Shrewsbury Town's Joshua Daniels admits play-off final could delay next year’s honeymoon

The 24-year-old Derry native should be a married man by this stage but his ‘big day’ with fiancée, Hannah Kelly, fell victim to the COVID-19 lockdown, forcing a postponement of their wedding until May 2021. If that was a frustration for the happy couple, Daniels won’t be too sorry if he’s forced to delay his honeymoon once again in 2021.

That’s because the former Derry and Glenavon star, who left the Lurgan Blues for Shrewsbury Town in August, already has one eye on the League One Play-off final, scheduled for the end of May, right around the time Josh and Hannah’s wedding has been pencilled in on the calendar for!

“It’s a bit mad because I was supposed to be married by now but due to COVID it had to be put back,” explained the midfielder, “To be honest, it has been pushed to the back of our heads over the last couple of months because of everything that’s been going on.

“Our wedding is now Friday, May 21st, 2021 and the Play-off final is looking like it will be around the end of May but hopefully it will be all good. It’s very early days but there’s a chance I could fly home, get married on the Friday and then come back to Shrewsbury for training on the Monday with the Play-off final on the following Saturday if we reached it. I wouldn’t mind that,” smiled Daniels.

When those nuptials do eventually take place, last week’s Europa League action suggests the Daniels bridal party might make a pretty decent five-a-side line-up of their own.

The ex-Derry winger was thrilled to see former team-mates, Ben Doherty and Aaron McEneff, playing their part in victories for Coleraine and Shamrock Rovers respectively.

Doherty and McEneff both held their nerve superbly in shoot-out victories over against Slovenian side, NK Maribor, and Finnish team, Ilves Tampere, but they’ll have to be just as composed next May with Doherty performing best man duties and McEneff a groomsmen.

“It’s second nature to them, taking penalties, they’re doing that every day at training. That’s why I tweeted last week that my Groomsman and Best Man aren’t bad in pressurised situations.

They’ll probably be more nervous about having to make a speech at my weeding!

“I have been keeping track of all the games as I have the LOI pass and I could watch Ben’s on the BBC. I was delighted for both of them.

“Obviously because Ben missed a penalty in the Irish Cup semi-finals, I’d been giving him a bit of stick and so had a few other friends. He had converted something like 10 penalties last season and then missed in the ‘semi’ so, yeah, it was massive for him to step up and take the last penalty. I was buzzing for him. It was a massive win for him and Coleraine.

“I was also keeping track of Aaron’s game but their match was penalty crazy. It was massive for the both lads and I was delighted because it’s big for Irish football.”

Daniels revealed that the Bannsiders’ and Hoops’ heroics was all the talk amongst his new Shrewsbury team-mates the following day at training and he believes Oran Kearney’s men could cause another shock against Motherwell.

“At training here in Shrewsbury, boys were talking about Shamrock Rovers getting AC Milan and I was telling them that one of my best friends, my groomsmen, could be playing and my best man is preparing for Motherwell, it’s amazing to see them doing so well,” he added.

“Both got home draws and anything can happen in a one legged tie, especially for Coleraine because if they play their cards right, it could really suit them.

“Having played at Coleraine’s pitch, if it’s dry and you are putting it into Skinner’s (Eoin Bradley) chest, boys aren’t going to want to tackle him. That might suit them down to the ground and hopefully they can do well.

“For Rovers it’s a dream tie against a massive team but while they’ll be going into the game as big underdogs against AC Milan, they’ll have nothing to fear. Even if neither team gets a result, every player will gain massive experience and have something they’ll have to look back on forever.”

The ex-Top of the Hill starlet confesses he’s still in a bit of shock following his own whirlwind move to Shrewsbury but as soon as the opportunity presented itself, he recalled a phone call from his former Derry City youth team manager, John Quigg.

“I had talked with Hannah and my family about it, that if a chance ever came I’d just have to pack a bag and go. It still doesn’t feel like I’m a professional footballer with Shrewsbury Town because the whole move happened so quickly but I’m loving it,” he confirmed.

“If you do well over here you never know what can happen, from international recognition or even the team going on a good run. Last year Shrewsbury played Liverpool in the FA Cup and stuff like that would be amazing. I have a two year deal and the club has an option of a third so I’m looking forward to everything getting underway.

“The curious thing was, the week before the move happened I was on the phone to John Quigg, who knows me inside out. He brought me through at Derry City and rang me to say ‘Look, if you get one opportunity to play across the water, grab it with both hands because you never know what will come of it.’ That conversion stuck with me.

“I know moving to England is just a first step. The hard work hasn’t even started for me. I’m coming here to progress and when a club like Shrewsbury is giving you all the facilities and the hard work that they are putting in, then you have to put in even more work in return.

“I have always had the ability but I’m here now and I’m excited because I have the platform and the facilitates and I’m determined to take advantage of them.”

Next week Daniels’ fiancée, Hannah, and daughter, Zahra, make the move over and a new chapter in their will begin in earnest.

“Hannah and Zahra have been over a few times and my house isn’t ready in Shrewsbury until September 14th. I have an apartment until then. My sister, Louise, has been over with Rioghnach-Ann so I have had family over,” he stated.

“Hannah and Zahra come over next week and then that’s them, we start a new chapter in our lives.

“It will be nice to just get away but it’s also nice to come to somewhere like Shrewsbury where the people are nice and the town is lovely. I know it like the back of my hand already and I’m delighted that I have this opportunity and delighted that Hannah and the Zahra can come over so soon. It will be nice to have our family time as well.”

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