Wrexham v Anderlecht extended highlights

[Oswestrian]

That was some Anderlecht side. Belgian club football was far far stronger then than it is now (all the best Belgian players play abroad these days). Even to the extent that they could prise two of those great Dutch 1974 and 1978 WC squads (Haan and Rensenbrink) out of the Dutch League to play for them . They went on to win it beating West Ham. Two years later Bruges got to the European Cup Final.

[Oswestrian]

Which is an excuse to post one of the greatest WC goals, just ahead of the final …

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VF-UNcnfqG0

That was the standard of players we faced over those 2 games.

[Neil]

Yep, I used to give Mel some stick but I should have realised that John Neal was probably a better judge of a player than I was!

Never had a problem with Mickey Evans though, and didn't realise that anyone else did.

Bill was annoyingly inconsistent in his first couple of seasons but soon matured into a very good centre forward, probably the best true #9 I've seen play for us.

[Oswestrian]

It’s a fair point about the 77-78 side being essentially ageing. For example Dai, Dixie, Gareth, John Roberts, Mickey Evans & Mel were never going to hack it long term in the Championship (as now is).

The three other stars, Shinners, Micky T and Whittle were taken away from us by either transfers or injury in the latter case.

OK I’ve left out the likes of Les Cartwright and Wayne Cegielski. Eddie Nied was only 18 or 19, but we needed to strengthen in the higher league and didn’t as we didn’t have the funds. Ian Edwards was a good signing, as was Steve Fox, but you look back at the others who came in, and you have to say they weren’t up to scratch.

[Wiltshire_Red]

Originally Posted by Oswestrian

It’s a fair point about the 77-78 side being essentially ageing. For example Dai, Dixie, Gareth, John Roberts, Mickey Evans & Mel were never going to hack it long term in the Championship (as now is).

The three other stars, Shinners, Micky T and Whittle were taken away from us by either transfers or injury in the latter case.

OK I’ve left out the likes of Les Cartwright and Wayne Cegielski. Eddie Nied was only 18 or 19, but we needed to strengthen in the higher league and didn’t as we didn’t have the funds. Ian Edwards was a good signing, as was Steve Fox, but you look back at the others who came in, and you have to say they weren’t up to scratch.

Some great games against higher opposition in the cup competitions.

A great team that was sprinkled with players that had come through the youth setup and experienced players transferred in. As you mention we never really had the funds to improve the team in the higher league. Ian Arkwright from Wolves was £100k wasted, never really hit it off at Wrexham.

The difference now is that as we go up through the leagues we will be able to strengthen accordingly without having to sell our better players.

[Back of the Kop]

If/when we make it to the Championship this time you'd think R&R will already have put the foundations in place to ensure we are competetive at that level rather than hitting the ceiling and falling on our arses like we did in the early 80's

[Oswestrian]

I can remember seeing Dixie and Alan Dwyer (maybe also Ossie Jones?) playing for Chirk at Brymbo in the early-eighties which in a way probably underscores the point about it being an ageing team.

And at the Grapes up in Moss I think- I used to go when they had a Saturday team at the time. Grapes had that brilliant winger, Dinky was it? He also played for Black Horse Summerhill in the Marstons Sunday league maybe, with Terry Cooke, another great local player.

[reggae boy]

Originally Posted by RHOSTYLLEN IN ADELAIDE

Mel Sutton, Mickey Evans and King Billy used to have horrible abuse at matches if i remember .Fans knew better in those days too.

The abuse mickey evens got was s disgrace

[reded]

Could never understand why Mel and Mickey got abuse but the fans always want to blame someone, and now, with social media they get it seven days a week. John Lyon’s was the worst I recall and I wonder if that anything to do with what happened three years later.