More publicity required

In the wake of Wrexham's excellent performance in the friendly against Manchester United, watched by over 9,500 supporters, it was disappointing that the gate was so poor for the following home fixture against AFC Bournemouth. Despite the club commendably taking the bull by the horns following the United fixture - by distributing 500 tickets to local primary schools which allowed one free admission to the Bournemouth match when kids were accompanied by an adult - the attendance was less than 3,000, arguably no more than would normally have been expected for this fixture. What made it more disappointing was that, for once, the club had showed initiative by building on the momentum of the United game; and maybe I'm being naive here, but I would have thought that anyone who had witnessed the Robins' performance against United would surely have wanted to come back for a second look. Although I have criticised him before for remarks made previously, I would have to agree with Mr Griffiths and concede that, on this occasion, the gate was 'bloody disgraceful'.#

One initiative which the club could perhaps have considered a little more carefully was the introduction of discounted tickets for students at the Bournemouth game. While this is clearly a sensible way forward given the town's growing student population, it was nevertheless not the best time to try this out - coming as it did on the very weekend that many universities and colleges were returning for the Spring term; consequently, the majority of students who may have been attracted to the match would probably have been on the move that weekend, either leaving Wrexham to their various colleges around the UK or returning to Wrexham, in the case of those students who reside in the town during term time. Student discounts is an issue that Red Passion, and indeed many supporters, have been campaigning on for quite a long time. The club has in the past resisted this; however, the student population of Wrexham continues to grow as local colleges expand and NEWI goes for full University status. WFC have said that they will monitor the success of the scheme; however, for it to have any chance of being successful, they must ensure that maximum publicity is given to the scheme by issuing press releases to local colleges and sixth-form units for insertion in newsletters and college newspapers and the distribution of posters to student unions to place on common room and halls of residence noticeboards. Without adequate publicity, the scheme is bound to fail and those students who neither come to the Racecourse at present nor read the local press must be made aware that it is in operation. There is absolutely no point in initiating a scheme if those who may benefit from it are not in a position to make an informed decision on where to spend their Saturday afternoons.

Paul Lindsay