Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Wrexham wrelegated

After losing 2-0 at Hereford last night, Wrexham will be playing in the Blue Square Premiership next season. It has been a long tough season. Here are some of my memories of League football at Wrexham... 

Mid 1960s - my first game - Wrexham Reserves 2 Witton Albion 3 in the Cheshire League. I attend several reserve games with my father; I'm regularly 'lifted' over the turnstiles. 

First League game - Wrexham 1 Crewe Alexandra 0. Crewe score but Wrexham keeper Gordon Livesey is injured in the process and the referee disallows the goal. 

Watch several matches from the balcony of The Turf, the public house that overlooks the ground. 

Late 1960s - promotion from Division Four. Eddie May equalises late on against Oldham Athletic to maintain our unbeaten home record. Albert Kinsey is the league's top scorer. 

First game the following season in Division Three - Wrexham beat Bury 3-2 after going two down mid-way though the second half. 

1974 - Wrexham embark on a Cup run that sees them beat Middlesborough at The Racecourse, and Southampton at The Dell, Dave Smallman scoring the winner in both matches. Wrexham are drawn away to Burnley in the quarter finals; Bob Lord, Burnley chairman, refuses to allow Match of the Day cameras at the game; Wrexham lose 1-0. 

Late 70s - John Neal builds a team the like of which we have never seen before. In 1976/7 season Wrexham need a point from their final two games to reach Division Two for the first time in their history. They lose both home games, 4-2 to Crystal Palace and 1-0 against Mansfield. The following season Wrexham are promoted to Division Two as champions, beating Rotherham 7-1 in the final game of the season. 

Mid/late 80s - relegation from Division Two sees an exodus of decent players and soon we're playing in Division Four again. 

Early 90s - Brian Flynn takes over as manager. Club finish bottom of Division Four but are not relegated. 

Following season Wrexham beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Cup, scoring twice in the last ten minutes. Flynn builds a neat passing team that holds its own in the top half of Division Three. 

Late 90s onwards - club hits on hard times, enters administration and is relegated to Division Four. Future of the club is uncertain; property developer, having claimed to acquire the ground (for a song), wants to sell, realising a handsome profit in the process. In court, after protracted wranglings, judge rules in favour of the club. 



"Wrexham Lager, Wrexham Lager, 
Feed me till I want no more, want no more, 
Feed me till I want no more."

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

:( It makes me really sad to see that. I feel for you I truly do.

Anonymous said...

ou forgot to mention 3rd april 1978 when your local rivals, Chester, beat you 1-2. Attendance 19,125. I was there as a snotty-nosed tennager!