I'll miss you, Wardy

By Jenny Cantwell

The season of 98-99. What can you say, and where do you start? I suppose August is the logical answer, when optimism for the season was high after missing out on the play-offs earlier in May by a whisker (but what a great day Southend was!)

I had been living in London for six years, during which time I would watch Wrexham in the majority of the southern fixtures and see them at the Racecourse whenever I was up here. So when last August I decided living down south was just not good anymore, the prospect of moving home and seeing Wrexham on a regular basis was very exciting. Images of glorious Saturday afternoons watching the goals fly in and Wrexham move up to automatic promotion filled my mind - I even put a bet on Wrexham winning the division. But despite the anger and cynicism that has filled the second half of the season, I have to say I've enjoyed it, and although there have been some extremely bad times, there have been some great times too, which some fans seem to have forgotten about.

Unfortunately, I missed Wrexham's first game of the season against Reading which just happened to turn out to be their biggest win all season. How many fans that were at that game would have thought it, eh? Anyway, overall, now I look back objectively over the season I still remain confident that next season we can have a cracker. OK, we had a fair few boring games which usually ended in a draw, and some awful losses, but let's not forget the cracking wins, particularly our roll away from home in February/March time.

The best game of the season for me personally was Wrexham v Scunthorpe in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. Not exactly a glamour tie, I know, but the tension at that game, the wonderful football witnessed, and that "last kick of the game" winning goal in the dying seconds just did it for me. I was ready to fling my arms round everyone in the Kop, which is what it's all about, and I can still recall that gut-wrenching feeling before Wrexham scored the winner. What a game!

The worst game of the season I witnessed was away at Oldham - not because we played badly (cos we didn't), but because I thought we should have won it, and we were robbed in the last 20 minutes after being 2-1 up. It was all just too depressing, especially with the great turnout of travelling fans, and we just should have won it. I suppose that sums up a lot of Wrexham games this season - we should have won them or "we were robbed". I know Flynny said this quite often in his post-game chats but I think it's very true, and Wrexham never really did have lady luck on their side very much at times. Games like Stoke and Huddersfield away displayed just what sort of football Wrexham are capable of, and how well the fans can get behind the team. It's a shame we didn't see more of this at the Racecourse.

The unmentionable Wrexham v Preston game (did I swear?) was surreal really, because I correctly predicted the score, and had gone round telling everyone, including the Preston fans pre-match "we'll lose 5-0 today". So to witness it left me feeling quite freaked out and feeling guilty/responsible but I have to admit I wasn't as upset at the thrashing as most of the other fans. We probably needed it to kick us up the butt a bit, which it did looking at the scores for the following handful of games. I did however also correctly predict the Wrexham at Stoke 3-1 win, which somehow compensated for it a little. I think I'll avoid predictions this season though!!

The major disappointment of the season was losing to Wigan in the Auto Windscreen Trophy regional final, shattering all of our beautiful dreams of a terrific day to Wembley. Wrexham always gets such a buzz when the team have a good cup run, and to have it crash down on you so close to Wembley is horrific, particularly when we fought back so superbly in the home leg against Wigan in that final. What angered me a lot this season was some of the fans (and probably only a very small minority) - the way they only "sang when they were winning", taunted Mark Cartwright, shouted anti-Flynn stuff etc. This didn't instill any confidence into a team that were in desperate need of it. If they want to watch a team that wins every game and has the cash to buy players left right and centre, then why don't they go and support Man Utd (they probably do - just can't get tickets at Old Trafford. Ouch!)

Supporting teams like Wrexham means you're with them through thick and thin, and fair enough have your say, but not at the expense of the teams confidence. Players that I thought particularly shone this season were Robin Gibson, Dean Spink, Brian Carey, Gareth Owen, Peter Ward and Dave Brammer. And I think credit where credit is due, Mark Cartwight did really well considering he was plunged in the deep end at the beginning of the season. Not many goalies go from being No. 2 to No.1 in such a drastic full on way, so well done to him for always sticking at it, even during the bad times. I wish him luck wherever he goes.

And finally, may I say, through tear-stained eyes, GOODBYE PETER WARD - you will be sorely missed for your great passion, your wonderful free kicks, your excellent corners, and general brilliance on the pitch. I can say little else except I WILL MISS YOU PETER.

Maybe I sound a bit too positive in this review of the '98-9 season. I possibly am considering how narrowly we avoided relegation. I know there were times we played pretty dire and passionless, but I still can't help thinking our position in the table unfairly reflected the football ability Wrexham have and are capable of. Next season we need to turn that fine capability into fine goalscoring, don't we lads?

At this point, all I can say is, ROLL ON NEXT SEASON (aren't Saturdays dull without football? Or do I just not have a life?). If the team and fans can give 100% this season, then wonders can happen. And that is the great thing about football - because they do…