PREVIEW | Wrexham v Chesterfield

Prepare for another big Racecourse night.

4 October 2021

A Wrexham versus Chesterfield match never needs much hype, as the recent history between the two sides is riddled with significant matches and dramatic conclusions.

This match feels particularly massive, though – not quite an FA Cup quarter final, but nothing to be sneezed at. Both clubs have committed to trying to get out of the National League this season, and clash at a fascinating point of the season.

Wrexham’s newlook squad showed signs of settling into a formidable unit as Aldershot were swept aside on Saturday. However, the match was abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch, and the frustration of such a pointless journey was massively exacerbated by injuries picked up by both the club’s captains, Luke Young and Ben Tozer. Their absence means Phil Parkinson’s squad depth will be put to the test against the most difficult of opponents.

Buy Tickets! - Click Here

Chesterfield, meanwhile, went into Saturday as the league leaders, but suffered a surprise 3-1 defeat at Woking. Saidou Khan grabbed an early goal for the Spireites, which they held for over 50 minutes, but the game turned dramatically in the closing stages to condemn James Rowe’s side to a first loss of the campaign.

That made it two consecutive games in which Chesterfield have dropped points by conceding twice on the closing moments. The previous Saturday they lead Torquay United 2-0 at home with two minutes left, but had to settle for a draw; at Kingsfield it was 1-1 in the 87^th minute.

Chesterfield made a massive financial commitment last season in pursuit of promotion, with 39 players used in the course of the campaign. They’ve backed Rowe again this Summer, with a further 9 players coming in.

Their most notable capture was undoubtedly Kabongo Tshimanga, who was the National League’s top scorer last season. His move from Boreham Wood hasn’t affected his efficacy in front of goal as he’s the top scorer again this season with an impressive 9 goals from 9 starts.

HEAD TO HEAD

As I mentioned earlier, this fixture has quite a history. It goes back to our first meeting in 1921, our first season in the Football League, when we beat Chesterfield 6-1 with two players scoring a hat trick.

With 114 clashes under our belt, The Spireites are one of our most regular opponents, and they have the upper hand. They have 54 wins to our 39, and have claimed 16 victories at The Racecourse. More recently, we’ve only won 4 of our last 16 games against them.

That 6-1 win stood as our biggest win over Chesterfield for 55 years, until September 1976, when Billy Ashcroft hit four goals in a 6-0 win, and he isn’t the only Wrexham striker to score four in a game in this fixture. Albert Mays got the ball rolling in a 4-3 win in 1928 and Juan Ugarte repeated the feat 77 years later as we won 4-2 at Saltergate.

Four other players have hit a hat trick against the Spireites: Ted Regan and Bill Cotton were the players who achieved that feat in 1921, and Lovatt did so 6 years later. In April 2000, Karl Connolly struck three times in a 4-3 away win.

Of course, the 1997 FA Cup quarter final stands head and shoulders above all other meetings between these two sides, with Chris Beaumont scoring the only goal. Their reward was a magnificent performance against Middlesbrough in the semi-final which would have been rewarded with a place in the cup final if VAR had existed then: as it was, they were subjected to surely the most appalling cases of daylight robbery in the history of the venerable competition.

In recent years Chesterfield have enjoyed some dramatic last gasp wins at home to the Red Dragons. They’ll be satisfied with their performances at The Racecourse too: last season the two sides played out a goalless draw as we tussled for a play-off place.

The campaign before, both sides were struggling at the wrong end of the table. Probably Wrexham’s worst performance of the season saw us lose at home to a Michael Chambers own goal.

We gained an element of retribution in the FA Cup (but let’s not pretend it made up for 1997!) Bobby Grant’s goal at Chesterfield earned a draw in the qualifying round, and a neat JJ Hooper finish clinched a 1-0 win in the replay.

The first National League game between us at The Racecourse was in March 2017, and a massively wind-affected game ended 1-0 to Wrexham thanks to an Akil Wright header.

POSSIBLE MILESTONES

Bryce Hosannah’s Wrexham debut (again!)

Jake Hyde’s 375^th career game.

stockport_a jordan_ponticelli.jpg

Jordan Ponticelli’s 75^th career game.

Match Previews

Match Reports

REPORT | Wrexham AFC 1-1 Chesterfield

Mullin header rescues a late point

5 October 2021

Paul Mullin’s late equaliser against Chesterfield was enough to maintain the Red Dragons’ unbeaten home record in front of the Club’s record National League attendance of 9147.

In a game lacking many clear-cut chances for the hosts, Mullin rose up and headed home from a trademark Ben Tozer throw-in five minutes before the final whistle to secure a point at the Racecourse.

Phil Parkinson would have been hoping to build on Saturday’s curtailed performance against Aldershot, but his plans were marred when Fraser Kerr slotted home six minutes into the tie to hand Chesterfield the lead.

Gavin Gunning flicked on King’s free-kick into the path of Kerr who managed to get the final touch to send the ball past Rob Lainton.

In truth it was a half where the Spirites dominated possesion, and they could have been two to the good had it not been for an astute performance from Rob Lainton denying Kabongo Tshimanga on multiple occasions, most notably from the penalty spot.

Five minutes before the break, Tshimanga forced himself out onto the right hand side of the penalty area before being hauled down Lainton, but the keeper responded superbly, stopping the Spirites’ marksman from 12 yards out.

The only evident chance of the first half for Wrexham fell in the opening stages to debutant Bryce Hosannah, whose marauding run drew a smart save out of Scott Loach.

The second half started out in a similar vein as the first, with the visitors dominating possesion and they had another golden opportunity to double their advantage through the twisting and turning Tshimanga, who was once again denied by the outstreched Lainton.

However in the battle of the strikers, it would be Mullin who came out on top.

Club captain Tozer launched in another long throw but this time was met by the risingl Mullin who headed past Loach to salvage an equaliser five minutes from time.

It was Tozer’s centre back partner Aaron Hayden that nearly sent the Eacecourse into rapturers minutes later, as his volley thrashed against the crossbar to keep the scores at one a piece at the full time whistle.

Today’s point against Chesterfield means Wrexham remain in 12^th place, ahead of a break from league action. Our next fixture is now on October 16, away from home against Marine in the FA Cup.

Wrexham: Lainton (GK), Hosannah, Hayden, Tozer, Lennon (Angus 78’) , Reckord (French 45’), Redmond (McAlinden 69’), J. Jones, Davies, Hyde, Mullin

Subs not used: Dibble (GK) and D. Jones

Bookings: Davies, Hosannah

Chesterfield: Loach (GK), Carline (Whittle), Kerr, Gunning, Maguire, King, Weston, Kellermann, Khan (Mandeville 59’), Rowe (Payne 80’) , Tshimanga

Subs not used: Grimes, Miller,

Bookings: Maguire (20), Kellermann (45), (Kerr 75)

Attendance: 9147

Match Reports

Ticket News

SUPPORTER INFORMATION | Wrexham AFC vs Chesterfield

Key information for supporters attending our next home match

5 October 2021

On an autumn night under the Racecourse Ground floodlights, Wrexham AFC welcome Chesterfield to North Wales for our latest home game on Tuesday October 5. The match kicks off at 7.45pm.

The game is all-ticket and is now sold out. All tickets bought online must be collected from the Club Shop, which will be open 9am-5pm on Monday October 4, and from 9am-7.30pm on Tuesday.

We urge all supporters to collect their tickets in advance where possible to reduce queuing times on match-day, and help our efforts to get all supporters into the stadium before kick-off.

Please also read the important information below, and continue to be patient with staff and volunteers on the day. Thank you for your incredible support so far this season.

Ticketing and entry

All tickets purchased online for this game are being made available for collection from the Club Shop. No tickets have been posted out, and all supporters who have bought online should report to the shop.

To avoid the risk of long queues on match-day, and leading up to kick-off, we ask all supporters to collect their tickets in advance wherever possible. The Club Shop is open until 5pm on Monday, and collections are available until 7.30pm on match-day.

Please note, there will be no cash turnstiles in operation and this all-ticket game is sold out.

Again, we ask all supporters to get to the Racecourse Ground early where possible, to reduce queuing times and ensure any enquiries can be dealt with promptly and well in advance of kick-off time.

All ticketing enquiries should be reported to the Club Shop. After 6.15pm, supporters in the Macron Stand can collect their tickets from the reception in that stand.

Ticket collections close at 7.30pm, to assist in getting all supporters into their seats in time for kick-off.

Wrexham Lager Stand season ticket holders should enter via turnstiles 5-10. Macron Stand season ticket holders should use turnstiles 25-30. WREXRENT Stand season ticket holders enter via turnstiles 36-42.

Please only sit in your specified seat, and keep hold of your ticket in case any issues arise. Supporters found inside the Racecourse Ground without a valid ticket may be ejected.

Supporter conduct

Following a very small number of isolated incidents, we urge all supporters to consider their conduct when watching Wrexham AFC, and how this reflects on your fellow supporters’ safety and match-day experience.

You must not enter the field of play under any circumstances, and anybody found throwing objects or using pyrotechnics will be dealt with as strictly as possible.

Pyrotechnics and smoke bombs, in particular, have no place in a football stadium, and we are aware of an incident at a recent National League game in which somebody working at the game was nearly hit with one too.

Incidents at some of our own recent matches have resulted in the Club being charged and we face financial penalties as a result.

Do not let your Club and your fellow supporters down with your behaviour, and please report any concerns to your nearest steward.

We are working with the relevant authorities to identify the attendees involved in the aforementioned incidents and anybody identified will face stadium bans.

We are aware that this refers only to a very small number of isolated incidents, but we urge all supporters to work together to help us to stamp this out.

Away supporters

Away supporters will be situated in the university end of the Wrexham Lager Stand. Entry is via turnstiles 1-4.

Parking

Parking is available in the Glyndwr University Wrexham car park, adjacent to the stadium, at a cost of £3 per car. Disabled parking is also available.

Please do not park in the main club car park, and please also be respectful of our neighbours when choosing where to park. Cars must not be parked in permit-only areas around the ground.

We know all supporters are proud of our place in the community, and we ask everybody to respect that when parking their cars so as to avoid disruption to our neighbours.

Please also be mindful of our neighbours when leaving the Racecourse Ground, and take care when walking to and from the stadium.

Travel information

By car: The Racecourse Ground is located on Mold Road. The postcode is LL11 2AH. By car, take the A483 from Chester or Oswestry to Wrexham. Exit at the ‘Mold’ junction and then follow signs for ‘Town Centre’ and the Racecourse Ground will come quickly into view.

By train: The nearest train station is Wrexham General, which is located next to the ground. Please note, under Welsh Government guidelines you must wear a facemask when travelling on Transport for Wales services.

By bus: Wrexham bus station is located in the centre of town. From the bus station, head towards the prominent multi-storey car park and turn right along Mold Road. The ground will be located on the right-hand side, just after you cross the bridge over the railway tracks, about half a mile along this road.

Hospitality

Guests in the 1864 Partners Lounge should enter the Racecourse Ground via the Mold Road reception, where you will be signed in and given a wristband.

Supporters in the Executive Room and Bamford Suite should enter via the Bamford Suite entrance next to the Centenary Club entrance, where you will be signed in and given a wristband. Entry opens at 5pm.

Please contact geoff.scott@wrexhamafc.co.uk should you have any further questions regarding hospitality.

Centenary Club

The Centenary Club entrance opens at 5pm, and all supporters wishing to use the ticket-only bar will be scanned in, and given a wristband.

Please keep your wristband safe, as this will allow you to re-enter the Centenary Club at half-time and full-time.

Drinks and street food will be available to buy. Street food can be bought from the kitchen serving hatch, where card payments will be available, and supporters can also place half-time and full-time drinks orders before exiting to their seats.

To gain access to seats, supporters will need to have their full Wrexham AFC season tickets scanned in at the rear door.

Individual match-day passes for the Centenary Club can be purchased, where available, from the ticket office. These cost £5 per game, and a ticket allows you access to the exclusive bar, and the chance to enjoy the lounge with fellow supporters before the game.

Kiosks

Refreshment kiosks will be open for this game in all three stands, serving a range of hot and cold drinks, alcoholic drinks, hot food and confectionary.

We ask all supporters to use card payments where possible.

Match-day programmes

Printed match-day programmes will be available to buy from our sellers around the ground, at a cost of £3 each. Programme sellers will be situated within the concourse of the Macron Stand and WREXRENT Stand, as well as on the club car park outside the Wrexham Lager Stand.

Programmes will also be available to buy online from the club shop at shop.wrexhamafc.co.uk for delivery only, from Wednesday October 6.

An audio programme will also be available via the new WrexhamPlayer on the club website.

Bags/luggage

Please only bring necessary personal items with you, and only one small bag if essential. You can see a full list of prohibited items in our Ground Regulations.

Disabled supporters

Our accessible viewing platforms in the Mold Road Stand and WREXRENT Stand will be open for this game. Supporters who have been contacted to use the Mold Road Stand platform, should enter via the Mold Road Stand reception and use the lift.

Supporters who have been contacted to use the WREXRENT Stand accessible viewing platform should enter via gate 12, where Disability Liaison Officer Kerry Evans will meet you and take you across.

Wheelchair supporters should enter via gate 12, to the left of the turnstiles on Mold Road, for the level entrance into the stadium. Kerry Evans, will be at the entrance to welcome supporters and answers any queries you may have.

We ask that all wheelchair users stick to their allocated spaces, due to the high demand for places this season. Ticket-holders in the Autism Friendly section should also use gate 12 – our designated quiet entrance. The refurbished sensory room will be open for this game.

All of our accessible toilets at the Racecourse Ground have radar locks on – please ensure you bring your radar key, if you have one, to access these toilets. If you do not have a radar key, you can ask a steward or Kerry Evans.

Our audio-descriptive commentary service will also be available for this game. Receivers can be picked up from reception in the Centenary Club and the Macron Stand, but supporters must bring their own headphones. Your commentators for the game will be Alan Fox and Alex Carter.

COVID-19 guidelines

At present, you do not need a COVID-19 Pass to enter matches at the Racecourse Ground, however we urge all supporters to continue to remain vigilant and respectful of your fellow fans regarding the decisions you make on match-day.

Masks are required in indoor areas unless you are exempt. Masks are optional in outdoor areas, and we ask all supporters to respect the decisions made by their fellow fans.

Where possible, when moving around the stadium, we ask supporters to be mindful of social distancing and to try to maintain it wherever they can.

Please also maintain good hand hygiene, use hand sanitisers where provided and avoid touching your face, handles or railings wherever possible.

You are responsible for deciding whether or not you should attend any match and, prior to attending each match, carry out a personal risk assessment based on your own age, health and susceptibility to infection and clinical vulnerability and of those in your household or support bubble (based on government guidelines).

You must not attend this game if you have been asked to self-isolate, and you should not attend if you or anyone in your household has developed any COVID-19 symptoms.

Please avoid unnecessary movement away from your seat, and wherever possible wait until gangways are clear to avoid queuing and crowded concourses as much as you can.

Wrexham AFC

Standings