A Wrexham AFC shirt in memory of a man who played a key role in keeping the club alive is being returned to his family.

Kenny Pemberton went as far as the High Court to help his team during the mid-2000s, spending £35,000 battling the club’s former chairman, Mark Guterman, over secret recordings.

The case helped administrators to take control of The Racecourse from former owner Alex Hamilton, at a time when the Reds seemed in genuine danger of going out of business.

Following his death, the shirts of a number of Wrexham FC youth teams were inscribed with Kenny’s name in a fitting tribute.

One of the shirts was among a job lot bought by Darren Smart, of
Chelmsford.

Following an appeal on social media, it is to be returned to Kenny’s brother, Ponciau councillor Paul Pemberton.

Cllr Pemberton said: “My late brother did so much to save Wrexham Football Club. I have spoken to Darren Smart and he has offered to post the shirt to me for the family to keep. 

“This certainly has restored my faith in human nature.

“When Kenny died, the youth setup at the club used some funding and for a season, the under-9s team played with ‘Kenny Pem’ on the back of the shirt.

“We never got one as a family – we didn’t expect to – so it is brilliant that this has come along.

“Someone told me about it on Facebook and I contacted Darren, who said he was so glad he hadn’t just
binned it.

“I offered to pay him for the shirt and pay for postage but he wouldn’t have any of it.

“It’s nice that people have not forgotten Kenny and what he did for the football club, because if it wasn’t for him, it wouldn’t exist.”

In his post, Mr Smart said: “I recently purchased a job lot of football shirts and have a Wrexham shirt that says ‘Kenny Pem’ on the back of it.

“I did a Google search and saw it being held up in a photo for the Kenny Pemberton ‘Kenny Pem’ Centre of Excellence U9s shirt sponsorship launch.

”I believe it was made by fans from the Red Passion forums in memory of Kenny Pemberton.

“I’m not sure what to do with this shirt. I’d hate to just discard it if it holds any significance to Wrexham or its fans.”

Kenny died aged 49 in 2012, leaving behind partner Fiona, daughters Natasha, Kayleigh, Imogen and Holly, and grand-daughter Mollie.

Originally from Rhos, he had moved to Haverfordwest.

His life was celebrated with a minute’s applause at a match against Newport County in September 2012.