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This page is a news release published by Wrexham County Borough Council.
Content Author: pressoffice@wrexham.gov.uk

29.03.06

Toshack in Wrexham to Unveil Plaque

John Toshack, the former Cardiff, Liverpool and Swansea star, will be in Wrexham on 2nd April to unveil a special plaque at the Racecourse ground to commemorate what's believed to be first surviving film of an international match.

The ceremony will take place on the centenary of the game between Wales and Ireland which happened on April 2, 1906. Organisers say the timing is particularly appropriate as the kick off of 2006 World Cup will be rapidly approaching.

The film will be the latest to be honoured as part of the North Wales Film and Television Trail created by the Wales Screen Commission.

The precious footage was shot by the film pioneers Mitchell and Kenyon whose work was featured in a landmark BBC television series earlier this year. The silent black and white film, which lasts for 2 minutes 10 seconds, is now lodged for safe keeping with the National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales, in Aberystwyth.

It was, by all accounts, an eventful match during which the ball burst just before half time. A newspaper report at the time revealed that "the weather delightfully fine and the ground in perfect order." The game, which ended in a 4-4 draw, was watched by a crowd of between 5,000 and 6,000 fans. Three of Wales' goals were scored by Williams Green, a Notts County player, from Aberystwyth.

Also looking forward to the ceremony is Sky sports presenter Bryn Law, who will be the MC for the proceedings which are open to the public.

The 36-year-old Leeds-based presenter was born in Liverpool and his family
moved to Ruabon when he was eight. A former pupil and head boy of Ysgol Rhiwabon, he soon became a keen supporter of the Robins.

He had his first taste of broadcasting with Maelor Hospital radio and then worked for Marcher Sound. He joined Sky after a spell with Cumbria Radio in Barrow.

Another tangible reminder on the day of historic match will be recreated by football-mad pupils from St Joseph’s School, in Wrexham. They have been recruited from years 10 and 11 by teacher Mark Griffiths, a keen football historian and a match-day commentator on the club’s website and local radio.

According to Mark, Wrexham’s credentials as the birthplace of Welsh football were underlined by yet another historic match. The first ever international match in Wales was also played in Wrexham – but not at the Racecourse.

It was an encounter in 1877 with Scotland which took place in the grounds of the long-demolished stately home, Acton Hall. Wales lost 2-0.

Mark said: “They are absolutely thrilled to be recreating the game featured in the film and to be playing in front of John Toshack – and with a bit of luck he’ll be impressed with what he sees.”

“The lads who will be involved are decent players and they are very, very excited about it. I’ll take them for a few training sessions and I’ll teach them the rules of football as they were in 1906. There were different offside rules in those days and there were tactical differences too with teams playing with two defenders. The line-up will look quite odd!”

The event starts at 1.30 and admission is free.

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