The fact £6.5m new signing Craig Bellamy scored helped add to the ‘Bellamy mania' that engulfed the Race Course ground at one point, as Wrexham and Liverpool fans clambered in their hundreds it seemed to get the Welsh forward's autograph.
With this in mind, the latest instalment of The Cohorts of the Kop series focuses on the exploits of another striker with Welsh blood coursing through his veins – Liverpool's all-time record goal scorer, Ian Rush.
Born in St Asaph, Wales, on 20th October 1961, it was at schoolboy level where Rush's ability as a formidable goal-getter began to be developed and nurtured. His first team was Hawarden Rangers, a stones throw away from Shotton Steelworks, where his dad plied his trade. The young Rush also went on to represent Deeside Schoolboys, the club Michael Owen would also begin his route into football.
Rush's professional football career began at second division Chester City in 1978 when he was just 17 years of age. In the two years he was at the club he went on to score an impressive 14 goals in just 34 appearances. Ever more remarkable considering his tender years.
This form quickly gained him recognition amongst the higher echelons of the football fraternity and strong interest was being shown from the likes of Manchester City and, of course, Liverpool.
The draw of a club like Liverpool and the opportunity to play alongside players such as Hansen and Dalglish was something that the young Rush just couldn't refuse and in May, 1980, five months shy of his 19th birthday, Bob Paisley shelled out 300,000 for the striker's services – a then record fee for a teenager.
Back then, for any young recruit it was compulsory to undergo a period of integration and education in the youth ranks and reserves – to learn the Liverpool way. It would often be a year to 18 months before a young player (depending on their age when they joined) would be considered ready enough to even think about challenging for a place in the full team.
Ian Rush was no exception – making just 9 first team appearances during his debut season at the club. The vast majority of Rush's early time at Liverpool was spent honing his skills in Roy Evans' successful reserve team set-up.
The following campaign however, the 1981-1982 season, was to be the point where Ian Rush finally announced his arrival in the big time – and how. Rush didn't actually get off the mark until early October, but after that there was no stopping him (as defences the length and breadth of England would testify) as he became a regular part of Liverpool's attack, forming a lethal partnership with Kenny Dalglish.
Rush, at only 21, managed to finish the season with a total of 30 goals – claiming the honour of Liverpool's top scorer for the season. Indeed, Rush's partnership with Dalglish yielded a massive 52 goals – playing an enormous part in shooting the Reds to the title and the League Cup.
Rush's speed and deadly goal-poaching ability in the box was the perfect foil for the more all-round play of the skilful Kenny Dalglish.
Rush went on to score goals, goals and yet more goals, helping Liverpool secure the title and League cup in 1983, the title and European Cup in 1984 and the League and FA Cup double in 1986. Scoring 139 goals in 224 appearances.
Rush was voted PFA Young Player of the Year in 1983 and was voted PFA Player of the Year the following year after Liverpool retained both of their trophies and added the European Cup to their list of honours for that season.
In the summer of 1987 however, with player manager Kenny Dalglish still banging in the goals and a ready-made replacement and clone John Aldridge at the club – Rush's first spell at the club came to an unexpected end. Liverpool just couldn't resist the £3.2 million Juventus had put on the table for the Welsh striker and promptly accepted. Rush consequently packed his bags for Northern Italy, ready to try his luck in a different league and culture.
That money was then expertly used by Liverpool on the purchases of flying winger John Barnes, and the precocious Peter Beardsley – meaning it was business as usual and the brilliance of Rush wasn't really missed (well, not much, anyway) as the holy trinity propelled Liverpool to their 17th title success.
However, Rush's exile to Italy lasted just a single season, with the forward scoring 7 goals in 29 appearances. Although Juventus fans that remember his time at the club look upon him fondly, it's fair to say Rush probably didn't do as well as he would have liked.
Rush was soon back where he belonged when Liverpool bought the player back for £2.8m in August 1988 – just a year after he had left.
Although sluggish when he returned, with many Kopites believing he wasn't quite the same player as he was before he left these shores for Italy. He was soon back to his best, demonstrating his time in Italy had in fact improved his all-round play and taught him how to deal with solid continental-style defences.
Overall, Rush scored 346 goals in 660 senior appearances, and his haul of 44 FA Cup goals (39 of them for Liverpool) is a 20th century record while his five-goal total in FA Cup Finals (two in 1986 and 1989 and one in 1992 all on winning Liverpool sides) is an all-time best by an individual.
During his glittering career Ian Rush's collected five Championship medals, one European Cup, three FA Cups and was awarded the MBE. He scored an all-time Mersey derby record of 25 goals against Everton, won Europe's Golden Boot with 32 League goals in 1984 and captained Wales, for whom he scored a record 28 goals in 73 games.
Rush, now in the twilight of his career left Liverpool for Leeds United in 1996 and later played for Newcastle, Wrexham and even Sydney Olympic.
Rush has since had a stint at management, ironically taking his career full-circle by becoming the boss of Chester City. He has also been a striker coach for Liverpool.
But for Rush, as Liverpool's all-time greatest goal-getter, it's a case of forever a red and he still remains an authoritative voice on all things Liverpool and has always been a supportive influence regarding the Benitez regime.
As for the future, who knows? But something tells me there are more exciting chapters to add to the glory of Ian Rush.– a true Cohort of the Kop.