The bizarre tale behind the Watney Cup and West Brom's last 'competitive' meeting with Wrexham
West Brom head into unknown territory in Saturday - well it certainly has been for some considerable time.
Albion's first away game of the campaign sees them head to Championship new boys Wrexham - who are preparing for their first home game following their third promotion in three years.
The rollercoaster story of the North Wales club and their Hollywood ownership has been well documented in recent years - and Saturday will go down as one of the biggest days in their history.
Televised on not just Sky Sports and ITV Sport - eyes from across the world will be on the Racecourse for Albion's trip.
And it is a trip that they have hardly made throughout their long history. The last visit resulted in a 2-0 friendly defeat for an Albion side that included the likes of Jason Koumas back in 2003.
But there have only ever been two competitive meetings between the two sides. One in the FA Cup in 1930, which ended in a 1-0 win for Wrexham.
And the other came back in 1971 with Albion prevailing as 2-1 winners. You could argue the word competitive can be loosely used when it comes to this match - however, it was still a competition with silverware on the line.
But the match, and the competition it was played in, has a bizarre back story.
The Watney Cup - One for the goals and a different offside rule
Launched in 1970 as the Watney Mann Invitational Cup - the competition ended up being a short lived one that ran on four occasions between 1970 and 1973.
It was held in pre-season and contested by the teams who had scored the most goals in all four division in the pervious Football League campaign, and who had not been promoted or qualified for Europe.
Two teams from each division took part and bizarrely for Albion - despite finishing 17th in the old First Division - they qualified having score the most goals for a side not in Europe.
Down in the Third Division, Wrexham had run in 72 goals in the previous campaign leading to their qualification.
Albion met Wrexham in the opening round - with the club's greatest ever player Tony Brown bagged a brace with one coming from the spot as Albion progressed with a 2-1 victory.
A 2-0 win at Halifax Town then set up a thrilling clash in the final against Colchester United.
Goals from Len Cantello, Colin Suggett and a Jeff Astle brace saw the two sides draw 4-4 - before Colchester prevailed on penalties.
The competition ceased in 1974 - but the trophy is still around. It was presented to Derby County for their club museum and according to reports, is shared between Derby and Stoke, the first and last winners of the competition.
