Shrewsbury Town’s master chef has the recipe for success

‘Dave the Chef’ – or Dave Hindhaugh as he is more formerly known – has been associated with Shrewsbury for a number of years, working in the hospitality area, but was made head chef at the Sundorne Castle training ground by former boss Paul Hurst in the summer of 2017.

Hindhaugh, from the Pontesbury area, is affable and a popular member of the training ground. Management and players come and go, but staff like him remain and are integral to day-to-day mood and, in turn, success.

In a ‘normal’, non-Covid world, he is first to arrive in the morning and last to leave at night, meticulously planning, preparing and delivering meals, drinks and snacks of every different kind imaginable.

Not that his work has taken a back seat during the pandemic. This season’s truncated schedule meant the emphasis on rest and recovery has increased tenfold. Having the right nutrients available to players through the week is priceless. Not just that, the chef’s food is available on home matchdays and trips across the country, where Hindhaugh will tailor energy-infusing meals or snacks for players for both before kick-off and the journey home.

Just last week Town’s management staff were discussing with the chef how the Shrewsbury players can enjoy more marginal gains during their recovery and preparation period. Hindhaugh came up with different smoothies, made up from every fruit imaginable.

Town stand-in boss Aaron Wilbraham, only appointed in December, is already a huge fan.

Striker Wilbraham had 11 clubs over a 23-year playing career, from League Two to the Premier League with Norwich City and Crystal Palace. He has been around and seen it all, many times. Yet Steve Cotterill’s assistant was quick to make the bold claim ‘Dave’s food is the best I’ve had in football’.

“I’ve said to Dave myself it’s the best food I’ve had at any club I’ve been at, the way he preps for the lads,” Wilbraham said. “Especially in recent times, with Covid, he’s doing everyone takeaway bags and the food is really good still. Fair play to him, I know all the boys enjoy it, they are always coming in saying thank you, they really appreciate his efforts.”

Dave is said to be integral to setting the culture behind the scenes at Sundorne. His dedication at going ‘above and beyond’ stands him out in the world of football chefs, while ensuring the atmosphere day-to-day remains an upbeat one.

One former staff member who worked with Chef Dave told the Shropshire Star: “Dave was very good, especially in terms of making an effort.

“He was a great guy more so who integrated brilliantly with the lads and the staff.”

Wilbraham concurs, adding: “They are really important people, there are important people like that at the club, I said in my first interview you can tell it’s a great club to be at in terms of everyone behind the scenes.

“When you get those type of things right it’s important for what happens on the pitch.”

There are, of course, several essential parts of ‘rest and recovery’ as players refresh their bodies for relentless football – although next week is Town’s final ‘free midweek’, without a Tuesday game, of the League One season.

Players have access to Cryo Chamber facilities nearby to Sundorne, where sub-zero temperatures help muscles recover quicker, through a booking system. Foam rolling pads are another favourite, as are air pumps, to re-energise leg muscles.

But nothing is quite as important as the grub footballers consume day-to-day. One suspects Hindhaugh’s influence also goes as far as helping players, young and old, ensure their fridges are full with the correct meals at home.

Just as important are the chef’s mannerisms and character.

It is not a given that food preparers are an essential and loved part of the furniture, as Wilbraham recalls with a smile.

“It helps that he’s such a good guy, he’s a good personality, a lot of chefs can be a bit angry and get stressed in the kitchen, but he’s not like that at all,” added the assistant.

“It’s just a bit of a known things, they can be a bit power-hungry and controlling.

“It’s hard for him at the moment, because he’s not having the interaction with the players, he’s indoors doing his stuff, and doing it all in takeaway bags, but the lads still show they appreciate it.

“He likes making sure the boys are well fed, he’s always doing stuff for the away games on the coach, little individual packages the boys ask for to make sure they are not eating rubbish, all healthy stuff. He’s really good like that.

“He’s really focused on giving the lads the best opportunity for their prep and nutrition going into games and recovering from games. He’s a big part of it.”