Wrexham FC - The Summer So Far and Hopes of Promotion (Again)

It hasn't taken new boss Gary Mills long to stamp his authority onto the goings on at Wrexham FC has it? From the outside looking in, he certainly looks like a man who knows what he wants to do and has set about doing it in both words and actions. After the (admittedly disastrous) Dennis the Menace (anniversary) season, the reds will resort to playing in “red” again and somehow that just feels more comfortable as a starting point. With his clear-out of the playing (and coaching) staff Mills has made it perfectly clear that there is no room for sentiment this season after the emotional highs and lows of the 150^th celebrations.

Useless Trivia Alert – Wrexham FC Managers and Panini Stickers

How many Wrexham FC managers (permanent boss not caretakers) have appeared in a Panini football sticker album as a player? Well, new boss Gary Mills is certainly one – I remember him as a Nottingham Forest sticker. Dean Saunders is another – I remember him as an Oxford United sticker (he probably also appeared for Brighton, Liverpool and Aston Villa amongst others). It’s too far back for me, but I believe Brian Flynn appeared – certainly for Burnley – did he sneak in with Leeds United too? Are there any others?

Players Out

At the time of writing, these are the players to have left Wrexham: Dean Keates, Jay Harris, Kyle Storer, Joe Clarke and Elliott Durrell (that’s a whole midfield right there!). In addition, Neil Ashton, Andy Bishop, Nick Rushton, Anthony Stephens, Sam Finley and Luke Waterfall have left the club. That’s 11 first team squad members gone in one swoop! The new manager has stated his desire to work with a small squad so that may go some way to explaining why quite so many have been allowed to leave.

There is no denying that those players were more than decent on their day but there was an increasing feeling amongst fans that a staleness had crept into the squad despite the arrival of Louis Moult, Manny Smith, Wes York and Blaine Hudson for the start of 2014-2015.

Can a Manager be Too Nice?

I say this not wanting to rock any boat (and it’s my opinion only) but I also wonder whether the last couple of managers were a little bit “too nice” to get the full potential out of the squads they inherited. (Nobody can deny that the players have only performed sporadically over the last 2 seasons). Andy Morrell is one of my favourite Wrexham players ever and one of the nicest guys you will ever meet and by all accounts Kevin Wilkin is also a thoroughly decent man but perhaps Gary Mills with his straight talking, no nonsense, and “old-school” attitude to running a football club is exactly what Wrexham FC needed in this moment in time. A bit more “knowhow” and a ruthless streak perhaps?

Players In

With so many players leaving, it’s probably fair to say that a fairly restrictive transfer budget suddenly looked a lot healthier for the new boss with a pretty clean slate to work with. So far we have seen Sean Newton, Adriano Moke, Javan Vidal, Dominic Vose, Lee Fowler and Cameron Belford added to the squad. With the promise of new strikers (perhaps another central defender will be required after the departure of Waterfall) and the new “smaller”, increasingly younger squad seems to be taking shape.

A Familiar Formation?

If the new season started tomorrow (and injuries were miraculously healed) could the starting 11 look something like this?

GK: Belford

Defenders: Newton, Hudson, Smith, Vidal

Midfield: Moke, Vose, Fowler

Forwards: York, Moult, Jennings (Provided the latter puts pen to paper)

Subs: Evans, Carrington, Tomassen, White, Coughlin

From the look of the above, those promised new forward players and another defender will certainly be needed to guarantee any sort of depth to the squad – especially as Gary Mills is committed to the 4-3-3 formation.

I doubt any of the new signings have been brought in specifically to be substitutes so it looks like Rob Evans, Mark Carrington and the like will have to force their way into the reckoning by being right at it come pre-season training – which is no bad thing.

As we approach the new 2015-2016 season in the newly named National League does the Good Ship Wrexham FC have its rudder in place? It would appear that we have a captain who knows where he wants to steer it at least! The club website also reports that Season tickets are selling well for the new season at the Racecourse Ground.

Come On You Reds!

Wrexham AFC Anniversary - 150 Not Out

Wrexham Football Club is 150 years old this year and although celebrations would ideally continue until next spring, culminating in promotion back to the Football League, in the short term, October 11^th 2014 is the focal point with what is billed as the Anniversary Match against Grimsby Town FC. Provided I can still get a ticket on Friday afternoon, I will be there (travelling from Newark on Trent) to make sure I am part of the historic occasion.

I am not the most religious of followers – there are those that simply don’t miss a match, ever – so I can’t and won’t claim to be in their league but I do love Wrexham FC! I have witnessed promotions, relegations, incredible cup ties (ones that have gone well for the Dragons and those that have not), I have seen the team play at famous stadiums like Wembley (twice), Old Trafford, Goodison Park and I have seen them play at Runcorn. I have also seen the club on the brink of extinction and in this modern era of football, where the game (especially at the top level) is more of a business than a sport – it is nothing short of a miracle (and some amazing supporters) that the club has survived to reach this incredible milestone.

I am really looking forward to an afternoon at the Racecourse Ground, especially such a significant one. I am sure fans of other teams would say the same about their own stadiums, but there really is no place like the Racecourse! It’s a million miles from being a state of the art stadium, where even the newest Mold Road stand is beginning to show its age a little (leaky roof anyone?) but it just feels like my football home. It can generate a pretty awesome atmosphere too – even with only a few thousand in the ground and one end completely empty but I remember the days of a full Kop (I also remember standing at the back of a near empty Kop!) bouncing and in full voice.

I am only in my early 40’s, so I’ve missed almost 110 years of Wrexham’s 150 but still have a lengthy list of amazing memories. It will be great to see the legends - not Rockin Robin or Wrex the Dragon (although they are great too) – but those ex-players who gave their heart and soul for the club. My first favourite player was Dixie McNeil and I have enjoyed watching many others since - scoring great goals, making fabulous tackles and flying across the goal making match winning saves!

There is no other team like Wrexham AFC, there is no other football ground like the Racecourse Ground - it’s all just really special! Happy Anniversary Wrexham AFC and here’s to another 150!

FA Cup 3rd Round Weekend - Glory Goals, Glamour, Money and Dreams of Wembley

The 3rd round of the FA Cup is perhaps one of the most famous dates in world football and even the sporting calendar. It’s probably fair to say that in recent years, for many Premier League teams, it’s lost a bit of its lustre but for everyone else the FA Cup is massive!

For those teams outside of the elite few at the top of the Premier League, it’s a genuine chance to win a trophy, play on the hallowed Wembley turf, make a bit of money and indeed qualify for European competition. For those outside of the top flight altogether, a good run in the FA Cup can not only draw attention to a club or town that may be deemed “unfashionable” by some but also bring massive reward in terms of cash, which in some cases could literally save a club from extinction.

As a Wrexham FC fan, I have many fond (as well as plenty of dismal) memories of FA Cup fixtures down the years. Who could forget standing on the KOP on a cold January afternoon as the team who just the season before, finished 92nd in the football league had put Arsenal (who had finished the previous season as First Division/Premier League Champions) to the sword. A wonder free kick from Mickey Thomas and a scrambled goal from Steve Watkin (who I once spent the day with on an accountancy course) ensured there was a giant killing act that 3rd round weekend. The Dragons (they were the Robins back then) went on to take West Ham to a replay in the 4th round and narrowly lost by the odd goal.

The team from North Wales fell to Oxford United at the 2nd round hurdle this season so in 2014, another club will be hoping to make the headlines. Looking at the 3rd round draw makes you wonder if the true giant killing might have to wait until round 4, with perhaps Oldham playing Liverpool and Carlisle taking on Sunderland the best sources for a potential upset. Grimsby, Kidderminster and Macclesfield (all with home ties against Huddersfield, Peterborough and Sheffield Wednesday respectively) would be considered giant-killers if they can be victorious but all 3 Conference sides will be hoping for an even bigger challenge if they can make it to the next round.

Arsenal v Spurs, Man United v Swansea, Newcastle v Cardiff, Norwich v Fulham will ensure that Premier League representation will be at least 4 lighter when the 4th round draw is made.

Let’s hope the wild and windy weather sweeping the UK doesn't decimate the fixture list too badly but with a chill in the air, it’s definitely a weekend for those football scarves.

Whoever you are following in the FA Cup this year, I wish you all the very best!