Express & Star

Wellecomme plays again for Rangers

Stafford striker Nick Wellcomme will again be in the squad to face Hinckley just three days after his father died in a road crash.

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The 24-year-old will be available for selection on the final day of the Blue Square Premier season at Marston Road tomorrow (3pm), the second game he has played since the tragedy happened.

He played just hours after his father's passing on Wednesday night in the Staffordshire Senior Cup final, to a booming reception from the Rangers fans at Vale Park.

More of the same is expected tomorrow, and assistant manager Darren Read has the highest respect for the forward.

He said: "Nick is in the squad again for the game, he wouldn't it have it any other away. We are all gutted for him and his family, everybody involved with the football club is thinking of them at this difficult time.

"That Nick should want to play is a credit to himself, his father and his family - he is a real soldier."

Read has assured fans coming to the Marston Road curtain call that this will not be a meaningless fixture, despite his team's guaranteed safety and Hinckley's guaranteed failure of making the play-off's.

With just five wins out of 20 home games this season, the Rangers No 2 has told the players they owe it to the fans to give them something to cheer about.

He demands a performance that leaves a nice taste in everyone's mouths.

He said: "It's not a jolly end of season game, I can assure you. With the way our home form has been this season, we owe it to our supporters to give them a good show on the last day.

"They have been fantastic this year, they really have, so there is a lot of pride at stake."

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