Night Out
Mancunian Chris Davidson joins the Red Army
in West Yorkshire…
As a supporter of a large Premiership club, I was dismissive about life outside the higher echelons of the Football League until I met my great mate Martin Williams at Huddersfield University.
This guy is a passionate Welshman and Wrexham FC fan and spends the majority of his waking hours ranting about the fortunes of his beloved Wrexham FC. I have forcibly spent many evenings in front of the TV watching his most treasured possession, the Wrexham FC 1977-1978 - A Season to Remember video, whilst being reminded that the great Bill Shankly once said of the ‘77-’78 team that it was, ‘the best team ever to be promoted from the old Third to the Second Division.
Back to this season, after I was informed of the tie of the 4th Round of the FA Cup was Wrexham vs Huddersfield, my real interest in this tie developed. Then after Huddersfield managed to luckily hang on and force a replay at the McAlpine Stadium, I felt obliged to become an honorary Robins fan for the game. It was the first time I’d ever been to the McAlpine, and even the tension was beginning to take its toll on me - never mind Martin, his dad and brother, who had taken me to the game. Despite the fireworks and the Division One opposition, Wrexham did not look overawed; in fact they held most of the possession, with Russell dominating midfield and scoring a quite brilliant equaliser. Wrexham were unlucky throughout the game - they just couldn’t find the last killer ball, with Rush looking a pale imitation of his younger days. The best player for Huddersfield on the night was the referee; he did a great job of thwarting Wrexham as often as he could.
The deciding goal came from a fluke deflection - from a large Premiership club reject, Ben Thornley. Despite the sad result, the atmosphere in the away end was brilliant and I was proud to be an adopted Robins fan for the evening.
No fireworks this time
Huddersfield resident Peter Davies makes his way to that large spaceship thingy for the Huddersfield Reserves-Wrexham Reserves Pontins League encounter…
The first thing I’ve got to say is that I’ve never been to a home Reserve game in my life - a fact that I’m totally ashamed of. I know several people who really love the atmosphere at Reserve matches and who never miss second-team Racecourse encounters.
You hear all those stories about Sunderland-Midlesborough reserve games played in front of 30,000 and Liverpool-Everton confrontations - at second-team level - that divide the city almost as much as first-team scraps. And, furthermore, I know one woman in Manchester who takes her little boy to home United Reserve games just to give a taste of that special Old Trafford atmosphere; she can’t get tickets for Premiership games - but, as at clubs like Leicester too, reserve matches are now big business and the club really makes an effort to make an ‘occasion’ out of second team games (after all, with the size of some Premiership squads these days, there’ll always be big names playing in the Pontins League).
And after watching my first-ever Reserve game recently - Huddersfield 1 Wrexham 0 - I can really understand the attraction of Pontin’s League football. For a start, my debut game was a good one. Wrexham lost 1-0, but this result was a serious injustice. Huddersfield were under the cosh all night and, annoyingly, grabbed a late - and lucky - winner. I always wondered if the second team played in the exact image of the first team. And now I know. Yes, they do. Good in terms of possession; good in terms of footballing quality; and not so good in converting chances into goals.
Wrexham on the night had a decent-looking side out: Cartwright, Ryan, Brace, Humes, Roberts, Barrett, Mazzarella, Thomas, Rush, Edwards, Griffiths. In effect, this was four players with significant first-team experience, two new signings, four up-and-coming youngsters, and one ex-Liverpool and Juventus player who’s won umpteen League Championships and a vast array of other medals. In fact, the Joey Jones-coached outfit looked like an effective unit. Newboys Ryan and Barrett had promising games: the ex-Man United full-back had the air of a McGregor clone on the right, and the former-Newcastle midfielder got stuck in to good effect in and around the centre circle. In addition, I was struck by the cultured passing and movement of centre-back Steve Roberts, the size and awkwardness of striker Jake Edwards, and the sad misfortune of keeper Mark Cartwright…
It was in fact quite poignant to see Cartwright again. His last taste of first-team action had been Wigan at home - the big mistake that had cost Wrexham the second goal (and Wembley?) and that had also provoked those stupid, inane ‘Sack the Board!’, ‘Flynnie Out!’ and ‘There’s only one Andy Marriott!’ chants. So, it was quite sad and thought-provoking to see Cartwright in action again. Personally, I feel incredibly sorry for him. He’s had good days and bad days this season, but whatever his form he’s certainly not deserved the grief he’s been given. Not at all.
The football was pretty good at the McAlpine (no fireworks this time) and the atmosphere was also quite refreshing. A smart team sheet was given to each and every spectator - and, guessing, there must have been 300+ people in attendance. There was also a kind of relaxed, amiable and leisurely feel to the night: no hassle, no aggro, and no unending queues at the coffee bar. But it was serious stuff. Flynn and Reeves were watching from the stands, Joey was directing operations from the dugout, and Peter Jackson and Terry Yorath were also in attendance for the home side. Most certainly, the game would have given all five men a lot of things to chew over.
So, yes, I can totally appreciate why many Wrexham fans are regulars at first-team and second-team matches. There’s a special atmosphere at Reserve games - and there’s also lots to learn. And next season - when Red Passion will be sponsoring the matchday programme at all home Reserve matches - I’d like to go to more.