Shrewsbury Town boss Steve Cotterill was unfortunately subjected to some vile abuse from Bristol Rovers fans on Saturday afternoon.
The former Bristol City chief was targeted after his side drew the League One clash 1-1 at the Memorial Stadium, coming as he was heading down the touchline for his post-match interview duties.
He was stopped by some fans in the home end, many aimed expletives at him, but one fan also shouted “I wish you were dead” at Cotterill, who had a brush with death during a long battle with Covid last season.
Cotterill was involved in a verbal stand-off with the small group of middle-aged men lingering in the stands before they were silenced by a fellow Rovers fan as children milled around the ground.
“I came back here as a former Bristol City manager who has been successful and I’ve still got a home in the city,” Cotterill said.
“That abuse is not acceptable but I have lots of good friends who are ardent Rovers fans.
“It’s a few people who decide they wanted to have something to say but I don’t know what you can do about it. You’ve got to take it.
“They are far enough away from you but there’s a lot of people who are brave when they are 20 or 30 feet away.
“The stewarding was pretty good and another guy told them to pipe down but unfortunately this happens in football. Thankfully, it’s an isolated incident.”
He spent time in intensive care at Bristol Royal Infirmary as he battled the virus – initially tested positive for Covid and went into hospital in January 2021 before leaving in mid-February, but was readmitted soon after with Covid-pneumonia.
Ahead of Shrewsbury’s FA Cup clash with Liverpool back in January, Cotterill said: “There was a moment that I was frightened to go to sleep because I wasn’t sure if I was going to wake up. “I’m lucky to be alive.”
Steve Cotterill insists he still isn’t 100 per cent after his battle is excited as he has ever been 27 years after his managerial career began.
“I am excited as I was when I started, I love football and that is where I am, I love winning and I hate losing and I’m looking forward to it.
“Last year I gave 100 per cent, but I might not have been quite good enough. I didn’t duck any corners with it last year, but last year most nights I was in bed at seven, half seven, I was done.
“We still hear about people with Covid and fatigue and I’ve still got it. I don’t need to be in bed at seven, I’m fitter and stronger than I was 12 months ago, and I hope many others are the same, but I am 100 per cent, not really no.
“I think it has been tough on Keith (Burt, head of recruitment), being here this year has helped Keith I think, but last year I was not quite ready and the window before I was in the Royal Infirmary in Bristol, and a lot has been lobbed on Keith, so this year I have been able to help him.”
He said: “I still have moments when I feel tired, and as I have said before we have incredible support here.
“They know when I am not quite right and if I am not quite right, they run around looking after me as if they were all of my sons
“The staff and players are a great bunch and I am looking forward to watching them this season.”
It marred an exciting end to a match that saw Salop striker Ryan Bowman play the role of super-sub as he rescued a point for the visitors with a close-range strike in the 80th minute.
He hit home after fellow replacement Ryan Loft had put the hosts ahead in the 68th minute – coming seven minutes after he entered the pitch – after being teed up by striker Aaron Collins.
Cotterill felt disappointed his return to the West Country only saw his side pick up a draw, stating: “I was really pleased with the way we applied ourselves in what’s an unforgiving place but we had something like 20 attempts on goal so I’m not satisfied with a point.”
Rovers manager Joey Barton later took a swipe at Cotterill after being asked about a series of stoppages that broke up play.
Barton said: “It was game that they set out their stall early and they paid us the ultimate compliment by playing five at the back but we’re gutted we haven’t taken maximum points.
“The stoppages are part of their strategy. Steve’s been coaching for a long time, but I’m not sure I would come out on a Saturday afternoon if that was what I was coaching.
“I would stay in the house to watch Liverpool win 9-0. I don’t get it. Is that what he’s been taught in the game? But we’ve got to find solutions.
“We aren’t a free-flowing side like Barcelona so it will be tricky when teams camp in their own half and don’t show very much ambition.
“I take it as a compliment that they were fearful of us. If I was the manager of an established League One side against a newly-promoted side like us I would say ‘let’s take them on’.
“That’s probably why they have only won six in 20-odd and they won’t win many points for stylistics.
“And players won’t want to play like that. They want to play football.”
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