Night Out
Lynne Morris goes to a high-intensity WPC game…
On Tuesday, 12th October I was asked to attend the Racecourse by my son James to watch
Wrexham play Conway in the Welsh Premier Cup. I, of course, did this as James was
representing Red Passion along with other fanatical writers of the magazine.
Well, it all started very well, clear cold night, I was dreading rain. As my husband knew quite a lot of officials we were put in a prime position to take some photos. The only other football match I ever watched was when Ian Rush returned to play for Liverpool - the stadium then was full to capacity and when Ian Rush came out onto the pitch, the whole stadium ignited with such enthusiasm that it brought a tear to my eye. So you can imagine how I likened the situation to watching Wrexham v Conway! Now it was time for James and the others to walk out with the teams to what seemed to be dulcet cheer, but nevertheless the camera clicked away. After taking photos we sauntered back up to the seats where we thought the best view was, only to hear halfway up the steps a tremendous cheer after the first goal had been scored - WE MISSED IT!! We asked some officials who had scored and they said Wrexham - my husband and I just looked at one another and I asked him did Wrexham score that quickly every time (I cannot tell you what he said!!) And so we sat down to enjoy the game. Not being an authority on football I thought the game started to be very entertaining, but it did occur to me that when Wrexham had the ball, they always seemed to play the same moves with it, i.e. always down the same side and to exactly the same people. Surely anyone with any common sense on the part of Conway would have 'sussed' this out and might have made moves to stop them doing this, but this did not happen. I thought Wrexham played very well and found myself shouting out loud - not abusively by the way - but some boys nearby were heard to be shouting words of abuse to a longstanding player for Wrexham, the name of whom I could, but will not, say.
The night was beginning to get colder and every now and again I had a cold shiver and longingly glanced to the people in the new stand and envied those sitting behind glass eating and drinking. However, let's get back to the game. I noticed No 9 playing for Conway (I cannot remember his name now) who I thought was a little whippet in that he seemed to be doing all the running and goal-trying for Conway. At half-time we moved from the middle of the field to the goalscoring end for Wrexham and within minutes Wrexham scored again. What excitement! The game from then on seemed to lose its magic and it was about this time that my concentration started to fade, my bum was getting cold and I was getting bored. In front of me a mother was reading Thomas the Tank Engine to her small son and I must say for a while I caught myself listening to it!! All I could think of was: did we have some wine in the fridge at home or would we have to call at the off licence for some? But then, Wrexham scored again. With the score 3-0 in favour of Wrexham with just a little while longer to play, one could safely assume that the game was now over. Minutes later the whistle blew and the game was over.
I must say that James and his father are avid
supporters of Wrexham AFC but I also have to say that when I pick them up in my car at 5pm
on a Saturday afternoon I always ask them: did they win? EVERY SATURDAY of late, they have
said: "Absolute rubbish, we’re never going to see them again". I whisper to
myself: no, not until the next time. The following Tuesday, where were they again? Yes,
watching Wrexham AFC. RP
Night Out
Tim Edwards spends an evening in a campus bar…
Well, being a poor student at Warrington and having already forked out a wad of cash on away trips at Stoke and Burnley (I got my money’s worth there then!), it was hardly surprising that I couldn't afford the trip to Kettering.
On the Tuesday night at Burnley I was informed that the game would be shown on Sky Sports on the Wednesday. Fear struck me. The last few experiences Wrexham had had when they were being covered live were not ones I wish to remember. We all remember being at Chesterfield for the FA Cup quarter-finals (sounds ridiculous doesn't it!) knowing that our early-morning faces were being perused by the BBC Wales cameras, and need I mention the drubbing we received at Walsall live on Sky many years ago. But I took heed from the fact that we stuffed our dear friends from Chester in the F.A. Cup 2-0 in front of Andy Gray and Co only a couple of years back.
Anyway, I informed a fellow Wrexham fan (Rich) about our forthcoming super stardom at Rockingham Road and we decided that we'd make a good evening of it. About 4.15pm on the Wednesday, we took a trip to our local Asda store and discovered that they sold Wrexham Lager! After taking time to get over this shock, we grabbed eight cans each and made our way back to campus. We went down to the bar about 6:50pm, just to make sure we were allowed it to be screened (as there was a special night on in the room next to the bar). We stuck the volume up full blast, and there, in its full, gleaming state, was the great Mickey Thomas' head! I thought they'd got Rooster doing a spot of analysis for a moment! I have no clue why Nigel Spackman was there, but I'm sure someone will let me know in good time. The game began and Rich and I began chanting.
Before I could settle into my chair: Whap! Steve Roberts had scored a belter!!! Justice was served though, as we should have had a penalty just before, when his brother, Neil was clobbered by a Kettering defender.
How we whooped with delight. After all, we were winning, and I’d just began to start losing that dear feeling. The game was very pacy, with Kettering unlucky not to get something. But before we knew it, the second one flew in! Danny Williams picked up the ball and curled one into the bottom corner. Great goal, and what’s this? A two- goal lead? Couldn't believe it. There were a few shots of Mr Flynn and his soulmate Pryce Griffiths up in the stand, and its funny how I only ever see Flynnie when he’s on the television!
Overall though, it was a much needed win and the Wrexham Lager was flowing to my head. Bring on Rochdale, and let’s hope we can repeat the Cup win we had at Spotland a few years ago. RP