Rooster hoping for special send-off
By Paul Wheelock, Daily Post
28 July 2005
| KEVIN Russell says he
could not have picked a better game to hang up his boots once and for all.
The Wrexham assistant boss celebrates 12 years of service on Tuesday night when a Manchester United XI visit the Racecourse for his testimonial. Russell's last competitive game for the Dragons came three years ago and though he's effectively been retired since then, he retained his registration as a player in case of emergencies. But 'Rooster' reckons the clash with the Premiership giants will be the last time he'll wear the red of Wrexham. Russell said: 'I'm definitely going to play some part in the game - but for how long depends if they've got the oxygen ready on the side of the pitch! 'But seriously, I definitely want to play a part because it will be a special night. 'I continued to register as a player just in case we were struggling with numbers. But there's little need for me to do that now so Tuesday should be it.' Russell joined Wrexham in 1987 and made 108 appearances before moving to Leicester City in 1989. Six years later, he was back at the Race-course, playing a further 222 games before winding down his playing career in 2002. The testimonial has been a long time coming and Russell, who joined the coaching staff in October 2001, says he will savour every minute of it. He said: 'It was actually getting sorted for last summer but the situation at the club made it impossible because we didn't know what was happening off the field. 'There's also the difficulty of getting a team to play against. So when I spoke to Alex Ferguson and he agreed to it, I was delighted. 'Manchester United are probably the biggest club in the world so it should be a great night. 'I'm hoping for a big crowd because there's nothing like a packed Racecourse.' |
I'm hoping for a big crowd because there's nothing like a packed Racecourse
Kevin Russell |
