AFC Fylde started their 2018/19 campaign in perfect fashion registering a 2-1 home win vs Bromley on Saturday 4th August.
Dave Challinor gave competitive debuts to new signings Neill Byrne, Joe Cardle, Ryan Croasdale and Danny Phillskirk who all impressed during the Coasters first win of the season.
Tonight, the Coasters travel to The Racecourse Ground to face Wrexham AFC who also got off to a perfect start on Saturday following a 1-0 win away to Dover Athletic.
Ryan Lea previews the action…
Fylde Squad
Manager Dave Challinor goes into the game with no new injury concern. Ashley Hemmings, Gime Toure and Arlen Birch are all pushing to make full debuts and could well be set to feature.
Opposition
Wrexham Football Club Founded in 1864, just one year after the Football Association first met and the Laws of the Game were first written, Wrexham is the third oldest professional football club in the world. Wrexham fans have witnessed the highs and the lows that are the milestones in the story of every football club. Now into their 11th season in the fifth tier, Wrexham fans are hoping to improve on last season tenth place finish and get back to the Football League.
The Gaffer
Former Wales defender Sam Ricketts was appointed Wrexham Manager on May 2nd after leaving his role in the youth set-up at Wolves to sign a three-year deal.
The 36-year-old enjoyed a long and successful playing career spanning 16 years. As a player, he won promotion three times with three different clubs, while also captaining Wolverhampton Wanderers in both League One and the Championship.
Ricketts played over 550 professional matches in every league from the National League to the Premier League and made 52 appearances for Wales.
Head to Head
Tomorrow’s game will be the fourth ever meeting between the two sides. The first meeting between the two sides came at Mill Farm in October during the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round which saw the Coasters win 1-0. Wrexham returned to Mill Farm just 10 days later, this time losing 2-0 courtesy of strikes from Smith and Muldoon.
Over 500 Coasters fans made the trip to the away game at The Racecourse Ground at the end of May. The game finished 0-0 but the draw was enough for AFC Fylde to reach the playoffs in their first season in The National League.
One you may know
After spending most of his early career in non-league football Stuart Beavon signed for Preston North End in 2012 where he spent two years before signing for Burton Albion on loan in 2014. He moved to the Pirelli Stadium permanently and would be a major part of their rapid rise up the EFL.
He earned promotions via the League Two title and runners-up of League One before spending a season in the second tier. In 2017 he moved to Coventry City scoring twice in 14 games during his first season. He achieved promotion from League Two in 2017/18 and has since joined Wrexham on loan.
One to Watch
Striker Mike Fondop has had an impressive start for his new club. The former Guiseley and FC Halifax Town striker has netted five times in six pre-season games and scored the winner in Saturday’s 1-0 win vs Dover Athletic.
Coach Travel
We still have available seats for tonights game with the below two options available:
COACH A – Early coach, three pick up points. Dunes, Blackpool (5pm), County, Lytham (5.15pm) and Mill Farm (5.30pm). The plan is to arrive at least two hours before the game to allow supporters the chance to sample the local watering holes.
COACH B – Late coach, leaving only from Mill Farm (6pm), going straight to the ground and scheduled to arrive one hour before kick-off.
To book click here or contact the Club Shop on 01772 682593.
Coverage
If you can’t make the game this evening AFC Fylde will be providing their usual live text Twitter commentary of the game, for updates follow @AFCFYLDE.
Full Radio Commentary on 105 @CalonFM www.calonfm.com/105fm/?page_id=22895 or here: www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/commentary-wrexham-v-afc-fylde-0
