West Brom and Wrexham set for first competitive Hawthorns meeting and the quirky cup that linked them | OneFootball

Albion fans will witness a first on Friday, Wrexham’s maiden competitive visit to The Hawthorns with the Welsh side chasing promotion.

ExpressAndStar.com points out that a few years ago Albion spent Good Friday at Rotherham hunting the play-offs, but a 3-1 loss there and a 2-2 draw with QPR on Easter Monday checked their top-six push.

Wrexham were then in the National League, beaten 3-1 at Halifax yet still winning the title, the springboard for three straight promotions to the Championship.

The clubs’ first league meeting came in August, Albion winning 3-2 away. Their previous clash was a 2003 friendly under Gary Megson, which finished 2-0 to the then League One side.

Before that there had been only two competitive meetings, Wrexham winning 1-0 in the 1930 FA Cup and Albion 2-1 in 1971, in the Watney Mann Invitational Cup.

That short-lived pre-season tournament ran from 1970 to 1973, inviting the highest scorers in each division who were neither promoted nor in Europe.

Albion qualified despite finishing 17th in the old First Division, and Wrexham reached it after scoring 72 in the Third Division. Albion beat Wrexham 2-1 in the opening round, Tony Brown scoring twice, one a penalty, then won 2-0 at Halifax.

The final with Colchester ended 4-4 thanks to Len Cantello, Colin Suggett and a Jeff Astle brace, before Colchester won on penalties. The competition ended in 1974, its trophy presented to Derby’s museum and, according to reports, shared with Stoke, the first and last winners.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com