(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Today it has been announced that Bristol Rovers goalkeeper, Steve Phillips, has joined Shrewsbury Town on loan for an initial one month deal.
Phillips has found himself surplus to requirements at the Memorial stadium this year, and third in the pecking order behind on loan Newcastle keeper Frazer Forster and Rhys Evans, who is on a one month temporary contract.
Phillips has been ever present for the Rovers since he arrived in 2006. It is no coincidence that his arrival from Bristol City saw an upturn in Rovers' fortunes.
With Steve Phillips in goal, Rovers managed to get to the final of the JPT at the millennium stadium and the final of the league two playoffs at Wembley stadium.
Whilst Rovers were edged out by Doncaster Rovers at Cardiff, their fortunes were considerably different at Wembley, where the beat Shrewsbury Town to gain promotion to league one.
Phillips took a major gamble joining Rovers from City and was always aware of the hostility that might come his way due to his past, although through hard work and determination, he won over the fans and was hailed as a hero.
At the back end of the 2008/09 season Phillips seemed to be going off the boil. His performances were not up to his usual standard, and slowly the mouthy minority got on his back. Towards the end of the season, it was a foregone conclusion that he would be on his way.
Rumours started linking Phillips with a reunion with his former City manager, Danny Wilson at Swindon Town, but nothing came of it. Being told that he was free to leave the club on a free transfer, he departed Rovers to embark on a trip to Turkey to agree to a contract. When he got there, a deal could not be agreed upon, and he returned to Rovers a couple of days later.
Today, 26 August 2009, Steve Phillips has joined Shrewsbury Town on an initial one month deal, which may be extended. By going to Shrewsbury, Phillips will be linking up with another former Rovers player who was released this year in Craig Disley.
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