The Wrexham Supporters' Association has provided commentary for the patients of Wrexham's Maelor Hospital since 1957. It was on January 26th of that year that the legendary Busby Babes visited The Racecourse to play in the Fourth Round of the F.A. Cup, and the crowd of 34,445 which they attracted remains a club record to this day.
The greatest season in the club's history was, of course, 1977-8, and the broadcast was there to cover every kick as the Robins claimed the Third Division title and the Welsh Cup with some sensational football, while reaching the quarter finals of the F.A. and League Cups.
There have been difficult times too. After the good times in the late seventies, the club plummeted back down to the Fourth Division and suffered a miserable spell devoid of success.
Another historic broadcast: the first Wrexham reserve game to be broadcast live, at home to Rotherham United, and as the reserve side battled to survive in the Avon Insurance Premier Division, the last fixtures of their campaign were also covered. .
The broadcast has moved on apace in recent years, though and the 2006-7 season saw the launch of www.wrexhamfan.co.uk, offering podcasts, vlogs, blogs and video interviews.
In 1990 Wrexham took on Manchester United in the European Cup Winners Cup. Having reached the quarter finals of the European Cup WInners Cup in 1976, Wrexham continued to have remarkable success in their continental forays for such a small club. Victory over Porto and an heroic effort against Roma, managed by Sven-Goran Eriksson, in the next round marked a great run in 1984, and in 1986 Spanish Cup holders Real Zarragoza were fortunate to defeat the Robins on away goals after extra time.
In 1985 the Mold Road Stand was closed to fans, but the commentary box remained in use until 1992 when it finally became unsafe, and the broadcasts were halted, although not before the team could cover Wrexham's incredible F.A. Cup victory over Arsenal. Renovations in the Radio Maelor studio also delayed the return of the broadcast to the airways, but on August 12th 2000 the programme returned, with Kevin Russell joining commentator Mark Griffiths to cover the opening game of the season against Bristol City.
The History of the Wrexham Supporters Association's Football Commentary
Many more supporters were able to follow the match, however, as it also marked the first Maelor Hospital Broadcast, with commentary being sent directly into the wards in the absence of a Hospital Radio station. Supporters were therefore able to listen to the illustrious Manchester United side's 5-0 victory without having to brave the one-way system which was imposed in the town to cope with the unprecedented crowd!
Commentating from the box on the roof of the Mold Road Stand, the broadcast team witnessed many heroics as Wrexham established their reputation as one of the game's great giant killers. Three runs into the quarter-finals of the F.A. Cup, plus appearances in the last eight of the League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup were reported on, not to mention seven victories in the Welsh Cup!
A further milestone was achieved when the 2000-1 F.A. Cup tie with Rotherham marked the first commentary provided for blind supporters within the Racecourse. Visually-impaired fans can now pick up a headset and enjoy the match with their friends anywhere in the ground while listening to full commentary.
The 2001-2 saw a further element added to the broadcast, with Wrexham F.C.'s official website, www.wrexhamafc.co.uk, carrying full commentary of all home and away games.
Click below to hear the latest podcasts from the Wrexham Supporters Association's Football Commentary
In 1990 relegation from the League looked likely, but Brian Flynn took over and inspired the team to an heroic fightback which saved their status at the expence of Colchester United.
The clash between the two sides was surely one of the most dramatic to be covered by the Maelor commentary team. Trailing twice, Wrexham looked doomed, but an incredible change in the weather, with a snowstorm blowing down the pitch, penned United into their own half for the last ten minutes, and goals from Gary Worthington and Andy Thackeray earned a crucial 3-2 victory. Ironically, the beaten 'keeper, Andy Marriott, would go on to become a Racecourse favourite.
"The referee found five added minutes from somewhere, but he could have added twenty; a draw was a fair reward for Altrincham's efforts and Wrexham were never going to deny them."
