Sport blow for young if club goes to the wall

01 December 2004

A GROUND-breaking scheme that provides dozens of sporting facilities for youngsters will be lost if Wrexham FC goes to the wall.

That's the warning from Wrexham Supporters' Trust, which is urging everyone in the area, whether they are football fans or not, to pledge money to their bid to save the club.

They say if the club does eventually fold, Wrexham FC's Football in the Community scheme would be lost forever.

Trust member Phil Wynn said: "Football in the Community visits hundreds of schools in the area and benefits thousands of children. What parents and people who may not go to The Racecourse must realise is that it will be lost if the club goes under.

"They do a fantastic job, and it will be a major blow to youngsters in the area if it could not continue because the club has gone under.

"That's why we are urging everyone to help us raise money."

Since its arrival at The Racecourse ground in 1990, the Wrexham AFC Football in the Community scheme has strived to develop positive links between the football club and the local neighbourhood.

Providing a service for every social group, regardless of age, sex or background, the scheme's aim is to involve as many people as possible in activities.

It provides soccer schools, Saturday Clubs and an extensive schools programme, as well as ground tours, and it organises the Junior Dragons scheme, which involves hundreds of youngsters in football.

Phil Wynn added: "Hundreds of youngsters were able to come on to the field before the recent Bristol game and take part in Junior Dragons activities. That will be lost if the club goes, as will all the work done with schools.

"People in the area, Wrexham fans or not, must realise this. We urge everyone to get involved in helping the trust raise money." With the club facing administration on Friday, the trust is working hard to raise cash in the hope that eventually it will be able to buy the club and ground.

The trust is asking everyone who supports its campaign to make a small donation by calling 0904 043 5000.

Calls will cost £1.50, of which at least £1.07 will be donated to the appeal and automatically billed to the caller's telephone account. Callers will hear a short thank you message, which will be changed regularly to feature various well-known voices associated with the football club.

Meanwhile Wrexham FC owner Alex Hamilton has denied inviting the Inland Revenue to start proceedings to wind up the club.

The Evening Leader has learned that managing director John Reames first made the claims, -which were then highlighted by former chairman Mark Guterman in an open letter to Mr Hamilton.