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Darren Wrack Profile
By TheSaddlerSFC July 6 2005
Darren Wrack joined Walsall in the summer of 1998, he has proved a versatile member of the Walsall squad and has operated in a number of differant posistions.

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Name Darren Wrack
Height 5.09
Place of birth Cleethorpes
Date of Birth 5.5.1976
Squad number 7

Position(s)

Utility

Description

Versatile midfielder
Date Joined Summer 1998
Fee Free Transfer
Notes Reliable, busy & adaptable
Club Lg Gls FAC Gls Lg Cup Gls
Walsall 240(34) 44 14(1) 2 12(1) 1
Grimsby 13 1 0 0 0 0
Sh'bury (L) 4 0 0 0 0 0
Derby C'ty 26 1 2 0 3 0

Player attributes

In the Summer of 1998 23 year old Darren Wrack was just another of the rejects signed by Ray Graydon. Not wanted by the Mariners, or any other club for that matter he joined Graydon's thread bare squad.

He had been promising as a youngster, but then failed to impress at any of his former clubs. His early season performances were outstanding, and it was hard believe that Grimsby and Derby hadn't had more patience.

Wrack was in fine form all season, setting up goals for his teammates and chipping in with a few himself. His effort from 30 yards against will stay in the minds of fans there for ever.

The Saddlers were promoted to the First Division that season., finishing second, in an extremely strong Second division. Wrack had been one of the stars, and other clubs were keen on signing him. The then Fulham boss Kevin Keegan placed a bid £750,000 for the player, but the Saddlers believed he was worth far more and rejected the offer.

99/00 was a bad season for both Wrack and the club in general. He failed to replicate his for of 98/99, and the Saddlers came straight back down.

2000/2001 was Wracks worst season as a Saddler. Despite the Saddlers bouncing back to the First Division, Wrack was on the edge of the first team and lost his place to Paul Hall. In the Summer of 2001 he was placed on the list and labeled as a one season wonder.

Wrack was a peripheral figure at the start of 01/02, but a number of impressive cameo's from the bench prompted Graydon to give him a chance in the first team. Things were not going well, and another relegation battle was on the cards. Graydon decided to play Wrack as a play maker behind the lone striker, and it was a formula that worked well, and allowed Wrack to reproduce his form of 98/99.

He was the player of the season up and till Christmas, and although his form tailed off after that he was still putting in some great performances. However, come February the team were still struggling and Colin Lee replaced Ray Graydon. Lee continued to pick Wrack as a wide midfielder, and even asked him to deputise at right back.

02/03 was another good season for Wrack. He played in a variety of different positions including, right back, left back, wing back, central midfield, left midfield, right midfield and striker. He spent most of his time playing as a winger, and proved to everyone he was a consistent first division player. He is now a senior figure at the Bescot, and one the fans know is up for challenge of first division football.

The 03/04 saw Wrack become one of our main goal getters and most inspirational players. Had it not been for a niggling injury that ruled him out of the end of season run in, some say we could well have survived. 

04-05 was a much better season for Wrack, the injury problems that dogged him before became a thing of the past. Wrack became our Mr Consistent and proved to be a valuable player in such a young squad.

Player attributes
Pace , skill and an eye for goal. Every team needs a player like Darren Wrack. He has the skill and the vision to play behind the front man, as well as the work rate to play as a wing back. Darren Wrack is a good all round footballer.

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