GARY LINEKER’S been to The Racecourse twice before and on his last visit he was mistaken for Garth Crooks by his own boss, Bobby Robson.

In 1982, Lineker was in the Leicester City side that played out a drab 0-0 draw on April 20 as Wrexham’s Division Two days were quickly closing.

Two years later he was back in North Wales, his goals return for The Foxes earning him a call-up for England against Wales on May 2.

“It was the first time I’d been called up,” said Lineker, who went on to score 48 goals for his country in just 80 internationals.

“I was sat on the bench and with about 15 minutes to go, Bobby Robson told me to warm up but he called me Garth; obviously getting me mixed up with Garth Crooks!

“We lost the game 1-0 and I never got on so you can’t blame me for that defeat.”

Ruabon-lad Mark Hughes, later to become Lineker’s team-mate at Barcelona, scored the only goal in his debut in what was the final ‘Home International’ match between the two countries.

Hughes was joined in Mike England’s Wales team by ex-Wrexham players, Joey Jones, Mickey Thomas, Gordon Davies and Ian Rush with another, Alan Kennedy, turning out for the old enemy in front of a 14,250 attendance.

Striker Davies was also at The Racecourse for a game everyone remembers on January 4, 1992.

He played his part in one of the greatest FA Cup shocks of all-time as Wrexham caused a massive upset beating the League champions, Arsenal 2-1.

“Everyone remembers that win over Arsenal and Mickey Thomas’ free kick,” added Lineker, whose Match of The Day show has highlights of THAT goal in its credits.

“It was the biggest cup upsets and it made it our all-time FA Cup top 10.”

As for Sunday’s Racecourse encounter, which is being screened live on BBC One, Lineker and his team hope things will run more smoothly than they did for their third round replay show and admits studio security will be tightened up this weekend.

Lineker revealed the loud moaning noises heard during the live coverage of Wolves and Liverpool were caused by a hidden mobile phone “taped to the back of the set”.

Lineker revealed the cause, tweeting a picture of a mobile phone and three laughing emojis alongside the words: “As sabotage goes it was quite amusing.”