Joey and the Spaniels

Andy Gilpin is Sports Editor of the Wrexham Mail. Here he reflects on his first season in the press box

Bit of a strange year for me, this one. Started on the Kop and on the dole watching us get hammered by Bristol City, but by the end I was in the press box and close to my heroes (the dynamic David Lovett and mercurial Mark Currie).

Despite ******* myself a fair bit in the first few weeks, the job eventually got easier because (and everyone says this) Wrexham is a friendly club. But as the old adage goes, if you don't ask, you don't get, and the club as a whole will never give you anything willingly. Other things I've learnt: it's best not to dance around the press box. Fergie's winner in the 4-3 thriller at Oxford got me a wee bit excited and experienced journalists don't like the sight of some young upstart shouting: ******* get in!', and then proceeding to run up and down the press strip like an idiot. This goes double for away matches. Luckily when we took the lead against Luton I managed to fall off my chair onto the (hard) floor which muffled my screaming. If I had managed to get to my feet I wouldn't have made it out alive.

Anyway here's my (first) impressions of some key people:

Kevin Reeves: When I first met Kevin he put me at ease straight away. He's a really pleasant chap, very open and chatty. Just the sort of person you want to come across when you're doing this type of job for the first time. Good luck in your testimonial Kev, you deserve it.

Joey Jones: What more can be said? I found him very honest, indeed he wore his heart on his sleeve. And not many people know this, but he's a bit of a joker. When I phoned up Colliers Park one time I was greeted by a voice saying: 'Wrexham Dog Pound - how many Spaniels do you want?' I immediately put the handset down, sure in my mind I'd phoned the wrong number. My second attempt was greeted by 'Wrexham Family Planning Clinic - how many condoms do you require?' I smelt a rat. I'd been Joeyed and I struggled to a meek 'Is this Colliers Park?' As always a few seconds later witty retorts were flowing from my mind, but it was of course too late. Always keep your mind nimble around Mr Jones. Yes, Joey likes his fun, but I'm ready for it now (please don't hurt me!).

Brian Flynn: A trick of the trade. Ask someone a question and just wait a moment without speaking, the interviewee will fill the embarrassing silence. Mr Flynn's old Jedi mind tricks mean he doesn't subscribe to this. He'll happily sit in silence as you struggle for the next question (it's best to have at least 10 questions prepared for the great man). I don't know if he's wary of hacks, or if it's just me, but he doesn't give away more than he absolutely has to. Apart from that, I noticed that Brian Flynn IS Wrexham. He's involved in everything and works extremely hard. I think it'll be a big wrench for him to ever leave this club and I've a feeling we'd be worse off if he did. I was never pro-Flynn before I took the job, but seeing things a bit closer, well he's winning me round.

Of the players well Carlos Edwards was the first guy I met. This young lad had come along way from home, but seemed to be coping well. I thought he had an okay time on the pitch (there's more to come I'm sure). Off it he was very well mannered and polite. Of the rest of the players: Faulconbridge is very articulate, Trundle knows what he wants and how to say it, Morrell's very considered and a big thank you to Steve Thomas for putting up with my drunkeness in Bonkers a few months ago (he was drinking coke and I'd just polished off a bottle of aftershock or aftershave I can't remember but I hope it was the former).