Dubai Reds

History

Originally a post by Rhys Davies through the Dubai Welsh Supporters group asking is anyone is interested inwatching the Notts County game. Simon Shuker (Co-chair) and his business had recently fitted out an entertainment venue in Sport City Dubai, whose owner/manager is of Kiwi/Welsh descent.

Having persuaded the venue to show our games using the National League streaming platform, Simon and Rhys were in communication to get as many reds/Welsh fans along to watch the game as possible

Rhys setup the Middle East / UAE Reds Facebook group, and a change to his twitter handle to
@CochionDubaiUAE and shared on social media. Quite quickly the group gained 50+ members. The Notts County saw 16 reds come and watch, which was a great success in the first instance.

Simon continued to coordinate with the venue and the Barnet and Borehamwood games were also shown on the large screen they have at the venue, with the latter
game the dozen or so Wrexham fans cheering us on for an overdue promotion!

It was decided then that to get a formal supporters group up and running, and encourage as many people to watch our games as possible, whether as expats or on vacation at a football venue known for football (Spanish Soccer School owned by ex-Real Madrid and Spanish International
Michael Salgado)

Majority of the committee have been expats for a very long time, whilst some who have attended games have been here a matter of months, or just watched a game while they were on holiday/transiting through from Australia on the way to the UK.

Being open and welcoming to all Wrexham fans who are in the UAE at anytime is their main objective.

Chair’s Dylan Llwyd Owen and Simon Shuker have been in the UAE since the early 1990s and recall
the days of having to go to the embassy to get the football results through a vidiprinter! They have experience in the Entertainment and Events business, meaning we have had a very good find with the venue!

Andrew Edwards has been working in and out of the region and Africa for numerous years and is from Trefnant, Denbighshire originally.

Lorna and Rhys Williams are who are the only committee members for whom Wrexham is their actual hometown.

Rhys Davies, a South Walian from Tommy Bamford and Brian Flynn’s hometown of Port Talbot, has
been in Dubai since 2016 and was an original member of the Vale of Clwyd Reds which was ran by
his family in Rhuddlan. He also has experience in gathering Wrexham supporters together as he was key to setting up the South Wales Reds group in the mid/late 2000s, who became an official member of the federation back in 2021.

Colin Nicholson is originally from the Ohio in the USA, and is a huge Columbus Crew fan. He was asked if he
followed Wrexham post-takeover and the documentary to which his reply was no but since 2017! He
has kept a close eye on the club since Columbus Crew were dealing with similar battles Wrexham
had fought since the 2000s, and he did some research into clubs with similar plights and discovered us and watched on from a far. We will get Colin to the Racecourse one-day!

Regular meeting place

Sports Village Garden (Reddy Roast)
Sport City
Dubai
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
https://sportsvillagegarden.me

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  Dubai Reds News29/06/2024
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