FANS who gathered at The Racecourse last night raised more than £2,150 in an impromptu collection.

Wrexham players staged a 40-minute ‘Reds v Blues’ match and held a training session in front of an estimated 700 supporters.

Buckets were passed around and a total of £2,153 donated to the fund to buy Wrexham AFC for the fans.

The sum included £1,500 raised by supporters’ group Red Passion.

Meanwhile, a fundraising gig for Wrexham Supporters Trust (WST) will be taking place at the end of this National Eisteddfod week.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (The Welsh Language Society) has formed a partnership with the trust to raise money to help secure the club’s survival.

The gig will take place on Saturday at Central Station in Wrexham. Cymdeithas says half the profits will go to the WST.

Wrexham acts performing at the event will include Mother of Six, Band Cambria and martial arts world champion Pol Wong.

Also present will be Bob Delyn and Geraint Lovgreen, who is a Wrexham FC season ticket holder. The gig is being organised jointly with Deffro’r Ddraig (Wake the Dragon), a pressure group which aims to preserve the Welsh identity.

Cymdeithas organiser for the north, Osian Jones, said: “We know the club is the heartbeat of the local community for many people.

“This week we have launched a new charter, Tynged yr Iaith (Fate of the Language), which emphasises the importance of reviving every community in Wales and we are pleased to work together with Wrexham Supporters Trust and play a small part to help ensure the future of the club.”

Geraint Lovgreen called on people to support the gig and the trust.

He said: “This is a chance for Eisteddfod-goers to contribute to the local community the festival is visiting.”

Doors open at 7pm and tickets priced £8 are available from Cymdeithas’ stand on the Eisteddfod Maes, Yales Café next to the Central Station, online at cymdeithas.org/steddfod or at the door on the night.

PLAYWRIGHT Rhian Staples from Swansea won the Drama Medal in the national eisteddfod pavilion yesterday.

Rhian was born at Wrexham Maelor Hospital and grew up in Bala.

Her composition was described by judges Arwel Gruffydd and Sharon Morgan as displaying “truth and passion”.

They said her play “developed into a serious philosophical work that looks at the life and death and asks big questions” and called Rhian a “fresh and original voice” with an artistic and contemporary style.