WREXHAM AFC met Crawley Town FC this afternoon (Saturday, September 21) on a hugely significant day for the club as it commemorated the 90th anniversary of the Gresford mining disaster.

A minute’s silence was held ahead of kick off as fans, players and staff paused to remember the 266 people who lost their lives in the early hours of September 22, 1934.

The club’s official social media page shared an image of a Wrexham flag adorned with images of the Gresford Colliery wheel with the caption “Cofiwch Gresffordd”.

More than 500 men were working within the mine on the night of September 22, with many doubling on shifts to watch Wrexham play Tranmere Rovers at the Racecourse Ground later that afternoon.

The club has maintained a close connection with the mining community since that fateful day. Anniversary shirts have been donated to the Miners Rescue Station, tributes have been paid on kits, as well as the minutes of silence to remember those that lost their lives.

This afternoon, players wore a special-edition version of their black away kit, with a transfer commemorating the 90th anniversary of the disaster.

A remembrance wreath was also laid on the pitch ahead of the game, created by local florist Regent House of Flowers.

The significance of the day could not be overstated, with the club keen to honour those families who continue to be deeply affected by what remains one of Britain's worst mining disasters.

Speaking to Wrexham AFC on Youtube ahead of the game, Phil Parkinson said: “The disaster had a huge impact on the area and it’s very important from my point of view that the staff and all the players understand what this weekend means to everybody in Wrexham and the surrounding area.”

The manager, who had been visiting the Wrexham Miners Project, added that players were shown newsreels of the Gresford mining disaster in their team meeting, to outline its significance to the community.