Where are the last Wales squad to play at the Racecourse Ground?

Wales will play at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground for the first time in 10 years when they face Trinidad & Tobago next Wednesday.

We’ve taken a look at the last Wales squad that took to the field at the home of the Dragons.

The list includes players who are still in the professional game, either playing or coaching and managing, as well as some that have fallen out of the sport altogether.

Wayne Hennessey

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The Crystal Palace stopper has established himself as Wales’ number one in recent years, and is expected to the main man between the sticks in Wales’ upcoming Euro 2020 Qualifying campaign.

Hennessey, 32, made his international debut in the 2-2 draw with New Zealand in May of 2007.

Having began his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bangor-born Hennessey went on to have loan spells with Bristol City, Stockport County and Yeovil Town.

After departing the midlands club in 2014, the six foot six inch keeper has gone on to make over 100 appearances for the Croydon club.

Sam Ricketts

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The former full-back is one of the former internationals that has moved into management after calling it a day on the pitch.

Ricketts, who began his career with Oxford United, went on to represent clubs including Swansea City, Hull City and Bolton Wanderers.

After finishing his playing career with Coventry City in 2016, Ricketts wasted no time in moving to management – taking the reins at National League side Wrexham for the start of this season.

The 37-year-old departed the Dragons in December, however, to make the move to League One Shrewsbury Town.

The Shrews currently lie 20th in the third tier of English football.

Craig Morgan

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Morgan made 23 appearances for Wales between 2006 and 2011, after making his international bow in a EURO 2008 Qualifying match against Cyprus.

The defender represented Wales right through the age groups before receiving the call to represent his country at senior level.

Flint-born Morgan made 119 appearances for Peterborough United, after joining then permanently following a loan spell from Milton Keynes Dons.

Since then, the central defender has turned out for Preston North End, Rotherham United, Wigan Athletic and Fleetwood Town – where he is currently plying his trade in League One.

Lewin Nyatanga

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Defender Lewin Nyatanga was predicted for big things and made 34 caps for Wales before the age of 21.

He had a total of four spells with Barnsley, before moving to Bristol City.

His footballing career ended before his thirties, as he opted for a different means of employment. Nyatanga is a personal trainer for the company the DVCC.

Chris Gunter

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Something of a national treasure, Gunter has now made 93 appearances for Wales since making his debut in 2007.

The right-back, who now has his own song to the tune of The GhostBusters theme song, has been one of few constants in a fluctuating Wales team in the last decade.

After starting his career with Cardiff City in 2006, Gunter moved to Tottenham Hotspur two years later – where he made just the five appearances.

A loan spell at Nottingham Forest became a permanent one, and the Newport man would go on to play 133 times for the former European Cup winners.

After departing Forest in 2012, Gunter joined Reading, and has remained with the Royals ever since, making over 250 appearances for the Championship side.

Simon Davies

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Davies spent six years at Fulham before his retirement in 2013. At Fulham, he reached the Europa League final in 2010, losing to Atletico Madrid in extra-time.

Haverfordwest-born Simon Davies returned to West Wales to join Pembrokeshire side Solva, where he began as a junior.

Davies now lives in London and makes a number of community days appearances with the FAW Trust.

Carl Robinson

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After a permanent move to Norwich City from Sunderland, Robinson moved to the MLS to play for New York Red Bulls and Toronto, ending his playing career in 2011.

Robinson was the manager of Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps after being appointed in 2013, after working as an assistant coach. He was relieved of his duties in September.

The 52-capped Wales international was linked with the Dragons job but eventually lost out to Ryan Giggs.

 Carl Fletcher

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Central midfielder Carl Fletcher had only recently moved to Crystal Palace after his appearance against Trinidad. He spent three years at the club, having been appointed captain by Peter Taylor.

Fletcher spent two years in charge of Football league side Plymouth Argyle after moving from playing into management.

He is now responsible for the Youth Team at AFC Bournemouth, after finishing playing with Barnet in 2014.

Jason Koumas

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Born in Wrexham, and a product of the Tranmere Rovers youth academy, midfielder Jason Koumas appeared 34 times for Wales during his years with the national team.

Making his international debut against Ukraine in 2001, the 39-year-old captained Wales for the first time in 2008, when Wales lost 2-0 to the Netherlands.

After leaving Rovers in 2002, Koumas joined West Brom, for whom he would make 123 appearances.

Two loan spells at Cardiff city followed, while he also represented Wigan Athletic before returning to see out his career with Tranmere in a two-year spell from 2013 to 2015.

Joe Ledley

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A product of Cardiff City’s academy, which became part of the core of the European Championship side at the Euros, Ledley spent four more years in Wales, before a move to Celtic.

He won three Scottish Premiership titles and one Scottish Cup, before playing in the Premier League with Crystal Palace.

The 32-year-old went on to become an important player for Wales in their European Championship qualifying campaign and miraculously recovered from a broken leg to feature for his country at their first major tournament in 58 years.

Ledley is currently without a club, having been released by Derby in February.

Freddy Eastwood

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Scoring on the first of his 11 appearances for Wales against Bulgaria, striker Freddy Eastwood was a clinical in front of goal in his prime.

His most fruitful spells came with Grays Athletic (34 goals in 55 games) and Southend United (49 goals in 111 games).

Representing other club’s like Wolves and Coventry City in his 12-year career, the 35-year-old returned to the Shrimpers in 2012 to see out his career – retiring two years later.

Substitutes

Lewis Price

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Like Eastwood, goalkeeper Price turned out on 11 occasions for Wales.

After a promising start to his career with Ipswich Town, where he made 68 appearances, the 34-year-old has since struggled to nail down a consistent starting berth with a host of clubs.

Nowadays the Bournemouth-born shot stopper is a squad player for Championship side Rotherham United, where he has played 16 times since arriving at the New York Stadium in 2016.

Neal Eardley

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After winning his first cap in a 1-0 win against Bulgaria in 2007, right-back Neal Eardley would go on to make a futher 15 appearances for the Dragons.

After making over 200 appearances in his spells with Oldham Athletic and Blackpool, Eardley’s career stalled somewhat between 2013 and 2017.

However he found a place to call home with League Two side Lincoln City in 2017, for whom he has played over 50 games, as the Imps sit top of the fourth tier of English football.

Craig Davies

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Davies has had an abundance of clubs, since moving from Hellas Verona after his Trinidad & Tobago call up.

The Stags forward failed to score for Wales in his seven caps.

His best spell came with Chesterfield where he scored 23 goals in 41 appearances.

The Burton-born forward now plays for Mansfield Town, after playing for Oldham Athletic last season.

Andrew Crofts

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At Gillingham at the time, Crofts worked his way up from the Under 19s to the Under 21s, before becoming a Wales senior international. His last Wales appearance came in a 1-1 draw against Panama in November 2017.

Crofts was brought into Newport County last summer and was appointed the captain. He has encountered injury problems, making just eight appearances for the County this season.

David Edwards

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After winning his full debut in a EURO 2008 Qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland in 2007, midfielder David Edwards called time on his international career in March 2018; having won 43 caps.

Best known at club level for his time with Wolves, where he played 284 games in a nine-year period, the 33-year-old began his career with Shrewsbury Town in 2003.

After departing the midlands club in 2017, Edwards linked up with Reading, playing 32 times for the Royals before rejoining Salop in January 2019.

David Cotterill

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Cotterill made his first start for Wales against Trinidad, having begun his career for Bristol City.

After his start, he had a chance in the Premier League with Wigan Athletic. A majority of his career was spent in the Championship with clubs like Doncaster Rovers, Sheffield United and Swansea City.

Cotterill finished his career in the Indian Super League with ATK.

 

(Featured image: Dan Farrimond)

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