Letter from America

... or from Flint to Foster City (or thereabouts)

The New Year is traditionally a time for contemplating what last year brought you and what the year ahead may bring. Whilst contemplating what Wrexham under Brian Flynn's management achieved last year I stumbled across this little assessment in a recent edition of Wales on Sunday newspaper. Since Paul Abbandonato's article so eloquently echoes my own views on the subject, I thought that for this Letter from America I'd reprint his article for your perusal: 

'Brian Flynn has done another remarkable job at Wrexham in the year 2000. I say that with no hesitation - even though Robins fans called for his head once more during the past 12 months. If you want further evidence, examine the following two statistics that were brought to my attention in the past few days. One is that Wrexham is the smallest town of the 92 clubs competing in the Premiership and Football League. I must say, I didn't know that. Nor did I know the second, perhaps even more eye-opening fact. Namely that Wrexham is only the 10th largest town in Wales. Surely not? I had to check that one out. But the market researchers, who base their figures upon households in a particular area, show it is indeed the case. The most recent figures show 13,333 households in Wrexham - putting the town behind Cardiff (126,852), Swansea (63,433), Newport (55,534), Merthyr (26,328), Pontypridd (23,392), Bridgend (15,340), Llanelli (14,761), Haverfordwest (13,855) and even Caernarfon (13,407). On the basis of that little lot, it's remarkable that the Robins can sustain a Football League team, let alone one ready to make a push for the Division Two play-offs in the year 2001. Oh, but Wrexham can call upon support from throughout north Wales you could argue. They can, technically. But they're also competing with the little matter of Manchester United, Liverpool, and Everton for their support. Flynn's men have had to contend with gates as low as 1,500 at times this season, yet still the team have managed to establish themselves in mid-table. It's been a key 12 months for the Robins and I must admit to having fears for their Division Two future at the start of the season. But shrewdly Flynn, and his assistants Kevin Reeves and Joey Jones, had begun remoulding his team at the tail end of last season and the work put in then has paid off this year. The careful budgeting of the Board also ensures the best-run club in Wales doesn't go heavily into the red. I know there is a feeling among some that Wrexham, having been in Division Two since 1993, should really look to push on to the next level up. I agree with the idealism of that sentiment. The pragmatic argument, however, tells me Flynn, Reeves and Jones have done remarkably well just to keep the Robins where they are'.

Cheers

Gareth Collins