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History for Big Pete 65

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Posted July 21, 2025 07:39 · last edited July 21, 2025 08:00

theprof

Buffon II

austin111

Sorry, but going from a regular starter in Div 1 Italy to playing for a Welsh side thats just a vanity project for a couple of Hollywood hacks does nothing for me.

Agreed.

Can not stand Wrexham or anything about them.

Both of you seem to have a really grim outlook on this. Hardly a vanity project, you only need to look at the investment in the community of Wrexham by the owners and then the wider stuff they are doing to see that this is not just about Reynolds and Mclehenny(sp).

Why you'd hate on a club that has been lifted from the duldrums of non-league footy to the 2nd tier in 4 years is beyond me - maybe its jealousy? It's not your club so you dont like it.

Plenty of rich billionaires buying lcubs to gt what they can out of it witout investing anything close to what the clib needs to be successful - Man U for probably the biggest name to be destroyed by American owners. Wrerxham's owners are completly the opposite.

3 year deal fo Libby, gives him a solid chance of getting ionto the EPL whilst at the club.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360758489/wrexham-sign-all-whites-star-liberato-cacace-ahead-wellington-game-report

I don't mind the romantic underdog aspect of the Wrexham story - former Football League club going back to the nineteenth century is languishing in non-league football when two Hollywood actors want to experience some of the thrill of sport by reviving the club with their investment and intoducing sound management.
And it works, with three promotions in consecutive years.
Watford were a similar story when I was a teenager in the late seventies and early eighties, with Elton John's involvement:
"A turning point in the club's history came in the late 1970s. Singer, shareholder and lifelong Watford supporter Elton John became chairman in 1976, and appointed Graham Taylor as manager in 1977. The club achieved consecutive promotions between 1977 and 1979, and reached the First Division for the first time in their history in 1982. Furthermore, in 1982–83 Watford finished second in the First Division, and Luther Blissett was the division's top scorer with 27 goals. Consequently, Watford qualified for the UEFA Cup in 1983–84. They also reached their first FA Cup final, losing 2–0 to Everton at Wembley Stadium."
The difference between Watford and Wrexham is that Watford's squad was far stronger than Wrexham's current one:
https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/watford-fc/1982/2/
It was basically the same team that got them promotion in 1982 that finished second in the top tier the next season.
Wrexham don't have any players of the caliber of Gerry Armstrong or Pat Rice, two of the Northern Ireland team's best ever players (Armstrong scored the winner vs. hosts Spain at the 1982 World Cup; Rice had played hundreds of games for Arsenal before he joined Watford).
Two of Watford's own youth products went on to become amongst England's best players of the 1980's - John Barnes and Luther Blissett.
Future All Whites coach Keith Pritchett, like Blissett had been with Watford all the way from the Fourth Div to First Div. - but was sold to Blackpool on promotion to the top flight. He liked what he saw in NZ on Watford's tour in 1982 and eventually settled here.
A parallel with Cacace going to Wrexham:
A top player from a NZ club ended up at Watford in the 1980's.
Richard Hill came to NZ as a youngster in 1983 and was Christchurch United's top-scorer that season.
On returning to England he was signed by Northampton Town, scored more than 30 goals per season and was signed by Elton john for Watford.
Elton remembered this on the Graham Norton Show a few months back when comedian Alan Carr was a fellow guest:
"I know your dad! I bought Richard Hill from your dad at Northampton Town."
Carr's dad Graham was manager of Northampton Town for many years (subject of Carr's fact-based comedy series "Changing Ends" about growing up with a football manager dad - available on TVNZ+. The player who Graham Carr signs, scores dozens of goals at will and saves the club, is based on former Christchurch United striker Richard Hill !!!!)
Two gay British celebrities, both with strong football backgrounds from childhood.
(Elton's cousin Roy Dwight was a prominent striker in the 1950's and 1960's, scoring more than a goal every two games for Fulham and Nottingham Forest, including in Forest's 1959 FA Cup Final win).
WATFORD'S TOUR OF NZ 1982:
When Watford teamed up with the World Cup-bound All Whites ... - Friends of Football
Includes the full match program.

Previous versions

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Unknown editor edited July 21, 2025 08:00

theprof

Buffon II

austin111

Sorry, but going from a regular starter in Div 1 Italy to playing for a Welsh side thats just a vanity project for a couple of Hollywood hacks does nothing for me.

Agreed.

Can not stand Wrexham or anything about them.

I don't mind the romantic underdog aspect of the Wrexham story - former Football League club going back to the nineteenth century is languishing in non-league football when two Hollywood actors want to experience some of the thrill of sport by reviving the club with their investment and intoducing sound management.
And it works, with three promotions in consecutive years.
Watford were a similar story when I was a teenager in the late seventies and early eighties, with Elton John's involvement:
"A turning point in the club's history came in the late 1970s. Singer, shareholder and lifelong Watford supporter Elton John became chairman in 1976, and appointed Graham Taylor as manager in 1977. The club achieved consecutive promotions between 1977 and 1979, and reached the First Division for the first time in their history in 1982. Furthermore, in 1982–83 Watford finished second in the First Division, and Luther Blissett was the division's top scorer with 27 goals. Consequently, Watford qualified for the UEFA Cup in 1983–84. They also reached their first FA Cup final, losing 2–0 to Everton at Wembley Stadium."
The difference between Watford and Wrexham is that Watford's squad was far stronger than Wrexham's current one:
https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/watford-fc/1982/2/
It was basically the same team that got them promotion in 1982 that finished second in the top tier the next season.
Wrexham don't have any players of the caliber of Gerry Armstrong or Pat Rice, two of the Northern Ireland team's best ever players (Armstrong scored the winner vs. hosts Spain at the 1982 World Cup; Rice had played hundreds of games for Arsenal before he joined Watford).
Two of Watford's own youth products went on to become amongst England's best players of the 1980's - John Barnes and Luther Blissett.
Future All Whites coach Keith Pritchett, like Blissett had been with Watford all the way from the Fourth Div to First Div. - but was sold to Blackpool on promotion to the top flight. He liked what he saw in NZ on Watford's tour in 1982 and eventually settled here.
A parallel with Cacace going to Wrexham:
A top player from a NZ club ended up at Watford in the 1980's.
Richard Hill came to NZ as a youngster in 1983 and was Christchurch United's top-scorer that season.
On returning to England he was signed by Northampton Town, scored more than 30 goals per season and was signed by Elton john for Watford.
Elton remembered this on the Graham Norton Show a few months back when comedian Alan Carr was a fellow guest:
"I know your dad! I bought Richard Hill from your dad at Northampton Town."
Carr's dad Graham was manager of Northampton Town for many years (subject of Carr's fact-based comedy series "Changing Ends" about growing up with a football manager dad - available on TVNZ+. The player who Graham Carr signs, scores dozens of goals at will and saves the club, is based on former Christchurch United striker Richard Hill !!!!)
Two gay British celebrities, both with strong football backgrounds from childhood.
(Elton's cousin Roy Dwight was a prominent striker in the 1950's and 1960's, scoring more than a goal a game for Fulham and Nottingham Forest, including in Forest's 1959 FA Cup Final win).
WATFORD'S TOUR OF NZ 1982:
When Watford teamed up with the World Cup-bound All Whites ... - Friends of Football
Includes the full match program.

Unknown editor edited July 21, 2025 07:46

theprof

Buffon II

austin111

Sorry, but going from a regular starter in Div 1 Italy to playing for a Welsh side thats just a vanity project for a couple of Hollywood hacks does nothing for me.

Agreed.

Can not stand Wrexham or anything about them.

I don't mind the romantic underdog aspect of the Wrexham story - former Football League club going back to the nineteenth century is languishing in non-league football when two Hollywood actors want to experience some of the thrill of sport by reviving the club with their investment and intoducing sound management.
And it works, with three promotions in consecutive years.
Watford were a similar story when I was a teenager in the late seventies and early eighties, with Elton John's involvement:
"A turning point in the club's history came in the late 1970s. Singer, shareholder and lifelong Watford supporter Elton John became chairman in 1976, and appointed Graham Taylor as manager in 1977. The club achieved consecutive promotions between 1977 and 1979, and reached the First Division for the first time in their history in 1982. Furthermore, in 1982–83 Watford finished second in the First Division, and Luther Blissett was the division's top scorer with 27 goals. Consequently, Watford qualified for the UEFA Cup in 1983–84. They also reached their first FA Cup final, losing 2–0 to Everton at Wembley Stadium."
The difference between Watford and Wrexham is that Watford's squad was far stronger than Wrexham's current one:
https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/watford-fc/1982/2/
It was basically the same team that got them promotion in 1982 that finished second in the top tier the next season.
Wrexham don't have any players of the caliber of Gerry Armstrong or Pat Rice, two of the Northern Ireland team's best ever players (Armstrong scored the winner vs. hosts Spain at the 1982 World Cup; Rice had played hundreds of games for Arsenal before he joined Watford).
Two of Watford's own youth products went on to become amongst England's best players of the 1980's - John Barnes and Luther Blissett.
Future All Whites coach Keith Pritchett, like Blissett had been with Watford all the way from the Fourth Div to First Div. - but was sold to Blackpool on promotion to the top flight. He liked what he saw in NZ on Watford's tour in 1982 and eventually settled here.
A parallel with Cacace going to Wrexham:
A top player from a NZ club ended up at Watford in the 1980's.
Richard Hill came to NZ as a youngster in 1983 and was Christchurch United's top-scorer that season.
On returning to England he was signed by Northampton Town, scored more than 30 goals per season and was signed by Elton john for Watford.
Elton remembered this on the Graham Norton Show a few months back when comedian Alan Carr was a fellow guest:
"I know your dad! I bought Richard Hill from your dad at Northampton Town."
Carr's dad Graham was manager of Northampton Town for many years (subject of Carr's fact-based comedy series "Changing Ends" about growing up with a football manager dad - available on TVNZ+. The player who Graham Carr signs, scores dozens of goals at will and saves the club, is based on former Christchurch United striker Richard Hill !!!!)
Two gay British celebrities, both with strong football backgrounds from childhood.
(Elton's cousin Roy Dwight was a prominent striker in the 1950's and 1960's, scoring more than a goal a game for Fulham and Nottingham Forest, including in Forest's 1959 FA Cup Final win).
WATFORD'S TOUR OF NZ 1982:
When Watford teamed up with the World Cup-bound All Whites ... - Friends of Football

Unknown editor edited July 21, 2025 07:44

theprof

Buffon II

austin111

Sorry, but going from a regular starter in Div 1 Italy to playing for a Welsh side thats just a vanity project for a couple of Hollywood hacks does nothing for me.

Agreed.

Can not stand Wrexham or anything about them.

I don't mind the romantic underdog aspect of the Wrexham story - former Football League club going back to the nineteenth century is languishing in non-league football when two Hollywood actors want to experience some of the thrill of sport by reviving the club with their investment and intoducing sound management.
And it works, with three promotions in consecutive years.
Watford were a similar story when I was a teenager in the late seventies and early eighties, with Elton John's involvement:
"A turning point in the club's history came in the late 1970s. Singer, shareholder and lifelong Watford supporter Elton John became chairman in 1976, and appointed Graham Taylor as manager in 1977. The club achieved consecutive promotions between 1977 and 1979, and reached the First Division for the first time in their history in 1982. Furthermore, in 1982–83 Watford finished second in the First Division, and Luther Blissett was the division's top scorer with 27 goals. Consequently, Watford qualified for the UEFA Cup in 1983–84. They also reached their first FA Cup final, losing 2–0 to Everton at Wembley Stadium."
The difference between Watford and Wrexham is that Watford's squad was far stronger than Wrexham's current one:
https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/watford-fc/1982/2/
It was basically the same team that got them promotion in 1982 that finished second in the top tier the next season.
Wrexham don't have any players of the caliber of Gerry Armstrong or Pat Rice, two of the Northern Ireland team's best ever players (Armstrong scored the winner vs. hosts Spain at the 1982 World Cup; Rice had played hundreds of games for Arsenal before he joined Watford).
Two of Watford's own youth products went on to become amongst England's best players of the 1980's - John Barnes and Luther Blissett.
Future All Whites coach Keith Pritchett, like Blissett had been with Watford all the way from the Fourth Div to First Div. - but was sold to Blackpool on promotion to the top flight. He liked what he saw in NZ on Watford's tour in 1982 and eventually settled here.
A parallel with Cacace going to Wrexham:
A top player from a NZ club ended up at Watford in the 1980's.
Richard Hill came to NZ as a youngster in 1983 and was Christchurch United's top-scorer that season.
On returning to England he was signed by Northampton Town, scored more than 30 goals per season and was signed by Elton john for Watford.
Elton remembered this on the Graham Norton Show a few months back when comedian Alan Carr was a fellow guest:
"I know your dad! I bought Richard Hill from your dad at Northampton Town."
Carr's dad Graham was manager of Northampton Town for many years (subject of Carr's fact-based comedy series "Changing Ends" about growing up with a football manager dad - available on TVNZ+. The player who Graham Carr signs, scores dozens of goals at will and saves the club, is based on former Christchurch United striker Richard Hill !!!!)
Two gay British celebrities, both with strong football backgrounds from childhood.
(Elton's cousin Roy Dwight was a prominent striker in the 1950's and 1960's, scoring more than a goal a game for Fulham and Nottingham Forest, including in Forest's 1959 FA Cup Final win).
WATFORD'S TOUR OF NZ 1982:
When Watford teamed up with the World Cup-bound All Whites ... - Friends of Football