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The greatest Wrexham team ever - HAVE YOUR SAY



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Published Date: 07 January 2008
Some might argue that football statistics only tell half the story, but if you select Wrexham's greatest eleven using statistics alone you end up with a pretty tasty line-up.
In goal is the most recent player to make the legends' eleven. Andy Dibble conceded fewer goals per game than any other goalkeeper in the club's history.

In fact he's the only goalie in the club's history to concede less than a goal a game; he only let in 83 in 90 matches, keeping 30 clean sheets - that's one every three games!

If you consider experience to be the most important factor in a defence, then you can relax in the knowledge that our dream team is in safe hands at the back.

In front of Dibble is a back four which fill places one to five in the list of players who have made the most appearances for the club.

Gareth Davies and Alf Jones are the centre backs.

Davies played 612 times for Wrexham while Jones appeared 575 times, including a run of 236 consecutive matches between 1930 and 1935. No squad rotation in those days.

Either side of them are Phil Hardy, who played 485 games, and Aly McGowan, who racked up 478.

The experienced look of the side continues in midfield.

Arfon Griffiths made more appearances than any other Wrexham player and scored the second highest amount of goals, so he's an obvious selection.
Alongside him in the heart of midfield is the side's lungs. Only six players have started more games for Wrexham than Mel Sutton and he appeared in all the key matches of our golden era, as well as helping us to promotion in 1978.

On the wings are two players of less recent vintage whose achievements speak for themselves.

The best Wrexham team ever
The best Wrexham team ever
On the right is Ron Hewitt, who scored 111 goals despite playing as an inside-right and played for Wales in the the 1958 World Cup quarter-final.

On the left is Billy Tunnicliffe, whose statistics explain my dad's admiration of him! Despite being a winger he was Wrexham's 10th highest all-time scorer, and 14th in the strike rate list.

One of the choices up front is obvious. Tommy Bamford's record is remarkable.

Not only did he score far more goals for the club than anyone else, but he averaged more per game than any other player.

His 207 strikes - 65 more than second placed Arfon Griffiths - were scored in just 246 games at a strike rate of one every 1.19 matches.

Alongside him is Gary Bennett who scored every 1.54 matches, bettered only by Bamford, and stands in fifth place in the list of all-time scorers.

Those making it onto the bench are former Welsh international keeper Dai Davies, who made 199 appearances for The Reds.

Two other members of the 1977/78 championship-winning side, Mickey Evans and Graham Whittle are also in the final 15.

Evans played 459 times while hot-shot Whittle scored 117 goals in 371 starts.

Alan Fox (404 appearances) was a stalwart in the heart of the Wrexham defence from 1953 to 1964 while centre forward Jack Boothway, who bagged 65 goals in 113 starts completes the sub's bench.

So maybe teams should be chosen based on numbers, not hunches.

I'd certainly back this lot to haul us away from the bottom of League Two!

Read what the Evening Leader sports editor, Nick Harrison, thinks by going to the next page.

What do you think of the line up?
Have your say by leaving a comment below

The full article contains 603 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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  • Last Updated: 07 January 2008 2:34 PM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Wrexham
 
 

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