The massive Wrexham AFC history thread (The sad case of a founding members and player of Wrexham...)

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I hadn't realised that season tickets were introduced early in our history.
Found this article selling season tickets for 5 shillings in 1891.

IWBEXHAM FOOTBALL CLUB. !|1891-08-15|Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register - Welsh Newspapers Online

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While it is widely known that our first ever game was against The Prince of Wales Fire Brigade 22nd October 1864, I have not found anything in the archives regarding matches in 1865, although, I have found the following games reported in the 1866 newspapers.

The Football season began when the cricket season was officially closed in October each year, and the cricket season opened when the football season was officially closed in May of each year.

1865/66 season

Wrexham Football and Athletic Club v Provincial Insurance Office (probably at The Racecourse) won by Wrexham FAC, exact date in 1866 and score unknown, although possibly a 16 a side game played on 10th February 1866.

Wrexham Football and Athletic Club v Prince of Wales Fire Brigade, at The Racecource Ground won by Wrexham FAC, score not known, 24th February 1866

Wrexham Football and Athletic Club v Prince of Wales Fire Brigade (11 a side teams) at The Racecourse; result unknown, but match was planned for 10th March 1866 (weather permitting).

Provincial Insurance Office v Wrexham Football and Athletic Club (probably at The Racecourse) won by the insurance office, score unknown; 17th March 1866.

Wrexham Football and Athletic Club 0- Provincial Insurance Office 2, at The Racecourse (12 a side teams) 24th November 1866.

Wrexham Football and Athletic Club v Provincial Insurance Office. result unknown but match was planned for 08th December 1866 (weather permitting)

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On 8th October 1864, Edward Manners stated that he was going to buy a football in the course of the week and called for members of the cricket club to attend the field, next Saturday (15th October) and while there may have been a (first ever) scratch match played at The Racecourse on 15th October, there were no reports in the newspapers at that time to confirm that any such game took place on that date.


1864/1865 season

22nd October 1864; Wrexham Football and Athletic Club 1- 2 Prince of Wales Fire Brigade (10 a side teams at The Racecourse)

25th February 1865; Prince of Wales Fire Brigade v Wrexham Football and Athletic Club (probably at The Racecourse) won by WFAC, score unknown.

11th March 1865; Wrexham Football and Athletic Club v Prince of Wales Fire Brigade- game arranged for 11th March (weather permitting) score unknown.


In the earliest days of the football club, it seems to have been common practice to play return matches, and then a third deciding game if each team had won one of the first two games.

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on 11th November 1899, a team of sixteen black football players, and four white officials, affiliated to The Orange Free State, representing South Africa, played against Wrexham Football Club at The Racecourse, as part of a four month, 49 game tour of Great Britain.
Wrexham won the game 5-4.

Basuto XI (Orange Free State) Tour to Britain 1899/1900

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...f%20uk&f=false

https://core.ac.uk/download/files/7/7432701.pdf

[eastsussexred]

Originally Posted by eastsussexred

While it is widely known that our first ever game was against The Prince of Wales Fire Brigade 22nd October 1864, I have not found anything in the archives regarding matches in 1865, although, I have found the following games reported in the 1866 newspapers.

The Football season began when the cricket season was officially closed in October each year, and the cricket season opened when the football season was officially closed in May of each year.

1865/66 season

Wrexham Football and Athletic Club v Provincial Insurance Office (probably at The Racecourse) won by Wrexham FAC, exact date in 1866 and score unknown, although possibly a 16 a side game played on 10th February 1866.

Wrexham Football and Athletic Club v Prince of Wales Fire Brigade, at The Racecource Ground won by Wrexham FAC, score not known, 24th February 1866

Wrexham Football and Athletic Club v Prince of Wales Fire Brigade (11 a side teams) at The Racecourse; result unknown, but match was planned for 10th March 1866 (weather permitting).

Provincial Insurance Office v Wrexham Football and Athletic Club (probably at The Racecourse) won by the insurance office, score unknown; 17th March 1866.

Wrexham Football and Athletic Club 0- Provincial Insurance Office 2, at The Racecourse (12 a side teams) 24th November 1866.

Wrexham Football and Athletic Club v Provincial Insurance Office. result unknown but match was planned for 08th December 1866 (weather permitting)

As an update the the above, the opening game of the 1865/66 season took place at The Racecourse on 7th October 1865, with a scratch-15-a side contest.
Mr G. Prichard's (capt) side won Mr H. H. Mundy's (capt) side by 1 goal to nil, scored by G Mitchell.

C.E Kershaw, J.B. Jones, Edward Jones, Evan Rowlands, G. Pritchard, A Fyfe, E Evans, J Roberts, C Fyfe, T Haywood, W Heywood, F Heywwod, G Mitchell, M Manion, WC Zachery.

JW Jones, T Hanmer, W Price, E Lewis, T Price, H. H. Mundy, JL Heywood, H Roberts, A Sainsbury, G Davies, FC Richards, G Lloyd, EA Cross, E Manners, J Taylor.


During this period, articles were placed in the local press each week, advertising that members of the football club would be playing football on The Racecourse every Saturday at 2.30pm, and the same articles would also request challenges for games from any football team in the area.

The club had over 100 members at the beginning of the 1865 season and were also advertising for their first Athletics Sports Event, which was planned to take place on the 4th November.
A Silver Cup (Hanmers Cup) was purchased by Thomas Hanmer, Landlord of The Turf Tavern and a clock was provided by Joseph Clark as prizes for the Athletics Event, although Pewter tankards would also be presented

[Mr Wonderful]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turf_Hotel

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Originally Posted by Mr Wonderful

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turf_Hotel

Thanks Mr W.
The dates of construction for The Turf Tavern and date for the first race at The Racecourse are wrong in the wiki page.

Early Years

I have informed WCBC who have added to the files for future researchers.

[Mr Wonderful]

I knew you'd know more than wiki bud . .

Great read Early Years.

[eastsussexred]

Originally Posted by Mr Wonderful

I knew you'd know more than wiki bud . .

Great read Early Years.

Thanks again Mr W