ and his overwhelming backing at left back in the fan voted greatest XI. He still makes regular visits to New Meadow and, by all accounts, enjoys interacting with Shrews’ fans who are keen to remind him of the fondness in which he is held by them. 

The likes of Kevin Summerfield and Tommy Lynch may never have lit up football’s top table but their careers on and off the pitch are not to be sniffed at. Summerfield has forged a successful coaching career helping the likes of Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday and Swindon Town to promotions while Lynch served both Waterford United and Limerick as player-manager in his native Ireland before going on to work with disadvantaged young people. I have to admit that prior to this post being requested I had not heard of either of these players but I feel richer for having learned more about them and such characters are what make football the game we all fell in love with. Thankfully the thoughtful lads at Panini made sure they were committed to collective memory beyond the borders of Shropshire.