Spirit can take you a long way, says former Shrewsbury Town man Kelvin Langmead

Former blue and amber favourite Kelvin Langmead always keeps a keen eye on the progress of his former clubs and Shrewsbury Town’s form has made him sit up and take note.

He believes that, under Paul Hurst, Shrewsbury Town could have a recipe for success.

The former defender, still in football with National League North outfit Nuneaton Town, knows just what a flying start to the season can mean.

Town’s class of 2017/2018 are on the verge of club history should they win at Oxford United tomorrow – the first time four opening league wins has been achieved.

Only two Town teams, one way back in 1958/59 and the other featuring Langmead, now 32, and Co in 2008/2009, can claim to rival the current run of three wins from three.

“It’s huge,” said Langmead. “Obviously you go through the pre-season programme, where results matter to a point but it’s more about fitness and working on things, and it’s all geared towards that first game and getting that good start.

“It breeds confidence, you know the lads will be buzzing going into training, morale will be high, they’ll look forward to the game.

“Winning breeds winning. It’s fantastic to look at the table and see that you’re up near the top, things are going well, and you look forward to each and every game as it comes along.”

The 08/09 campaign, where Langmead missed the opening-day win against Macclesfield but was present for follow-up successes against Exeter and Aldershot, finished in heartbreak for Town courtesy of an added time Simeon Jackson goal for Gillingham in the play-off final at Wembley. Expectatations were high for Paul Simpson’s debut season. The likes of Grant Holt, Graham Coughlan and Mike Jackson had checked in.

Hurst has not lined his Shrewsbury ranks with high-profile Football League names, but Langmead insists – as Town’s start suggests – that doesn’t matter.

He added: “Sometimes it’s not only the best players, but the best team.

“I think 2008/9 showed that – we had good players, but we weren’t the best team in the league.

“You see it at all levels – you get a togetherness, a work rate, an attitude, a belief. If you’re all pulling in the right direction, fantastic things can happen.

“It looks like that’s what’s going on (at the moment), which is great to see. I’m sure the town will jump on board with that, crowds will go up. It’s great to be involved with a successful football club.”

He still keeps in touch with ex-team-mate Dave Hibbert, while Langmead and former goalkeeper Chris Neal were best man at each other’s weddings.

The stopper, who featured in 254 games in all competition for Town, still enjoys visiting the area with his young family.

“The club played a major role in my career and I have hugely fond memories of the place, on and off the pitch,” he said.

“It would be good to see them fighting at the top rather than looking over their shoulder a little bit. It would be great if they can carry on competing and get themselves right at the top.

“You look at Wigan over the years. Bournemouth’s a great example – I remember playing against them in League One. If you get momentum why not build on that and see where it takes you?”