A view from Lincolnshire

I was born in the village of Mancot, just outside Mold, in 1958, but moved over the border 3 years later when my father was offered a move within the CEGB, from Connah’s Quay power station to Willington, near Derby. Here are some of our recollections.

My father remembers the Racecourse from around 1938, when he lived in Edmund Street, Mold. Two local lads played for Wrexham, one was Gilbert Bellis, "Gib" to everyone, he was a farmer’s son on what was called the Model Farm, Broncoed Park. Gib was a wing half and, being a farmer, was not called up for National Service at the beginning of WW2, and so he played many, many games over the war years, when many clubs used "guest" players from Division 1 clubs who were posted to camps and airfields around the country and played for local clubs, whatever the division. The last we heard of him, he was an insurance agent.

The other player was Ronald "Ron" Jones, he was transferred to Liverpool, I think towards the end of the 1937/38 season, for what was then a good-sized fee. Ron was called up, and sadly was killed on active service in France. He was a quick, skillful player, usually on the right wing (in the days when wingers were wingers) and was expected to challenge the regular wingers, one called Billy Liddell, for a place in the first team. Another Mold lad who lived on our estate was Ronnie Hughes, who went from Mold Alex to Chester, and appeared several times for them during the war years. My father used to be up at 7 a.m. on a Saturday morning to help Ron deliver the milk, so that he could get away early to play.

The Racecourse in those days had just one stand, along the Mold Road, with an open terrace in front. The changing rooms were alongside the Turf Hotel and the players came down a wooden staircase onto the pitch, as the rooms were on the upper floor. The Kop was open to the elements, whilst the rest had just tin sheeting covers, and, when full, we little lads were often passed over the heads of the men to sit on the low wall around the ground. My father can still remember the day the great Manchester United (Busby Babes) came in the FA Cup (how he wished he’d kept the programme) when the ground was absolutely packed solid. Some of us young ones wish we could have seen them. He also remembers the "new" stand being built across the corner at the Mold end, the dressing rooms being placed underneath, and then the old cinema-type "pimple" being erected at the town end.

Over the last 25 years we have only been able to see Wrexham when permitted, myself owing to still playing local football at weekends and work commitments, my father again due to work, but we could still see them when visiting relations in Mold. We try to get to about 6 games a year, at home or away when in this area, eg York and Lincoln. We have seen the European games against Man United and Petrolul Ploiesti, the first game after promotion from Division 3, and Ipswich Town (in the FA Cup) but missed the Arsenal game due to work. Many more of course, but we are unable to remember them all.

We always look for the Wrexham result first, and are very concerned with the current situation regarding position, ground and staff. Having got into Division 2, and over the years looked good enough for promotion to Division 1, it would be a pity to go back down to Division 3; I don’t agree with a change of manager - the players must take some of the blame, although at the end of the day the manager has bought them and picked them. The players over the years who have impressed me are (in no order): Owen, McNeil, Marriott, Hughes (Yozzer), Hunter, Joey Jones, Sutton, Kinsey, Cartwright, J Roberts, Bennett, Brammer, Hewitt, Parker, Thomas, Davies (G & D), Shinton, G Davis, Lake, Griffiths and Ashcroft. Of the current squad Ridler and McGregor look good prospects, let’s hope that we get more money for them than for the last two, Marriott and Wainwright.