West Brom v Wrexham to make Hawthorns history, and the Watney Cup story that links them | OneFootball

West Brom host play-off chasers Wrexham on Friday in a first, the Welsh club’s maiden competitive visit to The Hawthorns.

ExpressAndStar.com notes the clubs have met competitively only twice, Wrexham won 1-0 in the 1930 FA Cup, Albion edged a 1971 tie 2-1 in the Watney Mann Invitational Cup.

Their 2003 friendly under Gary Megson finished 2-0 to the then League One side. The first league meeting arrived in August, Albion winning 3-2, one of their last away victories.

Three years ago Albion were eyeing the play-offs, but a 3-1 loss at Rotherham and a 2-2 draw with QPR checked that push. Wrexham, then in the National League, lost 3-1 at Halifax yet still won the title, starting three straight promotions to the Championship.

The Watney Mann Invitational Cup, launched in 1970 and held four times to 1973, was a pre-season competition for the highest scorers not promoted or in Europe. Albion qualified despite finishing 17th, Wrexham hit 72 the previous year. Tony Brown’s brace, one a penalty, sealed Albion’s 2-1 win.

Albion then beat Halifax Town 2-0 to reach a final with Colchester United that finished 4-4, Len Cantello and Colin Suggett scoring alongside a Jeff Astle brace, before Colchester won on penalties. The competition ended in 1974, its trophy now in Derby County’s museum and understood to be shared with Stoke, the first and last winners respectively.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com