An enthusiastic full back who can play on either flank, the 2006-7 season was a homecoming for Ryan Valentine.

A childhood Wrexham fan, Valentine started his career as a schoolboy with Everton before moving on to Darlington, for whom he made his debut in August 2002, a week before his twentieth birthday.

In four seasons as a regular in the north-east he made 176 appearances, but when his contract expired in the Summer of 2006 he was tempted back to his home town by Denis Smith.

Valentine immediately made an impact with his whole-hearted style of play, although his crunching tackles led to a series of yellow cards!  He certainly caught the eye of John Toshack though, who called him up into the Welsh squad consistently over the course of the season.

Although he still awaits his first cap, a likely bow in the friendly at The Racecourse against Liechtenstein thwarted when he was unable to join the squad through injury. 

Home:
In Memory of Andy Roberts

Away:
Andrew Conde