A new book: From Hashtag United to Wembley
(all profits go to charity)
Where I saw Wrexham
FAT SF v Stockport Count (H) 2-0
FAT Final v Bromley (Wembley) 0-1
(all profits go to charity)
FAT SF v Stockport Count (H) 2-0
FAT Final v Bromley (Wembley) 0-1
The semi-final against Stockport County was a tense and closely-fought match. The two goals by Paul Mullin, both in added time, were two of the best goals that you will ever see. The first was a delicate chip, and the second needed delicate control before lobbing the keeper. I have seen some crowd celebrations, but the Wrexham fans were in great voice.
Besides having a magical weekend in Wrexham, Wrexham had other reasons to be associated with magic. I booked a ticket to see a magician, but he was so good that he disappeared into thin air – I couldn’t find the venue! The Magic Dragon pub offered a magical pint, although I had the pleasure of drinking a pint of Wrexham Lager, which was apparently the last drink served on the Titanic. Well, I never.
The night before the semi-final against Stockport County was an enjoyable night in the Royal Oak pub. I heard tales of Wrexham’s bygone glories as well as meeting a relative of Arfon Griffiths, the most famous son of Wrexham FC. As I left the Royal Oak, I received an unexpected hug from Stacey, the landlady. Now, that hasn’t happened too often before.
The book describes my journey following the 2021-22 FA Trophy. I chose to start at Hashtag United v Chipstead in the First Round Qualifying of the FA Trophy. From there, I followed the winners of each tie, finishing at Wembley, where I saw Bromley lift the trophy after beating Wrexham. It was a magical journey that enabled me to visit 9 non-League grounds plus Wembley and meet supporters from 12 different fantastic clubs.
I travelled to each game by train and stayed at or close to the venue of each tie for at least one night. Each chapter takes a light-hearted look at my travels, my exploration of each town or city, as well as covering my match-day experience. I also met many interesting people on my travels, enjoying a beer or two with the locals at each venue. The book captures the spirit that I believe only exists in non-League football and describes some truly enjoyable and memorable moments.