Wrexham AFC : A Fan In Exile

Taking A Break

2006-06-26T20:37:00.000Z

This will be the last post, at the very least until I resolve my lack of regular internet access, and possibly ever. It's been... interesting.

World Cup Report Card: Dennis Lawrence

2006-06-21T08:44:00.000Z

Vs. SWEDEN: Big Den a huge part of T&T's heroic resistance in the face of wave after wave of Swedish attack. He coped surprisingly well with the likes of Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Imbrahimovic. Dennis probably picked up a knock towards the end, though, as he looked a little off the pace in the last quarter of an hour or so.

Vs. ENGLAND: Dennis played well for the vast majority of the game, and neutralised Crouch for 80-plus minutes. Although he was not blameless for the first goal, it would be harsh to deny him credit for a generally very strong performance under a great deal of pressure.

Vs. PARAGUAY: I've only seen the highlights of this game, so it's difficult to comment (not that that will stop me). Obviously, Dennis can't be blamed for his defensive colleague Brett Sancho's own goal, and responsibility for the second can probably be lain at the feet of Carlos Edwards.

Overall, the best ever performance by a Wrexham player at the World Cup. Of course.

Goodbye For Now

2006-05-13T12:39:00.000Z

Well, that's the season. It's cricket time now.

This might be the last post for a considerable period of time, or even the last ever, depending on circumstances. My main concerns are that I won't be able to devote sufficient time to updating the blog (it has suffered recently in terms of original content), and that I may not have regular internet access in a few months' time.

So, who knows what the future holds?

Darlington 1 Wrexham 1

2006-05-07T13:52:00.000Z

An injury-time goal from Andy Cooke cancelled out Danny William's strike from distance after half an hour, and ended Wrexham's season on a draw. That would be about right: a draw is probably what Wrexham's season has been.

Team News: Darlington Away

2006-05-05T13:12:00.000Z

Dennis Lawrence has joined up with the Trinidad & Tobago squad, and is so out of the last game of the season. Mark Jones is also out, with a knee injury that might need surgery (probably next week), and Matt Derbyshire is a doubt, as he has a chest infection.

NOTE: This blog will power down over the summer, with fewer posts. It is also possible that I may be unable to continue with regular updates after June, as I may no longer be able to maintain regular internet access.

Wrexham 1 Oxford United 1

2006-05-01T13:39:00.000Z

Sorry for the lateness of this post.

Match report from the BBC

Team News: Oxford United

2006-04-28T16:06:00.000Z

Mike Ingham has recovered from his wrist injury, and so is available once again. Andy Holt, however, has a dead leg.

I'm just waiting for the season to finish, now, really.

Torquay United 1 Wrexham 0

2006-04-22T17:07:00.000Z

In a word: disappointing. Martin Phillips got the goal with 9 minutes gone, and that was more or less that. Torquay clearly needed the points more than Wrexham.

Team News: Torquay Away

2006-04-21T15:27:00.000Z

Lee McEvilly has a stress fracture in his foot, and so will probably not play again this season. Andy Holt has also picked up a thigh injury, whilst Mike Ingham Dave Bayliss are yet to recover from their injuries.

Mark Jones is back, though.

Wrexham 1 Bristol Rovers 0

2006-04-17T17:31:00.000Z

If only I got everything I asked for. A win did indeed materialise, as did yet another goal for Matt Derbyshire (sign him up for next year, Denis, if you can!). Darren Ferguson was involved again, playing in the on-loan youngster to raise some hope of a decent end to the season.

Team News: Bristol Rovers

2006-04-17T13:26:00.000Z

Matt Derbyshire is a doubt for the visit of Bristol Rovers after limping off against Stockport.
A win would be nice, it seems like forever since the last one.

Stockport County 2 Wrexham 1

2006-04-15T17:00:00.000Z

Goals from Ashley Williams (5 minutes) and Michael Raynes (42 minutes), although separated by a Wrexham fightback through Simon Spender, were enough to kill off the season for Wrexham.

From one point of view, the main thing is that the club's short-term future seems to be reasonably secure. It still hurts that we'll be in League Two next season, though.

Team News: Stockport Away

2006-04-14T13:10:00.000Z

No new injury worries, and Dean Bennett has returned from suspension. I think this might be the last-chance saloon as far as the play-offs are concerned. In fact, this is probably the last booth in the last corner of the last-chance saloon, with a big sign hanging above it saying 'no more chances'.

Dennis in World Cup Squad

2006-04-13T10:34:00.000Z

The big fella's in Trinidad & Tobago's squad, announced this morning.

Chester City 2 Wrexham 1

2006-04-13T10:28:00.000Z

So, the first double over Chester since 1977 was not to be. Chester went ahead ten minutes into the second half through a somewhat debatable Ben Davies penalty.

Lee McEvilly headed home a Darren Ferguson cross with 20 minutes left, but Chester snuck the points through Derek Asamoah ten minutes later.

This probably means that both teams are likely to be playing in League Two next season.

Team News: Chester Away

2006-04-12T11:49:00.000Z

Lee Roche returns to the squad after the best part of three months out with a stomach strain.

Dean Bennett won't take part as he is suspended. Dennis Lawrence and Andy Holt both have injuries, and are hence not certain to feature.

Hot Cross Denis

2006-04-10T16:35:00.000Z

Denis Smith is concerned at the fixture pile-up over Easter; I'm more worried about the potential lack of fixtures in May (the play-offs).

Wrexham 1 Shrewsbury Town 2

2006-04-09T14:08:00.000Z

Wrexham's play-off hopes as well as local pride were dented by Shrewsbury at the Racecourse. A Dennis Lawrence own goal was an awful start, and Dean Bennett getting a red card as well as giving away a penalty (which Colin McMenamin scored) was even worse.

Wrexham did get back into the game through Matt Derbyshire, but even McMenamin's dismissal was insufficient to provide the home team with any points.

Team News: Shewsbury

2006-04-08T13:07:00.000Z

Jon Walters played in midweek for the reserves, but was substituted with a rib injury, and is hence doubtful.

Still with strikers, Lee McEvilly and Matt Derbyshire are both hoping to feature, but Jim Whitley and Lee Roche are definitely out.

Grimsby Town 2 Wrexham 0

2006-04-02T13:05:00.000Z

I suppose it would have been wishful thinking to expect any sort of a result away to a team in the position that Grimsby are. Gary Jones and Michael Reddy were the scorers as Grimsby brushed Wrexham aside.

Team News: Grimsby Away

2006-03-31T11:48:00.000Z

Dave Bayliss is back from loan and back in contention for a place in the team after serving out a two-match ban he got for being sent off against Wrexham.

Meanwhile, Lee McEvilly is still out (almost certainly), as is Lee Roche, whilst Jim Whitley has a slim chance of playing some part, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Wrexham 1 Swansea City 2 (FAW Premier Cup Final)

2006-03-30T11:18:00.000Z

I could barely make out what was going on watching this game on the net, and as it turned out, I wish I hadn't been able to at all. Danny Williams' own goal was bad enough, but to have Rory Fallon score against us was more than I could take.

Simon Spender got a goal in the second half to make it a contest, but my main consolation has been off the pitch. Denis Smith seems to agree with me.

Breaking News: Club Statement

2006-03-29T19:31:00.000Z

Statement from the Joint Administrators
Of The Wrexham AFC Limited ("The Club")
David Robert Acland And Steven John Williams

Dated: 29 March 2006

We are pleased to announce that after a series of meetings and discussions, we have entered into an Exclusivity Agreement with the Consortium headed by Neville Dickens.

The Agreement allows for exclusivity until 30^th April 2006, during which time it is hoped that contracts will be exchanged for acquisition of the Club's assets.

Heads of Terms have been agreed, which are confidential for the time being.

The Club's stakeholders will be notified of the proposed exit strategy from Administration if and when contracts are exchanged.

We feel that the Dickens' bid is in the best interests of the Club and its stakeholders.

Neville Dickens commented, "I am delighted that after considerable effort, we are in a position to proceed with the Administrators, subject to contract.I would like to make it clear at this point what our involvement is all about.

WREXHAM FOOTBALL CLUB
OUR VISION
From the Dickens Consortium

1. To bring the Club out of Administration prior to the Football League deadline of 3 June;

2. To secure football at the Racecourse ground;

3. To put Wrexham Football Club on a secure financial footing to enable it to go forward with cash reserves rather than significant liabilities;

4. To retain Denis Smith and his management team and give them sufficient financial backing to allow them to compete at the top of their division;

5. To redevelop the Racecourse Car Park area and to apply for grant funding to enable us to build a new stand at the Kop end;

6. To appoint a Chief Executive with a football and financial background to run the Club.Any future Board appointments will be determined by the Chief Executive;

7. To push forward with youth development and provide a new state of the art Astroturf facility at the Colliers Park Training Centre for use by the Centre for Excellence, First Team as well as community use;

8. To enlist the valuable support of both the Wrexham Supporters Trust and Wrexham Supporters Association;

9. To provide as much information as possible to both the supporters and the press into "what's happening at Wrexham";

10. To invite a share issue for all people who would like to invest in Wrexham's future.

All our efforts are purely to give Wrexham Football Club a future, we have worked hard with hundreds of hours of meetings over the last year to make it happen at considerable cost to ourselves.We take no fees or expenses.

We will stay with the Club for approx 12-18 months until our vision is well under way.Further announcements will be made in due course.In the meantime, we hope the fans will continue to support the Club in its push for a play-off place and sincerely hope that we can work with the Administrators to achieve a successful rescue of the Club in the shortest possible timeframe.

There are a significant number of hurdles still to overcome, but we are working hard to achieve a positive outcome."

FAW Premier Cup Final

2006-03-29T19:15:00.000Z

Watching football over a slow speed connection on the internet isn't great. I think it might be 1-0, but the picture is (honestly) so bad I can't be sure.

Team News: Swansea (FAW Premier Cup Final)

2006-03-29T10:40:00.000Z

It seems likely that Wrexham will start with the same team that beat Chester on Sunday, as Lee McEvilly is still not ready to return.

Swansea may rest some players with the Football League (formerly LDV Vans) Trophy Final to consider.