SHAUN PEARSON is looking forward to his Racecourse return but the former Wrexham captain is eager to spoil the party this evening.

The 32-year-old joined from Grimsby in the summer of 2017 and made 132 league appearances during his four-season stay at The Racecourse, scoring 12 goals including the winner against arch rivals Chester during his first campaign with the Reds.

Although he was offered a new deal in the summer, Pearson elected to re-sign for Grimsby who make the trip to north Wales for tonight’s eagerly awaited clash between two sides expected to be challenging for promotion in May.

Pearson might be a Mariner but he has fond memories of his spell with Wrexham.

“It will be the first time coming back,” said Pearson, who was a huge fans’ favourite.

“It was a wonderful four years at Wrexham.

“The whole family loved being there, I loved playing for the club and I am looking forward to coming back.

“I took to the club and the club took to me, and the fans were brilliant.”

Pearson's first season ended with Wrexham missing out on a top-seven finish following a poor run-in while the Reds, with Bryan Hughes in charge, were beaten 1-0 by Eastleigh in the 2018-19 play-off eliminator.

With Dean Keates back in The Racecourse hotseat, the Reds were battling against relegation when the following campaign was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic while failure to beat Dagenham on the final day of the 2020-21 campaign meant Wrexham failed to secure a play-off spot.

“We were in a position we should never have been,” Pearson said regarding the brush with relegation in 2019-20.

“But for three years we were up there.

“The club was looking to get back into the Football League which we were unable to do but we weren’t too far away.

“You move on, Wrexham are having an exciting time and are doing pretty well this season.”

Wrexham climbed up to sixth position following Saturday’s 2-1 win at Yeovil while Grimsby have been on a poor run of form and slipped from top spot to 10th position, five points adrift of the play-offs, going into this evening’s game.

“It is a big game and from our point of view, we need a win to try and reel Wrexham back in slightly,” said Pearson.

“We are looking to close the gap on the teams in the play-offs and get ourselves back in the mix.

“It should be a great occasion and a good game between two good games, and hopefully we can get three points.”

Pearson appeared as a late substitute when Grimsby came from behind to beat Wrexham 3-1 in the reverse fixture at Blundell Park in September.

Currently back in the side alongside another ex-Reds defender Luke Waterfall, Pearson is hoping to retain his place for tonight’s game where he will aim to keep Wrexham’s 13-goal leading scorer Paul Mullin quiet.

“We will see what the manger does but I feel like I have been playing well recently,” added Pearson.

“To be honest, as a team we have been playing quite well but we have not quite managed to get the results.

“That is football, we all know it’s a results business.”