What a month it has been for Wrexham AFC! A fantastic 4–1 win over Preston North End at the Cae Ras gave everyone a real lift. In his latest Wayne’s World column, Wayne Jones looks back at the goals, ahead to a busy November and up at the new Kop.
Four Goals, Three Points and a Real Lift
It wasn’t just the scoreline against Preston that impressed me. It was also the way we responded to setbacks and the contributions coming from right across the pitch. That’s exactly what you want to see at this level.
Joe Worrall got us going with a cracking header, his first goal in more than two years. He brings experience and leadership to the back line. Of course, it’s always a bonus when your defenders chip in at the other end.
Preston pulled level, but there was no panic. Instead, we got ourselves back in front before half-time and really took control. After that, there only looked like being one winner.
Ben Whiteman Strikes Against His Old Club
How fitting was it that Ben Whiteman should score his first Wrexham AFC goal against his former club? His long-range strike was a lovely moment. However, his contribution goes well beyond the scoresheet.
He’s comfortable receiving the ball in tight areas and reads the game well. He also has the ability to dictate the tempo from midfield. At this level, knowing when to slow things down and when to move the ball forward is absolutely vital.
The Championship is demanding, and experienced players who keep their composure are worth their weight in gold. That’s why his overall influence could become increasingly important. I think we’ll see plenty more of it this season.
Four Different Goalscorers
Sam Smith showed what he can offer in attacking areas, too. His header for our third goal proved how important it is to have players who attack deliveries into the box. Then Kieffer Moore rounded things off with our fourth.
Kieffer is a real handful for defenders, particularly when we’re getting good service into dangerous areas. His physical presence gives us another dimension. That’s especially true with players making intelligent runs around him.
Four different goalscorers in one afternoon is encouraging. After all, you don’t want to rely on one player every week. Spreading the goals around makes us much harder to defend against.
Character When It Isn’t Plain Sailing
Of course, it hasn’t all been plain sailing. The draw away at Derby showed the character in this squad, with Ollie Rathbone grabbing a late equaliser. Those moments can make a real difference over a long season.
You might not always be at your best, but taking something from a difficult away fixture matters. Meanwhile, the defeat against West Brom was frustrating. Still, that’s the Championship for you, with no easy games and always another challenge around the corner.
What matters is how we respond, and Preston was exactly the answer supporters wanted to see. I believe there’s plenty more to come from this group. As the newer players get to know one another, I’m hopeful we’ll see greater consistency.
Wrexham AFC’s November Fixtures
Looking ahead, there are some cracking fixtures on the calendar. Middlesbrough visit the Cae Ras on Wednesday 4 November, followed by Wolves on Saturday 7 November. They’re two big occasions that remind you how far this club has come.
Wolves coming to Wrexham for a league fixture would have seemed almost unimaginable not so long ago. Now it’s part of our regular football calendar. After that, we’ve got trips to Lincoln City and Bristol City before Portsmouth visit on Saturday 28 November.
It’s a busy month, with plenty of points to play for. So, home form could be particularly important. When the Cae Ras gets going, it really can make a difference.
A New Kop Taking Shape
Speaking of the Cae Ras, how exciting is it to see the new Kop taking shape? Approval has been granted to increase the stand’s capacity to 7,750 supporters. That’s another 2,250 places compared with the original plans, so just imagine the noise when it’s full!
For those of us who’ve watched Wrexham through the good times and the bad, seeing the stadium develop like this is special. The new roof structure is taking shape, and you can see the scale of the build every time you walk past. There’s also been plenty of discussion about what the new stand should be called.
The Kop name means a lot to supporters, as it’s part of our history. But there’s another name that deserves a mention: Joey Jones, Mr Wrexham himself. There’s a mural of Joey on the side of our pub, The Turf, and I can certainly see why there’s talk of a Joey Jones Stand.
The Same Club at Heart
Whatever it’s called, I hope the name reflects the people and history that have made this club what it is. That’s what makes Wrexham different. We might have Hollywood owners and supporters in every corner of the world, but underneath it all, we’re the same community club.
That’s something worth protecting. As we head into November, I’m looking forward to seeing how this team develops. There’ll be more twists and turns, but that’s football, isn’t it?
Keep backing the lads, keep making yourselves heard and, as always, enjoy the ride. You can follow all the latest news on the official Wrexham AFC website. Up the Town!
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