Mickey Thomas writes EXCLUSIVELY for Red Passion

I’m back! I’ve not been in prison - honest! I just had a month off. In the last edition of Red Passion the editor stated that I was “away”. Well, I’ve got news for him - and everybody else. I wasn’t “away”. The truth is I was still very angry that I hadn’t been selected for that “All-Time Worst Wrexham Haircut XI”. I was gutted in fact and I decided that the best way to make my feelings known was to boycott one edition of Red Passion. I was quite chuffed actually that one of mates in the media world - Lawrence Hourahane, who works for the BBC in Cardiff - told me he missed my column in the last edition. He’ll be glad to know that my self-imposed suspension is now over - and it’s great to be back.

I’m still busy at Century FM. Quite naturally, everyone is talking about City and United - United in particular. Their Champions League draw against Real Madrid has been a real talking-point. Real talking-point. Get it!? Anyway, I suppose that if you’re going to win a tournament like that you’ve got to beat the best sides along the way - and United will certainly have to do that. I’ve had a few calls from Wrexham fans, but I only really seem to hear from them when the team is doing badly. Strange. I always mention Joey on my show - just in case he’s listening in! Someone rang in the other night and said that Dominic Matteo reminded him of Joey because “he couldn’t play - but he gave his all.” I said I agreed! No, seriously, Joey would always be in my team. On the subs bench!

Talking of United - Fergie’s side - brings me on to the other Fergie: Darren. I’m really pleased that Wrexham have been able to sign him up. He’s obviously done well since he moved to the Racecourse. He’s committed himself to the club - and that has got to be good. I like him as a player. He passes the ball well in the middle of the park and I think that he’s got a lot to offer Flynn and the side.

I was at the Racecourse for the Burnley game. That save Dearden made was fantastic. Amazing even. I met up with Ian Wright before the game. I know him fairly well - and he’s obviously heard of me! We’re two of a kind really. He’s got his TV show and I’ve got my radio show. The difference is: he earns a bit more money than I do. Wrexham weren’t at their best against Burnley, but their away form over the past month or so has certainly made up for the odd moderate performance at home. I’m dead pleased really that their results have picked up generally.

You may also be aware that I’ve been embroiled in a bit of a press controversy since I last wrote. The Daily Post asked me for my view on the club and Pryce Griffiths - and I offered what I thought were some fairly constructive comments. I said that I had a lot of time for Pryce, that he was Wrexham through and through and that he’d done a great job. I went on to say that the club was in need of a significant cash injection; I said, basically, that if Pryce was unable to offer this then it might be the time for someone else to take the club forward. The Evening Leader got hold of this - and suddenly I was accused of betraying the man who’d given me a testimonial and helped me financially. The fact of the matter is this: my initial comments about Pryce were entirely positive and I said nothing in the Daily Post that I hadn’t said before - in Red Passion particularly. I’ve also got to say that, via my transfer to Man United and the goal against Arsenal, I’ve done my fair share to help Wrexham Football Club financially. I was very grateful to Pryce for granting me a testimonial - but I can hold my head up high as regards my recent contribution to the club. I like Reg Herbert at the Leader, but I was a bit disappointed with the way that his newspaper responded to the original piece in the Daily Post. Maybe the Leader felt a bit irked because it didn’t get the story first. That’s all I can think.

I’m as busy as ever with MUTV. I’ve recently done stuff with Robbie Savage and Jim Smith. Robbie’s a good mate of mine - and Jim is a great guy. I went down to Derby to meet him and I told him that he was one of the few managers who never bought me during my career! Tony Dorigo came up to me while I was down there and said that he remembered playing against me when I was at Chelsea and he was at Aston Villa. He remembered that I trod on his foot! I was also working at Wembley for the Leicester-Tranmere final. My mate Robbie Savage shouted up to me after the game. I don’t know what he was referring to - but he asked whether I was getting chilly. On the whole I’m becoming more confident in my media work. I’m certainly not a veteran yet, but I am becoming less and less nervous.

I was delighted that Wales sold so many tickets for the game against Finland. I was working at the game for the BBC and I’ve got to say that the Millennium Stadium is fantastic. Before the Finland game, I’d only seen it from the outside. I’d been told though that on New Year’s Eve, during the Manic Street Preachers gig, my goal against Arsenal had featured in a special video collection of great Welsh sporting moments. 65,000 people watching and cheering that goal - again! Brilliant. I was actually invited down to attend the concert in person, but I couldn’t make it. It was, however, a great honour to have my goal shown at such a massive occasion. I like the Manics - but I love the Stereophonics. I’ve still got that shirt the Stereophonics signed for me. It’s a treasured possession. On the subject of Wales, I know that people are having a go at Giggs at the moment for pulling out of that Qatar game, but to be honest Ryan’s always had injury problems and I can understand Sir Alex’s position. Even when I was playing there was pressure to pull out of international squads if you weren’t fully fit.

I’m proud to say that I witnessed Andy Morrell’s seven-goal blast against Merthyr. To be honest though I thought he had a poor game. I’d have taken him off after the seventh! It was obviously a great night. For me, it’s just a pity that Morrell looks slightly out of his depth in the league. And before anyone asks…No, I never scored seven goals in a game. I never even had seven shots in a game! I got one hat-trick in my career - away at Plymouth - but that’s about it. I also remember that famous scoreline against Rotherham: 7-1. And guess who scored the first goal in that rout? Me!

I’ve seen Wrexham a lot recently: against Merthyr, Burnley and Preston. I think one person to come out with great credit from recent games is Kevin Russell. He’s not getting any younger but he’s done really well. And, like me, he’s got one great quality. He’s bald! I was actually working at the Burnley game. I did a speech at a hospitality do in the new stand before the game. It went OK but it’s very strange doing a speech before a game instead of after it. I watched the game from Bob Scott’s hospitality box. Me and John Neal were up there and we had an excellent chinwag about old times. Full marks to Bob: there was drink, food and lots of good story-telling. People say corporate hospitality is bad for football and I understand this line of thinking; however, it’s also got to be a good thing - we had a fantastic time.

The great thing about working in the media is all the great players, you see. Giggs is flying at the moment; Robbie Savage is my kind of player; and Ray Parlour has been impressive recently - especially that European hat-trick. I like Dennis Wise as well - mainly because I’m taller than him. I don’t like Ginola though - he’s got that shampoo contract I want. Watching Premiership football is amazing: the pace and the movement is awesome.

You’ll be interested to know that I’m getting quite involved at Rhyl Football Club. I know the chairman there and I’m trying to help them as much as I can. I fancy a title actually. How about Director of Football? To be honest though, I’m really busy with my media work so I won’t be able to devote that much time to Rhyl. I’m really enjoying my media work at present - I’m dead chuffed with how it’s going.

I’ve been asked to play for the new Red Passion football team against the Vale of Clwyd Reds on April 15th and for the RP side in the Colliers Park 8-a-side tournament on May 6th. I can’t wait for both occasions.

Cheers