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BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Defeat but 'plenty of positives and a proud day' for Wrexham
In December 2019, Wrexham reached their nadir, bottom of the National League and having to apologise to their fans for the worst league position in their 155-year existence, before a midweek trip to Saturday, they were back in the same part of the world – but what felt like a different Mary's is only five miles down the road from Eastleigh but, whereas 56 Wrexham supporters made the long trip south six years ago, more than 3,000 were at ever there was a yardstick for Wrexham's extraordinary rise, it was this curtain-raiser for their first season in the second tier of English football for 43 recently as 2023, Southampton were four divisions higher than after Saints' relegation from the Premier League last season and the Welsh club's historic three successive promotions, they are Championship was a moment to savour for Wrexham's fans, even in defeat, basking in the south coast sunshine and making a racket all afternoon in a carnivalesque away end."It was a very proud moment for everyone connected with the club today," said manager Phil Parkinson."I took a moment when the lads ran out for the warm-up and just reflected because where we've come from to be playing on a stage like this today was very special. We had outstanding support." It was those supporters who saved Wrexham from extinction back in 2011, raising the funds to buy the club and nurse it through the draining non-league years before Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney Hollywood takeover has been well documented, the cameras following Wrexham's every years in and three promotions later, they are just one step away from the ultimate goal that their celebrity owners boldly laid out on their first day in north Wales: the Premier notion of a fourth straight promotion might be fanciful but Southampton – who were in the top flight last season – offered a useful starting point for Wrexham, a barometer for the challenges to Wrexham's net spend so far this summer is the highest in the Championship, they have had to radically upgrade a League One are operating from a different position, still boasting several Premier League players despite a raft of off-season well as the quality in their starting line-up on Saturday, Saints were able to turn to a bench that included the likes of Mateus Fernandes, new signing Damion Downs and Ryan Manning, who scored a brilliant equaliser and created the winner. "Southampton brought subs on today who were worth £30m or £40m – that was the difference," said been the main attraction in lower leagues, Wrexham will have to get used to playing against teams with greater are certainly looking to mix it with their new rivals, though. Their eight signings – many of them for club-record fees – are evidence of their of the most encouraging aspects of Wrexham's performance at Southampton was the impact of their new recruits, six of whom started at St Mary's."I think when we reflect, it's a very proud day for the club playing at this level and there was a lot of positives for us," said Parkinson."The new lads came in and have done really well but the existing players as well, I thought they were really good. That gives us great heart for the season ahead."Parkinson is a phlegmatic character who has kept a steely focus on the job in hand throughout his time at Wrexham. It is not that he is unmoved by the club's dizzying ascent through the divisions but rather that he is able put the celebrity attention and global interest to one side and simply get on with his work."The message was quite simple today in the dressing room," he said."It's important that we play in a manner throughout this season which we have done over the last four years and we keep representing the club in the way we've done. The honesty and endeavour out there I thought was different class."Having endured their fair share of lows, Wrexham have enjoyed the highs that the past four years have by their start to life in the Championship, there will be more to come.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Daffodils mark 160 years of Welsh settlers in Patagonia
The descendants of Welsh immigrants who set sail to Argentina 160 years ago have planted 1,500 daffodils as a nod to their roots. About 150 immigrants travelled to Patagonia on a converted tea clipper ship from Liverpool to Puerto Madryn in 1865, a journey that took two months. They had set out to create a new colony where they could preserve their culture, language, and Protestant nonconformist religion, free from English influence. They established their own Welsh-speaking communities in Patagonia, a barren and inhospitable place at the time, and the language is still spoken in the area now. David Mardones, who helped to plant the bulbs, said it would help them to "reinforce Welsh culture" in the area. The idea came from David's aunt Peca Jones, a relative of the first Welsh settlers to arrive. It was funded by Welsh artists, Wrexham supporters groups and previous visitors to the area. The daffodil field will be located in the Trevelin area on Route 17 near Nant y Fall. David said the project had only been possible thanks to "all the Welsh people who united" behind it. It took two days for the three of them to plant the bulbs. "We didn't have any sort of machines or anything," said David. "Just a spade to dig these long trenches." The bulbs are set to bloom in October, at the start of the Argentinian spring. David has planned an official opening ceremony to commemorate the 160th anniversary with relatives of the Welsh settlers invited, along with the community and the local tourism secretary. "It's going to be a big event to thank everyone for the love and support for the project," said David. He added there were plans to plant more bulbs next year. "Hopefully we'll have a drilling machine by then because my back would thank me for it," he said. It is also hoped that the project will attract visitors when the daffodils bloom in October. Gwion Elis-Williams, who moved to Patagonia from Wales in 2016, said: "Hotels are booked up for miles around. "I'm sure we will see Welsh tourists visiting and coming to see the daffodils." Gwion and his partner Nia, who works at a local Welsh school, have seen the area grow dramatically over the years. "It's an up-and-coming sort of destination in terms of attracting visitors," he said. "Since we've been here, Trevelin has doubled in size in terms of population." Gwion said it was wonderful to meet people who are "enormously proud" of their Welsh heritage. Any bulbs not used were donated to Nia's school - Ysgol Y Com - where they will planted by the children. The daffodils, a symbol of identity and rebirth in Wales, are part of an initiative to highlight the cultural connection between the two regions. Pete Howell, who organised the fundraiser, said it was "important" for people to understand the link. "It's amazing to think the people went over all those years ago," he said. His job was to "get the ball rolling" to make sure they had enough bulbs. "Some of the donations were amazing. We were getting money from all over the place," he added. But the project would have gone nowhere without David's infection enthusiasm, according to Pete. "He was so willing to get going," he said. "If you get something in his head it's all systems go." Pete said he would love to go and visit the area in the future to witness the fruits of his labour. "To see that field full of daffodils. What a story that would be." "I'll try and save some pennies for it." More than 10,000 daffodils to be shown at festival Welsh settlers' moral Patagonia approach Hunt for rare daffodils that are feared lost
BBC News
31-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- BBC News
Patagonia: Daffodils planted to mark Welsh settlers' anniversary
The descendants of Welsh immigrants who set sail to Argentina 160 years ago have planted 1,500 daffodils as a nod to their 150 immigrants travelled to Patagonia on a converted tea clipper ship from Liverpool to Puerto Madryn in 1865, a journey that took two had set out to create a new colony where they could preserve their culture, language, and Protestant nonconformist religion, free from English established their own Welsh-speaking communities in Patagonia, a barren and inhospitable place at the time, and the language is still spoken in the area now. David Mardones, who helped to plant the bulbs, said it would help them to "reinforce Welsh culture" in the area. The idea came from David's aunt Peca Jones, a relative of the first Welsh settlers to was funded by Welsh artists, Wrexham supporters groups and previous visitors to the daffodil field will be located in the Trevelin area on Route 17 near Nant y said the project had only been possible thanks to "all the Welsh people who united" behind it. It took two days for the three of them to plant the bulbs."We didn't have any sort of machines or anything," said David."Just a spade to dig these long trenches."The bulbs are set to bloom in October, at the start of the Argentinian has planned an official opening ceremony to commemorate the 160th anniversary with relatives of the Welsh settlers invited, along with the community and the local tourism secretary."It's going to be a big event to thank everyone for the love and support for the project," said added there were plans to plant more bulbs next year."Hopefully we'll have a drilling machine by then because my back would thank me for it," he said. It is also hoped that the project will attract visitors when the daffodils bloom in Elis-Williams, who moved to Patagonia from Wales in 2016, said: "Hotels are booked up for miles around."I'm sure we will see Welsh tourists visiting and coming to see the daffodils."Gwion and his partner Nia, who works at a local Welsh school, have seen the area grow dramatically over the years."It's an up-and-coming sort of destination in terms of attracting visitors," he said."Since we've been here, Trevelin has doubled in size in terms of population."Gwion said it was wonderful to meet people who are "enormously proud" of their Welsh bulbs not used were donated to Nia's school - Ysgol Y Com - where they will planted by the children. The daffodils, a symbol of identity and rebirth in Wales, are part of an initiative to highlight the cultural connection between the two Howell, who organised the fundraiser, said it was "important" for people to understand the link."It's amazing to think the people went over all those years ago," he job was to "get the ball rolling" to make sure they had enough bulbs."Some of the donations were amazing. We were getting money from all over the place," he added. But the project would have gone nowhere without David's infection enthusiasm, according to Pete."He was so willing to get going," he said."If you get something in his head it's all systems go."Pete said he would love to go and visit the area in the future to witness the fruits of his labour."To see that field full of daffodils. What a story that would be.""I'll try and save some pennies for it."
