DEDICATED Wrexham AFC fans were queuing outside The Centenary Club from the early hours, as season tickets went on general sale today.

Fans were queuing outside the club from around 6am this morning, with the club saying on Twitter that it had heard that some diehard fans had even been waiting since 10.30pm last night.

The queues witnessed over the past few weeks for both existing and new season ticket holders just show the lengths fans will go to to ensure they can guarantee their hot ticket for the 2021/22 season.

With the club being under new ownership, courtesy of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, there was a real buzz as fans waited to see if they could bag their guaranteed seat for this season's games.

Waiting patiently

The Leader went along to speak to some of those waiting patiently for their tickets, with the doors to The Centenary Club opening at around 8.50am this morning.

Many that we spoke to had been there since the early hours, bringing snacks and chairs while they enjoyed chatting to fellow fans in the sunshine.

Amongst those queuing today was Kevin Arthur, from Summerhill, who got there bright and early at 7.15am.

He later exited triumphantly from The Cent, proudly clutching his receipt for season tickets for himself and his brother-in-law John Kirby.

And he was at great pains to tell us that he had managed to persuade his brother-in-law, from Manchester, to forego his Manchester United season ticket for a Wrexham AFC one instead.

Kevin said he had been a Wrexham AFC supporter since 1968, reminiscing about when he saw Terry Bradbury score a goal at his first game - a 1-0 win against Port Vale.

He said: "I'm a lifelong Wrexham fan. I've come along today to get a season ticket for myself and my brother-in-law who's given up his season ticket for Manchester United to come here. I persuaded him!

"It feels great to have got our season tickets today. I'm looking forward to the year ahead."

Danny Williams took to Twitter to share photos he took when he set his alarm and pitched up at 6am this morning. 

'Real buzz in the air'

Husband and wife Ian and Diane Ford from Wrexham were waiting anxiously to see if they could get season tickets.

They had been in the queue since 8am. Diane said they hadn't had season tickets for a few years due to ill health but they had been drawn back to watch the club now.

Ian said he had first come to watch a game at The Racecourse in 1961, when he was 11 and he was put into a pen along with other youngsters watching the game.

He added: "This year we've decided to get season tickets. We want to get out and about more. "

Chris Roberts from Wrexham was delighted to get his hands on a season ticket.

When he left The Cent club, he told The Leader: "There's a real buzz in the air. I never used to be able to come to games because I worked on Saturdays but now I can and I'm really excited about it.

"It's been unreal. If you'd said to me this time last year that all this would happen, I'd have said no way!"

Janet Thomas from Penycae had been queuing since 7.30am to get a season ticket for her nine-year-old niece Hannah. She said she was really looking forward to taking her along to watch the team.

Return visit

And it was a return visit for Wrexham fan Katherine Williams from Hope, who had also queued to renew season tickets last month. She came along to get season tickets for more of her family members.

Allan Merrill from Wrexham said he had been a Wrexham fan for 50 years, and used to come to watch Wrexham with his dad.

He said he's previously just turned up and got tickets but he didn't want to take that risk now.

He added: "I'm retired now and so my wife Ann and I are both going to get a season ticket. There's been a very nice atmosphere here today. It's been very sociable. We've been talking about the old days and the crowds we've seen before. It's exciting to see lots of older and younger fans looking forward to the new season.

"We are hoping for the success that we deserve at this club. We are deservedly back on the map! It's great that this will also bring money into the town."

Dedicated fans

Paul Williams from Buckley has been a Wrexham fan for 44 years. He too had previously turned up and got tickets but did not want to take that chance now.

He was hoping to get five season tickets for himself and his friends.

He said: "I've been supporting the club since the age of 10. Me and my mates all feel the same about how well we could do and what we are going to achieve as a club. It's a right buzz!"

Dave Harrison from Wrexham was also looking forward to getting his season ticket, reminiscing about watching the club since the 1970s.

And one dedicated fan, who is currently on holiday in Magaluf, had made every effort to secure a season ticket by asking a friend to queue for him today.

Sean Carr, from Hightown, said he was looking forward to the season ahead and he hoped that his friend Kev Taylor had managed to secure season tickets for himself and for both Sean and his brother Phil Carr, also from Hightown.

Season tickets also went on general sale online today.

For nore information on tickets for the 2021/22 season, visit https://www.eticketing.co.uk/wrexhamafc/.