y’all COME TO WREXHAM

I’m David Jones (honest).  I just got back from a 11 day choir tour of Cornwall and Wales, plus I spent six days in the Wrexham area following my family’s’ ancestry. Almost by accident I was able to get a free ticket to the 1 April Match/Fixture Wrexham AFC vs. Oldfield Athletics.

I admit that (like others) I have watched most of WELCOME TO WREXHAM’S first season. I did it to get background information about Wrexham. Honest. I needed a ‘home-base’ so I could try and find my 7^th generation grandfather, Charles B. Jones Sr., who was born in Minera, a tiny lead mining town about four miles west of Wrexham. I had the adventure all planned out: train from Chester (if the coach driver would let me off from the Roseburg Concert Chorale tour), stay in a hotel near the Racecourse, so I could hear the Match, etc. Mainly I had my sights on Minera, including attending Palm Sunday service (2 April) at the small church in Minera, St. Mary’s. I’m also a choir director (St. George’s Episcopal church)—retired.

After seeing the WTW episode about Hooligans and the 65+ year old man that got beaten at Wrexham General railway station (where I was getting off the train), I didn’t want anything to do with football or Wrexham. I did however pay for a Wrexham AFC membership in the minuscule hope that I could get a

ticket for the match on 1 April.  I wanted to go there and experience the emotion and passion the people had for the hometown team, and hear the Welsh crowd cheer, sing and win. I didn’t expect that I actually would.

I received an email (7 March) from the Club saying I could buy a ticket for the April Match/Fixture. "Home league game on sale THIS week Tickets for our home game against Oldham Athletic on Saturday April 1 will go on sale to members from 10am on Thursday (March 9). The match will take place at the Racecourse Ground with a 3pm kick-off. Members can purchase one ticket per account, and the members priority window will remain open until 10am on Monday March 27, when any remaining tickets will go on general sale. Away supporters will be situated in the upper tier of the Wrexham Lager Stand (Y1-Y3) for this game."  It would be in the middle of the night (PST) and I missed out completely.   

Ryan and Rob—Lovers?

I had seen both Reynold’s and McElhenney’s ‘work’ on TV and the movies—preferring Rob to Ryan, especially after the Reynold’s movies I had to see—that horrible one with Jason Bateman, The Proposal (‘cos I like Sandra Bullock and Betty White) and uggh, Spirited.  When they started their TV project WELCOME, I was a little pissed that they were gonna screw over a town in Wales (Waa! We have to buy a new pitch)—which, I began to learn, was the where things began for my 7^th gen grandfather and his baker father—'Francis Jones EB Baker' (son of John Jones) one sibling--Elizabeth Jones born 1st July 1751. More than once while in the U.K. I caught the attitude, ‘I heard that Ryan/Rob were lovers’. Could be... Whatever, this Bromance-thing is getting a lot of play. They’ve got the shtick down pat. Rob is the patsy to Ryan’s ‘stardom’ hype, but McElhenney, like Reynolds, is riding it all the way to the bank.

But—

If they don’t make good on their promise of getting the team promoted, they’re really going to be in hot crap! I don’t think anyone anywhere would forgive them.  And what about after season two (where the boys ‘make good on their promise’ and get the team promoted), will Reynolds just dump the team, like the billion dollar dump of Mint? Better not.

Chasing Charles B.

I had done a lot of research about Charles B. – Sr., once I retired and found that the Revolutionary War private, came to America (from Anglesey, avoiding the King’s wrath for his sympathies towards the American  colony, sailing with his brother, parted ways in Virginia--family lore), enlisted in the colonial army and served in the wagon yard, got a land grant for his service, married a local girl, Francis Dorcas Thorpe (Bedford, VA), and moved to Burkesville, Kentucky to farm, where they had like twelve children (and owned slaves—uggh).

The choir tour (March 21-April 1) by the Roseburg Concert Chorale (all 28 of us) was an adventure in itself.  Amazing—it's in my other blog singthrucornwallwales.com . The weather cooperated and it didn’t.  We saw a lot of beautiful country, met some pretty incredible people, 7 castles, 8 churches, four concerts, too much time on the coach (not bus), and more Doom Bar (Sharp’s ale), Fish n’ Chips & mushy peas than anyone should eat and came away feeling I could live there.

Where to get the train? Strike on Travel Day?!

Once I had heard the Chorale (a senior group-except one) were planning a tour of Cornwall and Wales in 2023 to complete their multi-year tour of the U.K. back in the summer of 2022, I made the bold move to go with them.  My wife, Marianne, was on board with the idea.  We had planned a trip with Trafalgar to tour the U.K. in September of 2021 (England/ Scotland/Ireland) plus I had worked out a tour of Wales, specifically Minera with Boutique Tours of Llandudno, Wales, and we all know what happen then.  We did get our money back from Trafalgar.  When I agreed to the tour, I negotiated with Bobette Moyer, RCC ‘leader-organizer’, so that I could extend the tour to Minera 5 days after the group was scheduled to leave via Manchester airport.  I even paid extra to be in single rooms, ‘cos I was the only person that didn’t have a partner. Marianne has had an incredible amount of health issues and cannot travel anymore. 

The RCC got its travel itinerary in the late fall of 2022 and I was assured that the travel agency would make sure everything would go as planned. Even to a week before we flew to London, the travel agent, Sharon, kept telling me to relax, assuring me that I would have a flight back to the USA and to just relax--that  came back to bite me. I was able to get hotel rooms in both Wrexham and at the Manchester Airport.  I had train routes and times all figured out, but I kept trying to get a ticket for Saturday 1 April to travel to Wrexham.  A week before we left (13 March) we found out about a railway strike on 1 April that would affect the entire U.K. I didn't panic and began devising an alternative plan.  If the coach driver was willing, I could be dropped off in Llandudno Junction at the Railway station on Friday afternoon 31 March or even Chester where I could hop a train to Wrexham that evening--20 minutes. The strike was a blessing in disguise—I wouldn’t be arriving at Wrexham General on the day of the Match/Fixture, so no hooligan gangs could attack me.. 

While in Cardiff on 28 March, I got another email from Wrexham AFC in response to one I sent  in April when I read that the owners were giving out free tickets to members to increase attendance to 10, 000. 

Hello,

I have tried with no success for several months to get a ticket to the home match on April 1, 2023. I will be in Wrexham April 1-5 to trace my family roots.  Please  Thank you!

David B. Jones

Roseburg, Or  97471 USA

I thought nothing of it until I got this:  

Mar 28, 2023, 2:33 AM

Hi David,

Thanks for your application to Racecourse live were pleased to inform you that we would be happy to provide you with the 1 ticket requested for our fixture vs Oldham on 1^st April 2023. If you can confirm you would still like these tickets we will then, send your ticket to your preferred email address for use on the day.

Cofion Cynnes

Racecourse Live Team

Wrexham AFC Community Trust / Clwb Pêl-Droed Wrecsam

Racecourse Ground | Mold Road | Wrexham | LL11 2AH

Cae Ras | Ffordd Yr Wyddgrug | Wrecsam | LL11 2AH

I didn't get the email until early Friday 31 March. I replied:

Really?! Free? Oh My God, Yes!  I am currently in Llandudno and will be in Wrexham later this afternoon.  How do I claim the ticket and where?!  THANK YOU! David Jones 

 

Quick Repeat of How I Got Here..

30 March Snowdonia/Betws-y-Coed/Llandudno

The weather is misty and rainy, as we head towards Snowdonia National Park and the mountains—they rise up into the mist. I am sure in a dry winter or the summer it is a sight to see. Sue Wardle, our guide, announces we are going to have a stop in Betws-y-Coed before moving on to other stops. In B-y-C, Sue pulls me aside and tells me that she and Grant, our driver, have devised for the best way to drop me off at the Chester railway station.  Yes!  You can't write things like this. That was a blessing. I thank her profusely.

31 March  Llandudno/Conwy Castle  Chester  Train Ride

Llandudno and Conwy Castle are perfect--it's my favorite castle. We sang in the ‘basement’ of the ancient banquet hall—with fireplaces twenty feet above, because all the floor joints and flooring have long since disappeared-decayed. The northern coast ride was interesting and within an hour I see the first exit for Wrexham A550, and we turn north towards Chester at the second exit—

A483. Chester is an old Roman town, so the old town is laid out well.  We are dropped off a block south of the heart of the old downtown and are told to be back by 14:00 (2 PM). The weather is still spitting, but we venture out, looking at all the ancient half-timbered shops, the cathedral, and an old wall with Clock Tower. Chester is owned by the million/billionaire Grosvenor.

I get the ‘boot’ off the bus at the railway station--getting off a block away.  I give Sue a big hug and Grant a hand shake. With ‘goodbyes’ from my companions, I walked past lots of sleeping homeless to the entrance and watch Grant drive by, both of us waving as the coach turns away from the station. Chester station is a jumble of crazy activity, but I find the ticket office get a Wrexham General Ticket and directions to 4b, go through the ticket readers, climb and cross over the tracks and find the train within 12 minutes of departure!

The train is full and I have to sit with my suitcase, and backpack in my lap. I sit at a table seat and a young businessman joins me, crawling over the case. Sorry. The train pulls out and speeds south across

the North Wales pasture lands to Wrexham within 20 minutes. Wrexham General is also very busy. The Victorian station is looking good, with its gingerbread woodwork brightly painted. The high glass cover keeps the rain off the crowd. I follow the group, pass through the ticket area and am outside in the rain. I pull my rain jacket hood over my head and start towards the stairs for the overpass on Mold Road. I try to keep left, close to traffic, hauling my case behind me. While stopped at the light to cross to over to the Premier Inn (north side of the railway), I can see the Racecourse and Turf Club to the north a block away. I get a little goose-bump thrill realizing that I am   really here.

Premier Inn is basically across a parking lot. It’s after 16:00 (4 PM) and there are a couple groups ahead of me trying to check-in.  The hotel tries to be completely automated about check-in, there is no front desk, but it's a slow Que--just an efficient young woman, Lia. There must be a tennis camp or training this first weekend of Easter Break, because there are two adults (coaches) and a half dozen girls with equipment.  Once the group has keys, Lia helps me. She goes into the team room to ‘cut’ keys for everyone.  My room is 316.  It faces north, while away from the possible ‘rowdy’ crowd downstairs, it still looks out towards the pitch. How noisy will it be tomorrow during the match/fixture?  Tonight I will have to wash clothes. I decide to run over to the Racecourse and check things out.  Maybe I can get a pint of Doom Bar at The Turf or even some food.

I walk over and see a couple of women taking a vape/smoke break. I ask if it’s too busy and one of them says 'no'. I walk in and it is busy…not a chair or table anywhere. I see the three people behind the bar, including Wayne and Shelley Jones. They are not ready to serve food, so I head out and walk around the Racecourse, trying to get a glimpse into the pitch. I end up on the backside and try to check out the club house, but it is 17:04 (5:04).  The woman at the door says 9 to noon. I ask if 'earlier is

The Turf

The Kop is Gone

better' and she says 'yes, it will be crazy tomorrow'.  A man walking a golden doodle on a very long leash in the parking lot echoes what she has said as if I don’t speak English. He asks where I’m from and we discuss Vancouver Island and Portland and I tell him I am three hours south.  I say I will come back at 9 AM, not telling him about my ‘free ticket’ email offer.

I walk back around to Mold Road and the hotel--the place where the south bleachers were is a mud pit.  I wash and wring out my clothes, hanging them all over the tub and towel rack. They all so wet.  I am down at the restaurant (without a reservation) at 18:20 (6:20) and have a side salad and a bowl of Tomato soup (the only soup they ever have.). Lia waits on me. She keeps very busy on her long shift. I go up and journal after the light dinner, and wring out clothes.  It might be 19:45 (7:45) when I go to sleep.

1 April Wrexham   Best Fakking Day Ever!! Definitely Not April Fool’s 

I’m up at 7:40 AM—the laundry is still wet. I have breakfast after 8 AM—very low-end quality. The traditional elements have been sitting out since 7 AM.  There are a couple tables full with football fans already boisterous. I walk back over to WRXM AFC Club store and get there at about 9:06.  First I check out the merch, and ask if any new Red kits have come in—no, not for months. I talk to the young woman at the counter and tell her about the email I had gotten a ‘free ticket offer’ from the club—I had

tried to get a ticket (being a member) but couldn’t in Cardiff (on 28 March).  I tell her it’s probably a scam. She looks at the email on my phone, sees my name and comments that there is a David Jones on the coaching staff--First-Team Coach.  I say, yes, I know.  She heads to the office behind.  It takes a few minutes, but she is back saying it is legitimate—not a scam. I probably swear--I can’t remember., hardly believing my good fortune!  She is back with an official ticket with a little silver dragon on it, which she calls the “Golden Ticket”.  I am Gobsmacked.

I ask if it is safe for an old man (67) to come to the game, referring to the WELCOME TO WREXHAM episode about the 67 year old man who got beat up at Wrexham General the day of the WRXM/ Oldfield Match/Fixture episode. She says that, 'yeah, it can get a little ‘dicey’ with the Oldfield rivalry, but it should be fine—I hope'. She doesn’t fill me with the greatest confidence, but she is trying. I am so ecstatic, that I buy some merch:  a scarf (not the red and white striped one), a black took (to make up for the ‘black’ baseball cap I had tried to get from Amazon sent white!! Probably an illegal knock-off) and a program for today’s match. I walk out totally ‘jacked’.  I am never lucky like this--the other shoe’s gonna drop.  I still didn’t think I should go to the match, but I sure want to now.

I return my 'booty' to the hotel room and have a walk downtown to check it out. I go by the Lord Street Bus Station (6) to find out when the schedule of the #11 bus on Monday and Wrexham Central Railway station to scope out how I was going to buy a ticket. It was locked up tight—1 April Strike). I pass by the Arches sculpture in the plaza.  I walk around to Tŷ Pawb, where the Wrexham community

singing group were 'not' going to meet during the Easter Break (I had tried to work that out with Wendy).  I figured that they wouldn’t meet even though the director, Wendy, had assured me that would, unlike the Rhosllanerchrugog Men’s Chorus, who knew they weren’t meeting during the break over a month ago. I walk by Jones’ Fish n’ Chips, hoping I might have an appetite for the fried food by Monday or Tuesday night. I try to check out Wrexham Lager, but the gates are closed. I see the giant Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre on the way over to check out my Monday-Tuesday Hotel, Wynnstay Arms, noting the Magic Dragon Brewery Tap as I walk. Wynnstay Arms is an old Inn at the west end of High Street. The Marston Corporation has cleaned it up. I see the Wrexham Cwtch (formerly The Crafty Dragon), The Golden Dragon, The Beach (tanning?) and The Butchers Market—a Victorian market that still has a butcher plus a host of other stores, including Rob‘s Video Store, and Tracey’s Café.

I am back at P.I. by 11:30 and take a power nap.  It’s near 13 (1) and check the restaurant map, noting that the closest place is back towards town, Pizza Hut. Uggh. I guess the buffet might be all right. It takes 5 minutes to get there and after the hostess seats me, but  I do not like the looks of a £16 buffet--or price. I walk out without seeing the woman who seated me. Around the block, I pass the Wrexham Lager Sport and Social Club (private)—very busy before the match. I cross Regent to King’s Street, remembering I had seen other American fast food joints.  Nothing is the least appealing—including another pizza place, Caprino’s, with a middle-eastern gal who I could not understand. There are some good choices, the Bakeshop and Café, The Eilihu Yale, but not on match day.

As I am walking back towards the rail station up Regent, I see that La Baguette & Company is open. It looks promising--newly redecorated. An upscale couple is hanging, waiting for food. The guy behind the counter is immediately friendly and engaging. He helps me decide on a chicken salad for a Jacket Potato--Coronation Chicken with curry. It’s good, it’s his recipe. It comes with a salad, I decline red onions and cucumbers (family malady).  The couple decides to get theirs boxed to take to the game and are gone. The guy asks about where I’m from. I tell him and about the choir tour I just finished. He talks about taking his young family to Disney World New Year’s Eve.  I tell him it was great (1989), but  especially now with Animal Kingdom, Avatar and Star Wars. He says they're taking the younger girls, it's really for them, they aren’t taking the 18 year old—no, that wouldn't work.  I tell him about my ‘golden ticket’ and he really thinks I should go. 'It will be great. The guys are really doing well'.

I confess I do know about the whole 'Ryan/Rob--Welcome' thing.  He remains positive about things—I’m still skeptical. The Coronation Potato is really good. He tells me he’s a chef. I tell him I am in the area to check out church records at Minera about my 7^th GEN grandfather. The guy says he lives in Minera. Amazing. He is surprised that the church will open its records. He also tells me to go to the match, again.  I ask if he’s going, no he has to go up to Liverpool after work.  He’s originally from Manchester.  I could tell by his accent—close to Liverpool but slightly less (like the travel guide in Llandudno).  I said I had missed going to Liverpool and he said it was a friendly place. I told him our tour guide, Sue Wardle was born there.

18 April Addendum

No matter how the owners have fired and hired to bring in the best players, they have put together a brilliant team. Tozer, Lee and Mullin being the real stand outs.  The whole group is working together to achieve the ultimate goal—advance to the next league. Manager Phil Parkinson may tilt the ‘Fokk’ meter, but his leadership has made the team a formidable force.  Together what they all have been through is nothing short of a miracle. The town, #UpTheTown, Wrexham is united and proud.  You just can’t ask for anything more. 

[Except to move up in the leagues, which as of this writing will happen—no jinx intended].  One more win will do it. They play Boreham Wood today at 18:30. Plus, the boys are touring!  They will come to The USA and will play Chelsea in exhibition in July.  Who could have ever imagined that.  They are also hosting a two day concert venue with KINGS OF LEON Racecourse Ground on 27 May and 28 May—22 April]

18 April Addendum

[Except to move up in the leagues, which as of this writing will happen—no jinx intended.  One more win will do it. They play Boreham Wood today at 18:30. Plus, the boys are touring!  They will come to The USA and will play Chelsea in exhibition in July.  Who could have ever imagined that.  They are also hosting a two day concert venue with KINGS OF LEON Racecourse Ground on 27 May and 28 May—22 April]

4 June  Addendum

If you are keeping up with all the things happening at the Racecourse, best of luck to you.  They won their match with Como 3-2 -- AMAZING Come From Behind!  #10 Paul Mullin has been awarded the FA Cup Golden Ball for leading goalscorer in 2022-23, the questionably funny Bok Coffee at tea time ad (don't rename the Racecourse!), the expansion plans for the south bleachers, and Ben Foster's decision???

Courtesy of Wrexham AFC