Wrexhams excellent match preview

[rodh]

As shown on First team news, Wrexham will be sending their full first team for the friendly fixture on Saturday 4th August. They have given the game an excellent write up on the clubs website. I have attached details of the link to the site which supporters may find interesting to read.

http://www.wrexhamafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/BreakingNewsDetail/0,,10311~1029035,00.html

[iainthepitman]

any chance you can copy and paste the article here rod? you have to become a member of the wrexham website and i cant be arsed to be honest.....:)

[Dobba]

any chance you can copy and paste the article here rod? you have to become a member of the wrexham website and i cant be arsed to be honest.....:)

Reds To Face Pitmen

The Reds have lined up another pre-season friendly, which will be the last game we play before the new season kicks off on August 11.

On Saturday 4 August, we will make our first ever visit to play Hednesford Town at their Keys Park home in Staffordshire, which is situated just on the other side of the M6 after travelling down the M54.

The Pitmen, who played Cardiff City in the final of the 1992 Welsh Cup, after beating Colwyn Bay in the semis, dropped out of the Conference North last season and after regrouping just missed out on a play-off spot with a 7th place finish this time around.

The 1996/97 season will go down as the best in the club's history as the Pitmen reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in 72 years eventually losing in the fourth round at Middlesbrough in front of 27500 supporters.

In the first round proper fellow Conference side Southport were defeated, setting up an away tie at Blackpool. A goal by Joe O'Connor three minutes from time gave the Pitmen their first ever victory against a Football League team.

In the Third Round, York City were the visitors to Keys Park and a record crowd of 3,169 went wild when a Keith Russell penalty was converted and a home draw against Middlesbrough was the reward. On police advice the game was switched to the Riverside Stadium and after taking the lead the Pitmen lost 3-2 in a thrilling game.

The following season saw the club finish in seventh position and further FA Cup success was enjoyed as in front of millions of Match of the Day viewers the Pitmen beat Hull City 2-0 at Boothferry Park but in the second round lost to Darlington.

In the 98/99 season the club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the third season running, beating Barnet 3-1 before losing by the same scoreline away at Cardiff City.

More recently the Pitmen tasted success when lifting the FA Trophy in 2004, beating high flying Canvey Island at Villa Park in front of over 20,000 fans.

Their local derby matches with AFC Telford this season produced some great crowds with over 3,000 watching at Keys Park - a throw back to their days in the Conference, when they actually finished as high as third in 1996.

We have faced them before, many years ago in the Birmingham & District League, just before we won election to The Football League in 1921.

Now managed by former Huddersfield Town man Phil Starbuck, who as a forward started his career at Nottingham Forest and was loaned to League clubs three times before moving to Huddersfield Town on a free transfer in 1991.

On 12 April 1993, he set the record for the fastest goal by a substitute when netting against Wigan Athletic after just 3 seconds of play. He went on to play for several league and non-league clubs.

His first management job was at Hucknall Town which ended in June 2003 and he joined Leigh RMI as player-assistant manager, before being appointed manager for the latter part of the 2003-04 season. He left in November 2004, going on to manage Arnold Town and then Hednesford Town.[/QUOTE]

[Markeg]

20,000 at villa park? looks like the F.A owe us abit of money....