011 week on week
This week.
Wrexham Football. Wrexham music. Wrexham life.
This is Wrexham, week on week.
Saturday 2nd May 2026
We all know that feeling. You wake up exhausted from the day before. You feel like you’ve got a hangover, but you haven’t touched a drop. I dread to think how the drinkers are feeling. I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster, and now the ride’s finished I can look back with pride, with happiness, with friends, on another brilliant day in Wrexham.
Everyone was up for today. Wrexham AFC’s last league match of the season. We know what we have to do — just get a better result than Hull, while watching out for Derby. Anyway, I’ll explain later.
It was the Wrexham game and also a massive gig in town featuring some of my favourite bands. And I’m going to capture it all on camera and video. I double-check my equipment. I’m out of the house for a long time. Batteries charged and backed up, it’s before 9am and I’m off.
The Wrexham Miners Project was very busy for such an early time. Some games this season we’ve seen a drop-off in numbers, especially for 3pm games. This is us missing the fourth wall. Season ticket holders have a routine and need to get to the Turf and other pubs early to get in. A 12:30 kick-off means breakfast to prepare your body for the day. We prepare lots of bodies.
I grab a coffee and begin capturing images. I hit the Turf area as they queue up. I’m snapping away and notice a smallish man walking towards me. It’s only the legendary Brian Flynn. I snap him, as you do, and he comments about the fans waiting for Wayne to undo the bolt. He’s talking at the Maesgwyn this morning, so I might pop over to see him later, but first I have other things to capture.
I message some mutual photographers to synchronise plans. We’ve heard of a fan walk up to the ground, so we’ll meet there. Photographers love working together. We are competitive but supportive.
I decide to shoot the players arriving. Now this practice is very score-dependent. If you photograph a player arriving at the ground who scores the winner — magic, your photograph will fly. If the team loses, you just seem to garner negative comments.
I decide to try a new viewpoint and take shots facing the crowd rather than from behind. I get some great shots, but I don’t wait for all the players.
Some Boro fans were noisy and, like a lot of last away days, were all in fancy dress. I walk around to Maesgwyn, but it’s still quiet, so wander back to the Turf.
There’s lots of people mingling around the Wrexham Lager Club. This is where the start of the march will be. The three other photographers with us mingle and shoot. We hope for some pyro — it looks great in photos.
The march starts, we get pyro, we shoot, we are happy.
It’s now I change into a football fan. I leave my camera in the Wrexham Miners and I get ready for the game.
You’ve most probably read all the comments about the game. Wrexham were a goal from the play-offs. It’s close, but no cigar. Everyone should be proud. I am proud. Hull won, Wrexham drew, no play offs, but the highest ever finishing position. A proud moment indeed.
I am also back into media mode. I shoot the Wrexham fans walking into town. It won’t be a party, but it’s not despair.
As I walk with the subdued fans, I hear music. I look down the street and see my antidote to any mood dip. I see the Dynamic Signing Sensations choir performing. I’ve recorded these superstars several times, including a wedding video for Kaylem’s mum.
Kaylem sees me and, mid-performance, gives me a thumbs up. My mood lifts. My heart repaired. The football result is forgotten. The Signing Sensations have saved me.
I shoot a few more choirs performing at the Singing Streets event, but I’ve now got to become a music fan.
There’s a massive gig for Nightingale House on Llwyn Isaf and The Snuts are playing, along with one of my favourites, Cherryholt. I can’t take my camera in, unfortunately, so the Saith Seren pub gratefully allow me to store it there.
I get in the venue just in time for Cherryholt (I apologise to local bands Jonny Ash and the Scene). I’m off to Manchester later in the month to see these lads on a sell-out tour, but due to them being on so early, I’m able to get up close.
They smash it. These lads have a big future.
I spend the evening organising Wrexfest with Brendan whilst listening to The Rooks, Sleeping Together and Family Battenberg. All great sets.
Then it’s on to the main event. I love The Snuts, and it seems lots of other Wrexhamites did. It was a great gig.
There’s only one way to finish off the night. And that’s a bit of gig photography with my mates playing in the Saith Seren. The Sidekicks are 3/4 of The Declan Swans. I love these lads and they reward me with some great shots.
What a day. Laughs. Sadness. Lots of smiles, lots of singing and lots of love.
I walk home knackered but happy, even though the football was disappointing.
This is Wrexham, week on week.
The football club, the music scene, the people and the places that make the town what it is..