Match preview: Wrexham (h)

The Spireites are set for their toughest challenge yet when Wrexham come to town this evening for what looks set to be an exciting game of football with a unique and intense atmosphere. With both clubs setting their sights on promotion back to the Football League, anyone with a ticket for the fixture is in for a treat.

Here’s all you need to know…

Match details

Date: Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Kick-off: 7:45pm

Competition: National League

Opponents: Wrexham AFC

Location: Technique Stadium

TICKETShttps://tickets.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/

Matchday Coverage

Live radio commentary

Our in-house radio station, 1866 Sport, will provide full match commentary on the game, as well as pre-match/post-match analysis.

Don’t forget that 1866 Sport is on air 24-hours a day, seven days a week! 

You can download the app from the Apple Store here: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/1866-sport/id1580041321

If you’re an Android user, you can download the app here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.ma57501030

Alternatively, you can listen online here: https://streaming.radio.co/s47db4a4f3/listen            

It is also available via Alexa.

Commentary is provided by Phil Tooley. It is sponsored by National Windscreens.

Social media

Our official Twitter page (https://twitter.com/ChesterfieldFC) will provide regular updates on the match. It is also the place to find our exclusive goal GIFs, which are used when a player scores a goal. 

Key news will also be posted on our Facebook page, which can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/ChesterfieldFC.

Our official Instagram page will keep you posted with key moments and content throughout the day on our stories: https://www.instagram.com/chesterfieldfc/?hl=en.

The post-match interview with manager Paul Cook will be posted to our YouTube Channel soon after the game is finished: https://youtube.com/user/OfficialChesterfield.

Highlights of the game will also be posted to our YouTube Channel.

The Opposition

Fact file

Name: Wrexham AFC

Nicknames: The Dragons

Founded: 1864

Stadium: Racecourse Ground

Capacity: 10,771

Manager: Phil Parkinson 

On Wrexham AFC

Wrexham are a historic football club based in Wales. The Dragons have years of history in the Football League but have recently spent the past 14 years in the National League.

Wrexham competed in the Football League for many years and have had some historic nights in the FA Cup, most memorably against the Spireites in 1998, when the Blues were victorious in the quarter-final of the competition. 

They have won many honours in their time as a club, including the FA Trophy, promotion from division three and the Football League Trophy.

The club now have a Hollywood status and are famously being followed around the globe after Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds and American actor Rob McElhenney, through the RR McReynolds Company LLC, bought the club in November 2020. 

This season Wrexham are the bookies’ favourites to win the National League and will be hoping they can finally regain their Football League status after a long period away.

One to watch

Paul Mullin is an English-born striker who has a very impressive goal-scoring record. Starting his career at Huddersfield Town, he moved to Morecambe in 2014, where he made 122 appearances and scored 25 goals. 

He played for both Swindon Town and Tranmere Rovers upon leaving Morecambe, but eventually found himself at Cambridge United where he scored 32 goals in 42 appearances for the U’s. He gained promotion that season and was awarded League Two player of the year. 

The striker’s signature was impressively captured by Wrexham the following summer and the 27-year-old has scored 27 goals in 40 appearances since joining the club.

He is described as a physical striker with an eye for goal and will cause most teams that he comes up against serious problems.

Recent Form

Chesterfield FC: W/D/W

Wrexham AFC: W/W/D

Last time we met

The last time the two sides met was back in February 2022 in the National League, Wrexham were victorious that day, winning two-nil. Ollie Palmer scored both goals in the second half and it proved to be a big win in Wrexham’s season.

Team news

Ross Fitzsimons will start between the sticks, as Lucas Covolan is still serving his three-match ban. 

Kabongo Tshimanga and Jack Clarke have been described as ‘ready to go’ ahead of the fixture and both will be looking to earn their place in the starting XI.

Meanwhile, Akwasi Asante could also feature in the fixture having missed the previous game against Aldershot Town due to injury. 

Gary Roberts’ thoughts

Speaking to the media, he said: “We’re going out to win the game, nothing is won or lost on the game, that’s for sure. 

“We’re only two games in as we speak, we can’t get carried away, win or lose. It’s going to be a great game and a terrific atmosphere on Tuesday.

“Two of the biggest clubs in the league up against each other, it should be great. Our fans will turn up in numbers and so will their’s, it’s a great advert for the National League.

“Everyone expects Wrexham to walk the league, they’ve got some great players and we’re going to have a job on our hands. 

“We’re just focussing on ourselves though, we feel confident. They’ve got some big talents but we can cause them problems.”