Dragons fail to roar

Wrexham v Darlington

Coca-Cola League Two

Saturday February 2nd 2008, NB: 2.30pm kick off

Wrexham survived a turbulent season in administration but under new ownership have struggled on the pitch. They survived on the last day of the season, defeating fellow strugglers Boston, who were themselves relegated. New manager (and ex-Darlo boss) Brian Little has a huge task in saving them from the drop after taking over a team low on confidence. He's brought in 11 new players in the transfer window and their recent surprise win over leaders MK Dons show they can't be underestimated. Man to watch Mark Jones Star midfielder. Full match preview on the D@rlo Uncovered website. Admission prices £16 Concessions £10, £5 juniors - prices pegged to last year. A fair bit of cash has been spent on the Racecourse and it's a decent 15,000 all-seater stadium, if rarely do they need anything like that room. Away fans are in the Eric Roberts Builders Stand, which is an all-seater behind the goal with room for 3,800. You reach it by walking past the new main stand and turning right. The away coaches park right outside. The toilet facilities are basic though, while the food kiosk closed with indecent haste straight after half time, so make sure you don't dawdle. They serve a range of pies and coffee. The Pryce Griffiths Stand has disabled places available, contact: 01978 262129.

Wrexham FC: Racecourse Ground, Mold Rd, Wrexham, LL11 2AH Tel: 01978 262 129 History: Familiar Victorian story of being formed, in 1872, by the town cricket club at the Turf Hotel (still standing by the stadium). Club disbanded after crowd trouble in 1883, but reformed. After playing in various local leagues, elected to Div3 North in 1921. Some success under John Neal in 1970s, while Cup exploits under long serving manager Brian Flynn included beating Arsenal in 1992. Record Attendance: 34,445 v Man Utd, FA Cup, 26 Jan 1957 Capacity: 15,500 Last season: 19th Honours: Div 3 champions 1977/78, LDV Trophy 2005 Record victory: 10-1 v Hartlepools, Div 4, 3 March 1962 Defeat: 0-9 v Brentford, Div 3, 15 Oct 1963 Nickname: The Dragons. Colours: Red and white Manager: Brian Little Chairman: Neville Dickens Players in: Drewe Broughton (MK Dons, loan), Robert Duffy (Oxford Utd, loan), Jeff Whitley, Sam Aiston (Northampton), Gavin Ward and Phil Bolland (both Chester), Richard Hope (Shrewsbury), Carl Tremarco (Tranmere), Robbie Garrett (Stoke), Danny Sonner (Walsall), Paul Hall (Walsall), Conall Murtagh (Southport), Michael Proctor (Hartlepool). Players out: Juan Ugarte (released), Lee McEvilly (Accrington), Ryan Valentine (Darlington, loan), Levi Mackin and Conall Murtagh (Droylsden, loans) Famous fans/players/connections: Robbie Savage (fan), Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones and Dixie McNeil (players), Neil Wainwright, Ryan Valentine and Stephen Thomas (players). Click for streetmap of ground

© Aerial photo: Ted Blair

From North: Leave the M6 at junction 20a, taking the M56 west towards Chester and North Wales. At junction 15, head on the M53, which becomes the A55. Then take the A483 at junction 36, until after about eight miles it becomes the Wrexham by-pass. Take the A451 Mold Road, following signs to Wrexham, the ground is a short distance on left. Parking is behind the away end at NEWI college, entrance off another roundabout, before you get to the ground. Or there is a carpark at the club, take a first right past the ground (£5). There is limited parking at the railway station (£2), next right

Trains: Wrexham General station, with services to Birmingham and the North West, is a short walk to the ground, on the right - you can't miss it! For the town centre pubs, turn left out of the station and left again - about 10 minutes walk. There's also Wrexham Central station in the town centre. UPDATED TRAIN TIMES (Jan 98): Darlington: Coach recommended. For those who decide otherwise - 08.00 (08.28 York) 08.40 -Manchester Piccadilly (10.05) 10.16-Chester (11.22) 11.28 arr Wrexham General 11.44. Return, sharp exit for the last train 17.03, (Chester 17.26) 17.53 Manchester Piccadilly (18.59) 19.42- arr Darlington 21.47. Dur 4hrs 44 mins. £63 saver return.

Apollo Taxis: 01978 262600 TXI2: 01978 362888 Town Cars: 01978 313131 Darlington FC Supporters Club Coach 9.30am, £20. Contact: 01325 243911. See Darlington Supporters' Club for more details.

UPDATED TRAIN TIMES (Jan 98): From London Euston 07.30 via Birmingham New Street (09.11) dep 09.33 arr Wrexham General 11.03. Return 17.03 arr Chester (17.26) 17.31 arr Crewe (17.56) 18.32 arr London Euston 21.36. Saver return: London Euston £62.60, Advance from £20-£32.50. Birmingham New Street hourly service 09.33 arr Wrexham General 11.03. Regular services back, sugg return: 17.44 arr 19.18. Fares: Cheapday return £11.30. From Manchester Piccadilly 10.16 via Chester (11.22) 11.28 arr Wrexham General 11.44. Return: 17.03 via Chester (17.26) 17.53 arr 18.59. Cheapday/saver return £12.10-13.80. A trickier trip than usual today from Sheffield 07.48 via a replacement bus to Manchester Piccadilly (09.26) 10.16 and Chester (arr 11.22) 11.28 arr 11.44. Return 17.03 via Chester (17.26) 17.53 arr Manchester Picc (18.59) wait until 19.43 then another replacement bus, arr 21.21. Saver return £41.70. Cardiff Central 09.00 arr 13.03 via Newport, replacement bus to Shrewsbury. Return: 17.44 arr 21.28 via Shrewsbury, Hereford and replacement bus to Newport. Saver return £52.30, Apex return £20.

Wrexham has plenty of pubs in the town centre (reputedly more per head than anywhere else), not far from the Racecourse, but quantity does not make up for quality and most are pretty much of a much-ness. There is detailed pub guide on the One Nil To The Sheep Shaggers website. Horse and Jockey Regent Street/Hope Street Victorian pub in the city centre, 10 minutes walk from ground. Friendly locals pub, used by Dragons fans. It had Speckled Hen and Taylor's Landlord as real ale choice on our visit and the usual Calsberg lagers. Thatched roof, stone floor and low beams right near the main shopping area, with two bars and a snug, as well as a room used for the restaurant, which is open from 10.30am on a Saturday. The food is also well cooked with a good choice on the menu.

Town centre real ale pubs Elihu Yale Regent Street. A town centre Wetherspoons pub, named after the founder of the famous Yale University and a Wrexham lad. Walk down Mold Road, go through two sets of traffic lights and it's on the left just after the next road junction. The Albion Vaults Hotel, 1 Pen-y-Bryn/Bridge Street, down Town Hill, (01978 364969) . DAFTS recommended and a short walk from the town centre, closer to Wrexham Central Station. Victorian hotel with JW Lees ales, one of the very few ale pubs in town, if it is a bit rough and ready. Pool table. Also does accommodation. Click for map

Near ground The Plas Coch, Plas Coch Retail Park A modern Banks' pub, near the ground, next to Sainsbury and Aldi's on the retail park and is normally a favourite with away supporters. Lunchtime food. Some limited parking for pub-goers. DAFTS recommended. The Turf Hotel Mold Rd Right next to the ground - and steeped in the history of this 130-year-old club - but inevitably packed on match days.

Other town centre Nag's Head Mount Street. A half-timbered Banks's pub down from the High Street at the bottom of a hill. The Talbot pub , Queen Street is another possible. There are town centre McDonalds, Burger Kings and chippies, all within an easy walk of the station. Wrexham town centre also has quite a good selection of take-away sandwich bars. To be honest, these are all a notch above the catering at the ground.

If staying over in Wrexham, the tourism office has a list of guest houses, with the Wynnstay Arms in Yorke Street (01978 291 010) the main town centre hotel. Or just out of town you could try the Travel Inn on the B5445 Chester Road at Gresford nr Wrexham (01978 853214) off the A483 next to The Beeches Brewers Fayre. Also try Oswestry, Shropshire, just over the border - a town with a Welsh feel to it and plenty of places to stay. The nearest station is Gobowen, three miles north, less than 20 minutes from Wrexham. Recommended are the Montrose Guest House Western Lane Oswestry SY11 2BG 01788 813613, £15 per night or The Griffin pub, which also had self catering flat (3 double beds) with bread, cheese, ham etc £55 per night. Another alternative is Chester, close by, which is a popular shopping haunt as well as offering a wide choice cafe bars, restaurants and pubs. The council's comprehensive tourism website has links to online accommodation bookings and places to visit, as well as eating and drinking. Tourist Information Offices:, Town Hall, 01244 402111 or at Vicar's Lane 01244 351609. Rail timetables Virgin Trains GNER National Express Online map Hotels/B&Bs Wxham Leader Wxham Council Wrexham.org Pub guide Chester/S Clwyd CAMRA Town map Surfing there... There's little on the official website except all the very basic information, so it's the online version of the always excellent Wrexham fanzine Red Passion, which is easy to navigate and full of all the right stuff. There's also a sort of DAFTS equivalent in the north west with a Manchester Reds site and also the excellent independent fans' site One Nil To The Sheep Sh***ers, which is also good for links to all the other sites and a good pub guide. Anything worth adding? Please e-mail us any suggestions. Back to index page Next away match: Notts County (Tuesday 12th February, 7.45pm) No responsibility is taken for accuracy, if in doubt check before travelling. © DAFTS 2007