SING WHEN YOU'RE WINNING

31 December 2003

By David Lovett

Denis Smith

We’ve just won three on the bounce and to have Sheffield Wednesday here as our first visitors in the new year could hardly be better

WREXHAM’S ‘Winger and Swinger’ take centre-stage at The Racecourse on Saturday.

Caribbean couple, Carlos and Teressa Edwards are poised for historic husband-and-wife appearances against Sheffield Wednesday. Edwards, 26, and his wife, 23, aim to wow a bumper new year crowd in a unique spot of showbiz razzmatazz.

The graceful Edwards is always a potential matchwinner - and match-saver - with attacking and defensive work for Wrexham. His wife will be introduced to the crowd at half-time and will sing to them.

Commercial director Bill Wingrove said: “This is an historic occasion for Wrexham Football Club. As far as we know, a husband and wife team have never before ‘appeared’ on the same pitch for the club!

“That alone makes it unique and if Carlos does his business for us I’m sure Teressa will. She’s a lovely singer as guests heard when she joined Jim Whitley during his cabaret appearance at the club’s 130th anniversary dinner.

“It takes a lot of bottle to appear before a crowd of between 8,000-9,000 but I know Teressa can handle that. She’s got the confidence and voice to wow them all. She sang to Carlos at their wedding service and to have them both ‘appearing’ for Wrexham like this is just wonderful.”

Wrexham manager Denis Smith said: “I just hope the team are on song as well as Carlos’ missus!

“This is a really big game for us. We’ve just won three on the bounce and to have Sheffield Wednesday here as our first visitors in the new year could hardly be better.

“We’re expecting a big crowd and the atmosphere should be electric. I’m hoping we can really rise to that and do everyone proud. It won’t be easy, but the big prizes in life never are. We’ve just got to go for it.”

Edwards and his Caribbean team mates, Dennis Lawrence and Hector Sam are all ready for the big game. Edwards has the ability and pace to pose problems and 6ft 7ins Lawrence has been a giant at the back so far this season. Striker Sam has had his ups and downs, but three goals in the last three games keeps his confidence on a high.

Chris Llewellyn also bagged a couple of goals in the 4-2 home win over Blackpool to silence those criticising his lack of scoring. His only other league goal for the club was a superb strike in the 3-2 win at Hillsborough. His first goal against Blackpool was on par with that and nothing would give him a bigger boost than to keep his scoring ratio going tomorrow.

Smith said: “I thought the two lads up front did ever so well on Sunday. Chris Llewellyn took his first goal superbly but that only reinforced what I’ve always said about the lad.

“He can play - and he works his socks off for the rest of the lads. Hector’s Hector, isn’t he? World-beater one minute, his own worst enemy the next. But, give him credit, he’s stuck at it knowing he’s had a bad patch and that shows character.”