Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I’d love the Cup to turn tragic into MAGIC
SHREWS STAR OLLIE HOPES CUP FAIRYTALE CAN EASE PAIN OVER DEATH OF HIS SON.. AND BOOST SPIRITS OF HIS COVID-HIT BOSS
SHREWSBURY captain Ollie Norburn is dreaming of an FA Cup fairytale after a year of heartache.
In September, Norburn, fiancee Lucy, and daughter Lilly were rocked by tragedy after the passing of newborn son Louie. He tweeted at the time: “The first and last time I held my son. No words to describe the pain right now.”
But tonight the League One midfielder will lead out Shrewsbury at Premier League Southampton dreaming of an upset and a fourthround home tie with Arsenal.
It is Shrewsbury’s first match of the year after their Covid outbreak and, asked if he was due a fairytale win, Norburn replied: “I hope so.
“It would be good for me personally and it would be great for the club and the lads too.
“It has been a weird year with a few difficulties and problems.
“You have to overcome things in life and battle on. It is in my DNA.
“Football is a way out and, when it stops, it is not good. It has been a tough year but it has been a tough year for everyone. Let’s hope 2021 is a little bit better.”
The 28-year-old believes the Shrews are well capable of springing a Cup shock at St Mary’s tonight.
“Southampton will be a special night,” he said. “It is our first game in 2021 and hopefully we can get off to a good start. We are the underdogs and we quite like that. Hopefully we can cause a bit of an upset.”
Town’s original trip to the south coast was postponed after the coronavirus outbreak in their ranks.
It floored their manager Steve Cotterill, who will not be at the match tonight as he remains in a Bristol hospital after spending the weekend in intensive care.
Several of Town’s players also had the virus but were able to return to training four days ago after 10 days of self-isolation.
Norburn, who tested negative, said: “The most important thing, especially after what has gone on at our club over recent weeks, is that everyone is safe.
“We know the situation the gaffer is in at the minute, he is not well. But we now have to try and carry on everything he has implemented.”
As skipper, Norburn has communicated with 56-year-old manager Cotterill on behalf of the squad, and tonight assistant Aaron Wilbraham will be in charge of a club that has won four of its last five matches by a 1-0 scoreline.
“I dropped the gaffer a message from me and the lads over the weekend to say we were thinking of him and hopefully he has a speedy recovery,” said Norburn.