IT'S 22 years since Wrexham's run to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup but one player missed the whole adventure through injury.

An ankle ligament injury sustained in October 1996 meant Waynne Phillips faced a long spell on the sidelines.

When Wrexham took a break from Division Two action the following month, even Phillips or his Reds' team-mates wouldn't have foreseen that they would go on to reach the last eight of the famous cup competition for the third time in the club's history.

Wins against Colwyn Bay and Scunthorpe United were followed by the third round cup upset against West Ham United thanks to Kevin Russell's late winner.

Brian Flynn's unfancied side also knocked out Peterborough and Birmingham to set up an all-second division quarter-final against Chesterfield at Saltergate.

But that is where the dream ended on March 9, 1997 as a defensive mix-up between Andy Marriott and Deryn Brace proved costly as the Spireites - who host Wrexham today in a fourth qualifying round tie - scored the only goal to progress to the semi-finals.

Phillips made his comeback from injury three days later in a league game but although he never featured in that FA Cup run, he still felt a part of the memorable campaign.

"One thing I always did throughout my career was support the team when I wasn't playing," said Phillips, who was in the side when Wrexham famously beat Arsenal in 1992.

"You want to play in every game but when you get massive FA Cup games, it is a massive disappointment to any footballer being injured.

"I still went to the games and felt part of it. Ideally you want to play but when you are not playing you do feel part of the squad and being involved just by being there.

"The Chesterfield game was the notable one and a massive disappointment for everybody. We are still talking about that game now all them years ago."

Nearly 9,000 fans packed into Saltergate as Wrexham and Chesterfield did battle on a Sunday lunchtime for a place in the semi-finals.

It was a case of so near yet so far for Wrexham after bowing out, and Phillips felt the hurt just as much as his team-mates despite not playing.

"It was an opportunity for both sides and Chesterfield took it," said Phillips.

"Not being a part of the 11 who started or on the bench, you still feel for the lads.

"The mistake between Andy and Deryn is something that they will never forget.

"I would like to have been talking about a goal from a striker that got us into the semi-final but it wasn't to be.

"It was a massive disappointment because as always terrific support from Wrexham fans and a quarter-final of the FA Cup.

"You couldn't even dream about that now being a Wrexham fan or player. To get that far in the competition was amazing.

"They were big games. The FA Cup is special and it always will be for Wrexham. I hope they can have another run in it."

The clash with Chesterfield proved to be Bryan Hughes' last game as a Wrexham player as the midfielder completed his £1million move to Birmingham.

A series of eye catching displays in the cup run had not gone unnoticed and Hughes went onto enjoy a superb career, playing in the Premier League for Charlton and Hull.

"Bryan was a terrific player," said Phillips.

"I saw him coming through the ranks, he deserved his big-money move and went on to have a good career."

Hughes returned to The Racecourse as manager in February but although Wrexham reached the play-offs last season, losing to Eastleigh in the eliminator, he was sacked last month following the Reds' poor start to the campaign.

"I am gutted that he never really succeeded here," said Phillips. "Personally I don't think he was given enough time.

"Yes, we were in a poor position but seven months into a three-and-a-half year contract and another one departs so I was gutted for Bryan.

"But now Dean Keates is here, I will be wishing him all the best like I do with all managers who come here."