Wrexham travel to Kent for a Vanarama League clash with Maidstone United on Saturday. dai-sport journalist Terry Phillips looks back almost 50 years when he reported on ‘Stones for the Kent Messenger.
Bobby Houghton was Maidstone manager, while Roy Hodgson was his assistant at the old Athletic Ground on London Road in the early 1970s.
Houghton was later appointed manager of Malmo and led the Swedish team to the European Cup final where they faced Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest in 1979. Trevor Francis scored the only goal of a final played in Munich.
Hodgson went on to become England manager and is currently in charge of Premier League Crystal Palace.
When they worked together in charge of the ‘Stones, though, things didn’t turn out well.
Maidstone finished third in the old Southern League and they were dismissed for missing out on promotion!
Club owner Jim Thompson was advertising director of the newspaper I worked for, but I was still banned from the ground when he wasn’t happy with a match report.
Today, 47 years later, Wrexham travel to Maidstone top of Vanarama National League, while the home team are 18th.
Things are going well for the Dragons, although reports linking manager Sam Ricketts – along with Newport County boss Michael Flynn – with the managerial vacancy at Shrewsbury Town could be worrying.
Ricketts’ team, though, are focused on their challenge against Maidstone. Wrexham are unbeaten in 10 games, a run in which only three goals have been conceded.
Their challengers are close with only two points separating the Dragons, Leyton Orient and Salford City and captain Shaun Pearson says: “We’re pleased with the defensive record.
“We just have to keep winning and hopefully can somehow open up a gap now we are the top team.
“Standard are high. The top end of the league is much stronger this season
“We are a better side and have improved as a squad.
“The signings have added competition and pushed everyone on to a new level I believe. Hopefully, we can push on again because I still feel like we have more in us.”
Wrexham went top thanks to a 3-1 win against Gateshead at home and have since progressed to the Emirates FA Cup second round where they play Newport County.
Maidstone play on an artificial 3G surface, after defeat to Sutton and two draws against Harrogate on similar surfaces this season.
Pearson does not expect the pitch to be a major factor against the Stones, who sit 18th in the table, but have lost only one of their last five matches in all competitions.
“The pitch is different, but I suppose every pitch is different,” he says. “Sunday’s pitch at Weston-Super-Mare was different – it was soft and cut up quickly. You could say every grass pitch is different too.
“We didn’t have the best of days at Sutton [on 3G], but we went to Harrogate twice and drew times. They were good results.
“If you go away to one of the top sides in the league and draw then I don’t think you can complain.”
Saturday’s match is at the Gallagher Stadium, Maidstone
Wrexham’s Emirates FA Cup tie against Newport County has been chosen for live TV coverage.
🔴⚪️ PEARSON | The skipper says “We just have to keep winning” ahead of @maidstoneunited.
Read 👉🏻 https://t.co/7WkgM2C7Pv#WeAreOneTeam pic.twitter.com/2GxQGzC5J4
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) November 16, 2018
The following matches have been selected:
Friday, November 30: Solihull Moors v Blackpool (7.55pm) – Live on BBC Two
Saturday, December 1: Morecambe or FC Halifax Town v AFC Wimbledon (12.30pm) – Live on BT Sport 1; Wrexham v Newport County (8pm) – Live on BT Sport 1
Monday, December 3: Guiseley v Fleetwood Town (8pm) – Live on BT Sport 1
The FA issue a live broadcast fee of £75,000 per club.