Wrexham A.F.C.

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Wrexham Association Football Club (Template:Langx<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>) is a professional association football club based in Wrexham, Wales. Formed in 1864,<ref name="randall2012"/> it is the oldest club in Wales and the third-oldest professional association football team in the world.<ref name="Wrexham History 20121205">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Wrexham History 20220615">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="History and Honours">Template:Cite web</ref> The club competes in the Template:English football updater, the second tier of the English football league system.

Domestically, the club has won the Welsh Cup a record twenty-three times, the short-lived FAW Premier Cup a record five times, the Football League Trophy in 2005 and the FA Trophy in 2013. Recently, following five unsuccessful play-off campaigns in the National League, Wrexham achieved three promotions in three seasons, from 2022 to 2025, through: winning the 2022–23 National League and finishing runners-up in the 2023–24 EFL League Two and in the 2024–25 EFL League One.<ref name=":1" /> Thus, securing a spot in the EFL Championship, and becoming the first ever team to be promoted three consecutive times in the English Football League.<ref name=":1" />

Internationally, Wrexham competed in the European Cup Winners' Cup / UEFA Cup Winners' Cup on multiple occasions through success in the Welsh Cup –– reaching the quarter-finals once in 1976, as well as beating FC Porto and drawing with teams such as Real Zaragoza and Anderlecht during their time in the competition. However, following changes made to the Welsh Cup competition in 1995, Welsh clubs playing in the English Football system (such as Wrexham) were no longer permitted to enter and therefore, had to qualify for European competition exclusively via the English system.<ref name="History and Honours"/> In 2012, UEFA reiterated that Welsh clubs playing in the English football league system could not qualify for European competitions via the Welsh Cup, after Wrexham (alongside Merthyr Town and Newport County) rejoined for one season in 2011–12.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Wrexham received major financial investment after its 2020 takeover by actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds through Wrexham Holdings LLC,<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> starting a new era of success. This acquisition, alongside the global publicity of the Welcome to Wrexham documentary series, had a significant impact on the club's visibility, resulting in an unprecedented new international fanbase for a team that were in the fifth division (at the time).<ref name="auto2">Template:Cite web</ref>

The club's home stadium, the Racecourse Ground, is the world's oldest international stadium that still continues to host international games.<ref name=":7">Template:Cite web</ref> The record attendance at the ground was set in 1957 when the club hosted a match against Manchester United in front of 34,445 spectators.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The club's main rivalries are with English clubs Chester, Shrewsbury Town, and Tranmere Rovers, with matches against Chester being known as the cross-border derby.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In addition, Wrexham have been referred to as cup "giant-killers", due to unexpected successes against top-flight opponents, such as upsetting the reigning league champions Arsenal in the 1992 FA Cup.

History

A club of pioneers (1863–1921)

On 12 October 1863, a group of local businessmen formed a new organisation 'The United Volunteer Services Club' to provide athletic sport for the young men of Wrexham, in order to keep them from spending their spare time in public houses.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This organisation provided the ideological basis for the future formation of Wrexham Football Club, which is now the oldest football club 'still in existence today' that was founded according to temperance principles. Evan Morris, Charles Edward Kershaw and Joseph Wilbraham Clark were 3 of the founding members of the United Volunteer Services Club, who were also members of the Denbighshire County Cricket Club; and they used their influence within the cricket club to bring their ideals to fruition. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Wrexham Football Club was formed on 4 October 1864, in The Turf Tavern (named the Turf Hotel by 1872<ref>Ordnance Survey Large Scale Town Plans (1:500) Wrexham - Denbighshire XXVIII.8.21, surveyed 1872, published 1874.</ref>), by members of the cricket club who wanted to provide sporting activity for the young men of the town throughout the winter months.<ref name=":12" /> This makes them the fifth oldest association football team (after Sheffield, Cray Wanderers, Hallam, and Notts County), the third oldest professional club (after Notts County and Stoke City) and the oldest in Wales.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Their first game was played on 22 October 1864 at the Denbighshire County Cricket Ground (later known as the Racecourse Ground), against 10 men of the Prince of Wales Fire Brigade.<ref name="randall2012"/> The 10 founding members who played for Wrexham Football Club in that first ever game were; Charles Edward Kershaw, William Tootell, Thomas Broster, Thomas Hanmer, Edward Ephraim Knibbs, Thomas Heath, Thomas Henry Sykes, John Taylor, George Rumsey Johnston, and Joseph Roberts. The club lost 1-2 to the brigade.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Turf Hotel, the building in which the club was founded in 1864

In these early years, Wrexham were leaders of the campaign to restrict teams to eleven players on the pitch at any one time (as early matches could feature teams with up to seventeen players on each side).<ref name="Wrexham History 20121205" /> In 1876, the newly formed Football Association of Wales (FAW) organised the Welsh national team's first international match against Scotland, where trials were held at the Racecourse Ground and two Wrexham players made the squad (i.e. Edwin Cross and Alfred Davies).<ref name="Wrexham history">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Stead, Phil (2013). Red Dragons – The Story of Welsh Football. Ceredigion: Y Llofa. Template:ISBN.</ref>

The Wrexham team that won the Welsh Cup in 1878

In the 1877–78 season, the FAW inaugurated the Welsh Cup competition, to run on similar lines to the English FA Cup. Wrexham won the final of the inaugural competition, defeating Druids F.C. 1–0, thanks to James Davies scoring the winning goal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name = "Whos Who">Template:Cite book</ref> Due to a lack of money at the fledgling FAW, Wrexham did not receive their trophy until the next year. In this decade, Wrexham mostly played in friendly matches against Welsh and English opponents and, as such, the Welsh Cup provided most of their competitive football.<ref name=":13">Template:Cite web</ref>

Disputes with the landlords of the Racecourse Ground –– who had raised the rent to £10 a year –– resulted in Wrexham playing their home games at Rhosddu Recreation Ground during the 1881–82 and 1882–83 seasons.<ref name=":14">Template:Cite news</ref> As well as, changing the club's name to Wrexham Athletic for one season.<ref name=":14" /> However, in the 1883–84 season, the club moved back to the Racecourse Ground and have played their home games there ever since.<ref name=":14" />

Additionally, in 1883, Wrexham won their second Welsh Cup,<ref name=":13" /> and made their first appearance in the FA Cup.<ref name=":15">Template:Cite web</ref> In the FA Cup, Wrexham received a bye into the second round of the competition and were defeated 3–4 at home by Oswestry. Misconduct from the Wrexham crowd at the game resulted in the club's expulsion from the Football Association and subsequently, Wrexham were forced to reform in 1884 as Wrexham Olympic (a name eventually dropped in 1888).<ref name=":15" />

In 1890, Wrexham joined The Combination league, playing their first game against Gorton Villa on 6 September 1890, with Arthur Lea scoring Wrexham's only goal in a 5–1 defeat,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and Wrexham finished their first season in eighth place.Template:Citation needed The club played in the Combination for four years before a rapid increase in costs resulted in the club joining the Welsh League in the 1894–95 season. Wrexham won the Welsh League in back-to-back seasons, but decided to return to the Combination in 1896, as despite the reduced support they received, the savings made on their traveling expenses outweighed the reduction in gate revenue.Template:Citation needed The club remained in the Combination until 1905, by which time they had managed to win the league four times.

In 1905, after several unsuccessful attempts, Wrexham was finally elected to the Birmingham and District League in time for the 1905–06 season. During this debut season, Wrexham won their first league match 2–1 against Kidderminster Harriers at home in front of two thousand spectators, and finished the season sixth.Template:Citation needed During their time in the Birmingham and District League, Wrexham won the Welsh Cup six times (in 1908–09, 1909–10, 1910–11, 1913–14, 1914–15, and 1920–21). Additionally, Wrexham reached the First Round proper of the FA Cup for a second time, in the 1908–09 season, before losing a replay 1–2 to Exeter City after extra time.Template:Citation needed

Into the Football League (1921–1968)

Yearly table positions of Wrexham in the English football league system

In 1921, Wrexham was a founding member of the newly formed Third Division North of the Football League.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In this debut season, Wrexham achieved many of the club's Football League "firsts", such as: Ted Regan scoring Wrexham's first league hat-trick; and, Brian Simpson becoming the first Wrexham player to be sent off during a league match, against Southport in January 1922. Charlie Hewitt was the club's first-ever manager during this period.Template:Citation needed

From the 1926–27 season to the 1939–40 season, Wrexham were a consistent presence in the Third Division North. In the 1928–29 season, a record thirty-two league goals from Albert Mays helped Wrexham achieve third place and also, marked the debut of club legend Tommy Bamford. Bamford went on to score 201 goals for the club during his time at the Racecourse Ground. In the following season (1929–30), Wrexham recorded their biggest league win at the time, when they defeated Rochdale 8–0.Template:Citation needed During the 1932–33 season, Wrexham had their best Third Division North performance, when they finished runners-up to Hull City and won 18 of their 21 home games during the course of the season.Template:Citation needed In the final season during this period (1939–40), Wrexham appeared in their now-familiar red and white kit colours for the first time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The club's best FA Cup performance prior to the Second World War was in the 1927–28 season, where Wrexham fought their way to the fourth round before they lost 0–1 to Birmingham City.Template:Citation needed

During the Second World War years, when long cross-county trips were impossible due to the war, Wrexham played in the Regional League West against local teams from Merseyside and Manchester, amongst others in the northwest region. The club's position as a barracks town meant that the team could secure the services of many famous guest players such as Stanley Matthews, Stan Cullis, and others.Template:Citation needed

In the post-war period, the club made its first-ever tour abroad in 1949, when the team played three matches against the British army in Germany.Template:Citation needed In the 1956–57 season, Wrexham reached the fourth round of the FA Cup, where they played Manchester United's Busby Babes in front of a crowd of 34,445 people at the Racecourse, which still remains a club record. The 5–0 defeat did not spoil the occasion for the large home crowd, and later that season Wrexham managed to win the Welsh Cup for the first time in 26 years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Following the 1959–60 season, the club was relegated to a lower tier for the first time in their history and consequently, were dropped into the newly created Football League Fourth Division. However, the appointment of Ken Barnes as player-manager during the 1961–62 season, helped Wrexham achieve promotion back to the Third Division, as well as their greatest league victory to date (i.e. the 10–1 trouncing of Hartlepool United).<ref name=":16" /> Two years after this promotion, Wrexham was relegated to the Fourth Division again, and in 1966 they finished rock-bottom at 92nd in the Football League after an extremely disappointing season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The glory years (1968–1982)

John Neal was appointed manager of Wrexham in 1968, succeeding Alvan Williams who had brought Neal to the club as his assistant.Template:Citation needed He guided the club to a 9th-place finish in 1969, before leading Wrexham to their second Football League promotion in 1970 with a second-place finish and promotion to the Third Division.Template:Citation needed With Welsh clubs now able to qualify for the European Cup Winners' Cup by winning the Welsh Cup, Wrexham played their inaugural match in Europe against Swiss side FC Zurich in Switzerland on 13 September 1972, the game finishing 1–1. In the return leg, Wrexham won 2–1, advancing to the second round with a 3–2 win on aggregate. The second round drew Wrexham against Yugoslav side Hajduk Split. Over the course of two games, the score finished 3–3 on aggregate with Wrexham matching their more illustrious opponents, but they were knocked out of the competition due to the away goals rule.Template:Citation needed

The 1972–73 season saw the completion of the new Yale stand, with a capacity of up to 5,500. The terrace contributed to the bottom tier of the stand. The 1973–74 season saw Wrexham change their badge from the Maelor crest to a brand new badge that had much more resemblance to the Welsh roots of the club, with three feathers on the top of the badge and two dragons, one on either side of the badge and facing inwards. This is still the badge for today's team. This season also saw Wrexham reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in another cup run. After victories over Shrewsbury Town, Rotherham United, Middlesbrough, Crystal Palace and Southampton, their cup run finally came to an end with a loss to first division side Burnley at Turf Moor, with 15,000 Wrexham fans present to watch the match.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Also that season Wrexham just missed out on the promotion spots, finishing in 4th place at the end of the season.Template:Citation needed

Defender Alan Hill played over 250 games for Wrexham between 1973 and 1983.

1975–76 saw John Neal's starlets captained by Eddie May, again shocking the football world by reaching the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup after another sparkling cup run and defeats of several higher quality opponents. In the first round, Wrexham beat Swedish team Djurgårdens IF 3–2 on aggregate. They then managed to knock out the Polish side Stal Rzeszow 3–1 on aggregate. Wrexham played Belgian champions Anderlecht in the quarter-finals and narrowly lost 2–1 to the eventual winners of the competition.Template:Citation needed The 1976–77 season saw Wrexham again beat First Division opposition in both Cup competitions as they went on another cup run, defeating Tottenham Hotspur in the Football League Cup and Sunderland in the FA Cup. However, the league season was a traumatic one as the club, on the verge of promotion to the second division with only four matches left to play, needing just three points to reach their goal, missed out after a poor run.Template:Citation needed

Arfon Griffiths took over as player-manager for the 1977–78 season. They reached both the League and FA Cup quarter-finals that season, and Wrexham finally clinched promotion to the second division when they beat Rotherham United 7–1 at a packed Racecourse, Wrexham went on to win the Third Division Championship that year.Template:Citation needed In the 1978–79 season Wrexham made it to the fourth round of the FA Cup, where they lost to Tottenham Hotspur 3–2 in the replay after the first game finished 3–3. The Spurs team had stars amongst their ranks such as Ossie Ardiles, Ricky Villa, and Glenn Hoddle, and Wrexham were bested in getting knocked out.Template:Citation needed Following Arfon Griffiths' resignation from the manager's position in 1981, his assistant Mel Sutton was put in charge, with a third-round FA Cup win over Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest in another cup run, the highlight of the season.Template:Citation needed

A steady decline (1982–1991)

The summer of 1982 saw Bobby Roberts appointed the club's new manager. Relegation meant the club had dire financial problems, resulting in the sale of many of the club's experienced and talented players. Frank Carrodus, Ian Edwards, Mick Vinter and Wayne Cegieski had already left during the summer, Steve Fox, Joey Jones, Dixie McNeil and Billy Ronson soon followed. Wrexham were again relegated to the Fourth Division after plummeting from apparent mid-table security. The club's slide continued into the following season, and only goal difference prevented Wrexham from being forced to apply for re-election to the League.Template:Citation needed

The 1984–85 season saw Wrexham take on FC Porto in European competition. Wrexham won the home leg with a 1–0 victory, but in the second leg, Porto showed their class and were 3–0 up after 38 minutes. However, Wrexham pulled goals back and the game finished 4–3, making it 4–4 on aggregate with Wrexham advancing on away goals. The second round draw was to pair Wrexham with Italian side AS Roma, managed by Sven-Göran Eriksson. Wrexham lost 3–0 on aggregate over the two legs. Their league performance was even more dire than the previous year, and by the time Bobby Roberts was finally removed from his post, Wrexham was rock-bottom of the entire Football League.Template:Citation needed

Former Racecourse favourite Dixie McNeil was appointed caretaker manager, and immediately inspired a revival that saw Wrexham win 7 of their last 10 matches and comfortably finish clear of having to apply for re-election, which earned him the job on a permanent basis that summer. His first season in charge saw the team finish mid-table position in an average season, he led the team to a Welsh Cup final win over Kidderminster Harriers. 1986 saw Wrexham make a return to European football with a first-round draw against Maltese side FC Zurrieq, whom they beat 7–0 on aggregate to earn a second-round tie against Real Zaragoza which they drew 2–2 with on aggregate but they went out on away goals.Template:Citation needed

Following the Bradford City stadium fire in May 1985, legislation on ground safety at all football grounds was brought into effect. This eventually led to the closure of the Mold Road stand because it did not reach the necessary safety standards. Led by Dixie McNeil, Wrexham reached the Fourth Division play-offs in 1989, having finished seventh in the league. Wrexham beat Scunthorpe United in the semi-final 5–1 on aggregate, but narrowly lost to Leyton Orient 2–1 in the final. After Wrexham started the next season with just 3 wins from 13 league games, Dixie McNeil resigned before his inevitable sacking.Template:Citation needed

He was replaced, initially on a temporary basis, by Brian Flynn, but his appointment was made permanent a month later. However the club continued to struggle domestically, and Flynn was forced to make three important signings in Mark Sertori, Eddie Youds and Alan Kennedy which saw the team finish in twenty-first place, therefore avoiding relegation.Template:Citation needed At the start of the 1990–91 season it was announced there would be no relegation to the Conference Premier as a team had already voluntarily left the league. That season Wrexham finished in ninety-second place. Wrexham were knocked out of the European Cup Winners' Cup in the second round by Manchester United 5–0 on aggregate, who eventually went on to win the trophy.Template:Citation needed

Reputation as giant killers (1991–2001)

The 1991–92 season saw Wrexham still in a poor financial state, as they continued to struggle on the field. With the club knocked out of the League Cup and struggling in the league, it was left to the FA Cup to keep the season alive. Having beaten Telford United and Winsford United, they were drawn to play the previous season's First Division champions Arsenal. Wrexham produced one of their most memorable nights to beat the Gunners 2–1 after being behind, with a thunderous Mickey Thomas free kick and a Steve Watkin goal. They lost in the next round to West Ham United 1–0 in a replay<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> after the first game had finished 2–2.

In an attempt to change the fortunes of the club after several seasons in the doldrums at the bottom of the football league pyramid, the 1992–93 season saw Wrexham manager Brian Flynn make a shrewd signing when he enlisted the services of Gary Bennett, who soon settled and helped Wrexham into the promotion race. Wrexham's season came to a head on 27 April 1993 when with two games left they travelled to Northampton Town requiring a win to gain promotion to the next tier of English football. The game ended with a 2–0 victory to Wrexham and the 5,500 travelling "Reds" supporters there were jubilant when promotion had finally been achieved.Template:Citation needed The 1994–95 season would see Wrexham achieve more success in cup competitions, this time going on a run through the FA Cup. Having beaten Stockport County and Rotherham United, they faced Premier League side Ipswich Town at the Racecourse, with Wrexham running out 2–1 winners thanks to goals from Gary Bennett and Kieron Durkan. In the next round, Wrexham was drawn away to Manchester United and despite taking the lead at Old Trafford, United went on to win 5–2.Template:Citation needed

The 1995–96 season once again saw Wrexham in European action, with their opposition this time coming in the form of Romanian team Petrolul Ploiești; the home leg ended in a 0–0 draw but Wrexham lost 1–0 in the away leg, with the Romanians scoring the only goal of the match, and Wrexham were subsequently knocked out of the tournament.Template:Citation needed The 1996–97 season saw Wrexham set off on another strong run in the FA Cup and beat more top-flight opposition. Following wins at Colwyn Bay and Scunthorpe United, they were drawn to play West Ham United at home, the game ending in a 1–1 draw on a snow-covered pitch. The replay at Upton Park ended in a shock 1–0 win to Wrexham as Kevin Russell scored in the dying minutes to send Wrexham into the fourth round.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> After also beating Peterborough United and Birmingham City in the following rounds, they played Chesterfield in an all-Division-2 FA Cup quarter-final, Wrexham narrowly losing to the Spireites 1–0.Template:Citation needed

June 1997 was the date for the official opening of Colliers Park, which was Wrexham's new training ground and was situated just outside Gresford on Chester Road. It was built at a cost of £750,000 and is widely regarded to be one of the best training grounds outside of the top flight. It has been used for training by many visiting teams that play at a higher standard over the years, such as Barcelona.<ref name="wrexham.com">Template:Cite news</ref> The 1999–2000 season saw Wrexham again beat a top-flight team in the FA Cup, this time in the shape of Middlesbrough. The final score of the match was 2–1, with the second-half goals coming from Robin Gibson and Darren Ferguson after being behind the Premiership outfit. Wrexham went on to win the FAW Premier Cup in May 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Administration and the slide into non-League football (2001–2008)

Match at the Racecourse in 2004

At the start of the 21st century, the club was dogged with many problems off the pitch, including then chairman Alex Hamilton, attempting to get the club evicted from the stadium so that he could use and sell it for his own development purposes – the saga involved the sale of the Racecourse Ground to a separate company owned by Hamilton immediately after he became the club's chairman.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The club was included in FIFA Football 2004 for the first time and remained playable up to FIFA 08. In the summer of 2004, Hamilton gave the club a year's notice to quit the ground.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The club's fans developed an affinity with the fans of fellow football league club Brighton & Hove Albion, who themselves had managed to successfully depose their chairman and keep control of their stadium after he had sold the ground for development purposes in almost the same circumstances.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 3 December 2004 the club was placed in financial administration by the High Court in Manchester as the club owed £2,600,000, including £800,000 which was owed to the Inland Revenue in unpaid taxes. Wrexham became the first League club to suffer a ten-point deduction under the new rule for being placed in administration, dropping them from the middle of the League One table to the relegation zone after the point deduction, and subsequently condemned Wrexham to relegation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

5 May 2007: Ryan Valentine scores the goal against Boston that keeps Wrexham in the Football League

Despite their financial troubles, Wrexham went on to win the 2004–05 Football League Trophy by defeating Southend United 2–0 after extra time, in Wrexham's first appearance at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The winning goals were scored by Juan Ugarte and Darren Ferguson as Wrexham ran out winners in front of nearly 20,000 Wrexham fans.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wrexham still retained an outside chance of escaping the drop in the 2004–05 season following an end-of-season winning streak; however, their faint hopes of staying up were ended with a 2–1 home loss to Brentford on 3 May 2005. The 10-point deduction proved decisive in determining Wrexham's fate, as the club finished with 43 points compared to 20th-placed Milton Keynes Dons' 51 – a net points tally of 53 after deduction, which had condemned them to relegation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In October 2005, Birmingham High Court decided that Alex Hamilton's company CrucialMove had improperly acquired the freehold of the ground and the decision went against him.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Hamilton then took this to the Appeal Court in London and it ruled on 14 March 2006 that the stadium must remain in the hands of the club's administrators.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 30 April 2006 the administrators reached an agreement with local car dealer Neville Dickens, subject to agreement by the shareholders and creditors (which was achieved on 30 May), for Dickens to take over control of the club and all its assets.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Had the club still been in administration by 3 June then Wrexham would have automatically been expelled from the League because of their financial situation. Wrexham Football Club (2006) Ltd is the name of the "phoenix" company that took over the assets of the old Wrexham Association Football Club Limited – technically, the club is no longer known as Wrexham Association Football Club due to the takeover of the club by Neville Dickens and Geoff Moss and their associates; this is reflected on new merchandise, although most fans will still refer to it as "Wrexham AFC".Template:Citation needed

5 May 2007: Scoreboard showing the final score of game that kept Wrexham in the Football League and condemned Boston United to the Conference

The 2006–07 season started well for Wrexham, as they went 8 games unbeaten.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, the club would then struggle with Denis Smith eventually being sacked in January 2007 with Wrexham in the bottom half of the division and after a poor run of results.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was replaced by coach Brian Carey.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wrexham finished 19th in League Two with 51 points<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> after an impressive late run of form which saw them win 4 out of their last 5 games, which included defeating local rivals Shrewsbury in the last derby match at Gay Meadow.Template:Citation needed Wrexham's league status was saved on the last day of the season with a vital 3–1 victory on 5 May 2007 over Boston United at home which sent their opponents down to the Conference Premier and ensured that Wrexham would stay in the Football League.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Expectations were high for the 2007–08 season, with fans expecting a promotion push.Template:Citation needed However, the season started badly with the club in 24th by November 2007.Template:Citation needed Brian Carey was eventually sacked, and on 15 November 2007, Brian Little was named as Wrexham's new manager and the replacement to Carey, who took the role of assistant manager.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After a promising start to his reign, Wrexham experienced a run of seven straight league defeats, prompting the club to bring in eleven new players during the January transfer window.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Citation needed Wrexham went six matches unbeaten before some poor form which saw defeats against some fellow strugglers.Template:Citation needed Wrexham were finally relegated to non-League following a 2–0 defeat away at Hereford United, ending the club's 87-year stay in the Football League.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The non-League years (2008–2020)

The 2008–09 season started well, with a 5–0 home victory against Stevenage Borough.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However a run of poor results followed, with Wrexham being left in the mid-table battle, only four points above the relegation zone and only keeping two clean sheets all season. Following a 3–0 home defeat against Rushden and Diamonds, and fans calling for his dismissal, Little left Wrexham by mutual consent.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Little was replaced by Dean Saunders.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wrexham's first full season in the Conference Premier ended in a disappointing 10th place.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The following year, 2009–10, ended in a similar fashion with Wrexham finishing in 11th position, well off the pace of the promotion battle.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Wrexham at Wembley Stadium in 2013

In 2010, the club entered into a ground share at the Racecourse Ground with Celtic Crusaders rugby league club, which lasted until 2016. This ground share was credited with helping Wrexham through its administration with then Chief Executive Paul Retout stating "We can’t survive if only 1,800 fans are coming through the gates".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In March 2011, the ownership of the club became subject to two bids: one from Wrexham Supporters' Trust and another from local businesswoman Stephanie Booth.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wrexham's MP and AM indicated that they would prefer Wrexham Supporters' Trust to secure the bid.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A third bid later came in, but after WST and Booth came to an agreement, their bid was then re-accepted. In April 2011, the club was served with a winding-up order from HMRC, with an unpaid tax bill of just under £200,000.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The team finished the 2010–11 season in 4th place, qualifying for a playoff spot, but were beaten 5–1 on aggregate by Luton Town in the semi-final.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

During the 2011–12 season, Wrexham were invited back into the Welsh Cup after 16 years, entering at the third round stage.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> New manager Andy Morrell guided Wrexham to a record tally of 98 points but this was not enough to gain automatic promotion, as they ended the season only 5 points adrift of Fleetwood Town, who gained the only automatic place.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wrexham lost in the play-offs to Luton Town again.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wrexham earned themselves places in both the FA Trophy final and the Conference Premier play-off final, their first two appearances at Wembley Stadium in the club's 150-year history to date, and within five weeks of one another. In the FA Trophy final, Wrexham won on penalties after a 1–1 draw with Grimsby Town.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A 5–2 aggregate win over Kidderminster Harriers in the two-legged play-off semi-final saw Wrexham through to the final versus Newport County, the first play-off final to feature two Welsh teams; Newport defeated Wrexham 2–0.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In June 2013, members of Wrexham Supporters Trust voted on whether they should change the club's name back to Wrexham AFC.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As a result, the name was changed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In February 2014, Andy Morrell stepped down as manager.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Billy Barr was appointed as interim manager before being replaced a few weeks later by Kevin Wilkin.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wrexham finished the 2013–14 season in 17th place.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2018–19, Wrexham finished in 4th place but lost the play-off quarter-final to Eastleigh.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2019–20, the club finished 19th on points per game after the season was ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the lowest position in the club's 150-year history.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

New owners, the Parkinson era, and rise to the Championship (2020–present)

In November 2020, American actor Rob McElhenney and Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, through their RR McReynolds Company LLC, bought the club. The deal received the backing of 98.6% of the 2,000 members of the Wrexham Supporters Trust that voted<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and was completed in February 2021. They were included in FIFA 22 as part of the "Rest of World" section, becoming the first non-league team to be featured in the series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Following the takeover, a docuseries called Welcome to Wrexham was produced by Boardwalk Pictures for FX. The series debuted on 24 August 2022 on FX and Hulu in the United States, followed by a release on Disney+ in the United Kingdom and Ireland the next day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The acquisition by Reynolds and McElhenney and the attendant publicity from Welcome to Wrexham had a significant impact on the club's visibility, leading to its acquiring a new global fanbase with no precedent for a team in the fifth tier.<ref name="auto2"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The club's fortunes began to attract dedicated coverage from global sporting media that would not typically be afforded teams outside the Premier League.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This, in turn, inspired a debate about the potential replicability of this strategy for other lesser-known clubs and leagues, with The Guardian remarking that "everybody wants to ‘do a Wrexham’, but not everybody can."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During the 2021–22 season, under the leadership of newly hired manager Phil Parkinson,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wrexham finished second before losing the play-off semi-final 5–4 to Grimsby Town after extra time.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wrexham also reached the 2022 FA Trophy final which they lost 1–0 to Bromley.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

During the 2022–23 season, the team progressed to the fourth round in the 2022–23 FA Cup, being the only National League team to do so, beating Coventry City in an upset in the third round, and eventually being knocked out by Sheffield United in a replay. The first game against Sheffield United, which ended in a 3–3 draw, was ESPN's most followed football game across its digital platforms.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wrexham tied with Notts County throughout the season to lead the league, trading the first spot back and forth, and both setting new National League records for wins, goals, and goal difference, while 20+ points ahead of the third place team by the end of the season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wrexham secured winning their first league title in 45 years, and were promoted to the EFL League Two after a 15-year absence, following a 3–1 win against Boreham Wood.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref> The club amassed a tally of 111 points that season, a record for the top five divisions of English league football, beating Notts County to the championship and single automatic promotion spot.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wrexham's income increased to over £10 million in the year ending in June 2023.<ref>Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney Bought a U.K. Soccer Club in 2021. It Now Owes Them $11 Million. Robb Report, Abby Montanez, 30 March 2024</ref>

During the 2023–24 season, Wrexham secured a second successive promotion, taking the club to EFL League One, the third tier of the English football system<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and ultimately finished second behind Stockport County.<ref name="Pritchard2024">Template:Cite news</ref> Wrexham was awarded Category Four status as an EFL academy from the 2023/24 campaign with the short-term aim to reach Category Three status<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and operate an Under-18 side. Club Necaxa's backers purchased 5% of Wrexham AFC in April 2024<ref name="Novy-Williams2024">Template:Cite news</ref> and both owners, in turn, purchased a minority stake in Necaxa. The academy was awarded Category Three status as an EFL academy from the 2024/25 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The football club joined the European Club Association in August 2024.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Wrexham playing away to Wellington Phoenix as part of the Wrexham Down Under preseason tour.
Wrexham playing away to Wellington Phoenix as part of the Wrexham Down Under preseason tour.

The 2024–25 season began with Wrexham's first League One match in 19 years, and with the 5,000th recorded league match for the club,<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref> winning at home 3–2 to Wycombe Wanderers. The Allyn family of Skaneateles, New York was announced as a new minority investor in the club in October 2024,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> reportedly taking a near-15% stake, and the club's worth rose to £100 million.<ref name="Turner2025">Template:Cite news</ref> The club's financial statements for the 2023/24 season revealed in March 2025 that the loans from Reynolds and McElhenney, grown to £15 million, had been fully repaid and that the turnover of £26.7 million set a record for a League Two side.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wrexham AFC joined the Football for the Goals initiative of the United Nations in the same month.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 26 April, Wrexham won promotion to the EFL Championship after beating Charlton Athletic 3–0 at home and finished second behind Birmingham City. They became the first club in the history of England's top five football divisions to achieve back-to-back-to-back promotions.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref> This led to the club's valuation increasing to about £150 million according to football finance expert Kieran Maguire, an increase of 7,400% within 4 years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Colours and club badge

Wrexham's home colours are red and white, with the kit itself consisting of a red shirt and white shorts/socks since the late 1930s. Traditional away kit colours have been an inverted colour scheme (i.e. a white shirt and red shorts/socks); however, in recent years several colours have been used. In 2014–15, to celebrate the club's 150th anniversary, Wrexham wore a red and black hooped Nike home shirt as this was the club's first ever recorded home shirt.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following the 2021–22 season, the kit now also has the number "1934" embroidered on the back neck, in remembrance of the Gresford disaster.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The club has previously worn five other badges on their shirts, prior to their current badge being implemented in 2015. The first, used between 1950–1975, was an adoption of the Wrexham borough coat of arms from the 1850s and featured croziers to represent grazing on the land around.<ref name=":9">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1973, a new club badge was adopted, following a design competition in a local newspaper,<ref name=":9" /> with three prominent segments:<ref name=":9" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

  1. The top section, features the feathers of the Prince of Wales and the motto "Ich dien", which means "I serve" in German.<ref name=":10">Scott-Giles, Charles Wilfrid (1967) [1929]. The Romance of Heraldry (Revised ed.). J.M. Dent & Sons. Template:ISBN.</ref> The motto is also a near homophone for Eich Dyn, i.e. "Your Man" in Welsh.<ref name=":10" /> In addition, the green background is one of the two background field colours of the Welsh flag;
  2. The middle section, features two dragons to represent the nation of Wales and a football to mark the sport played by the club. In addition, the white background is the other background field colour of the Welsh flag; and,
  3. The bottom section, contains both the club name and founding year.

In subsequent years, different iterations of the club crest have involved changes to the team name (i.e. fluctuating between Wrexham AFC and Wrexham FC, depending on club ownership) and the founding year (i.e. changed from 1873 to 1864, following unearthed documents revealing the club was founded earlier<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>).<ref name=":9" /> From the 2015–26 season onwards, the club crest has effectively been the 1973 design but with the founding year amended to 1864.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

From 2016 onwards, Macron have been the kit supplier of Wrexham AFC.<ref name="wrexham.com_2016"> Template:Cite web </ref><ref name="MacronRenew2025">Template:Cite news</ref> On 7 July 2025, Ancestry.com was confirmed as an official club partner and the company logo will feature on the front of 2025–26 training wear.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Period Brand Shirt Sponsor Template:Smaller Shirt Sponsor Template:Smaller Shirt Sponsor Template:Smaller
1984–85 Patrick Crosville Buses<ref name=":8">Template:Cite news</ref> rowspan="17" Template:N/a rowspan="17" Template:N/a
1985–87 Winning Ways Marston's<ref name=":8" />
1987–88 Hi-Tec Sports
1988–89 Admiral Sportswear
1989–91 Spall
1991–92 EN-S
1992–98 Wrexham Lager<ref name=":8" />
1998–2002 Super League
2002–04 Vandanel Gap Personnel<ref name=":8" />
2004–06 Just Go<ref name=":8" />
2006–08 Lease Direct<ref name=":8" />
2008–11 Umbro
2011–12 Puma Glyndŵr University<ref name=":8" />
2012–14 Adidas
2014–15 Nike
2015–16 Adidas
2016–21 Macron<ref name="wrexham.com_2016"/><ref name="MacronRenew2025"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ifor Williams Trailers<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2021–22 TikTok<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Expedia<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Aviation American Gin<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2022–23 Vistaprint<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2023–24 Template:Cref United Airlines<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Vistaprint<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> HP Inc.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2024–25 Meta Quest<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2025–Present

Players

First-team squad

Template:Updated

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Out on loan

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Academy

Template:Fs start Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs mid Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs end

Reserves

Between 1988 and 1995 the reserve team of Wrexham played in the Welsh football leagues.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 2 August 2022, Wrexham announced their participation in the Central League<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and remained active in this league as of the 2024–25 season.

Notable former players

For all players with a Wikipedia article, see Wrexham A.F.C. players.

For a complete list of players, see List of Wrexham A.F.C. players with 100+ appearances, 25–99 appearances and 1–24 appearances.

Hall of Fame

The following are members of the Wrexham A.F.C. Hall of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="wrexhamafc.co.uk">Template:Cite web</ref> Entry is not restricted to players; anyone who has made a great contribution to the club in any capacity can be considered.

Name
Template:Flagicon Billy Ashcroft
Template:Flagicon Tommy Bamford
Template:Flagicon Tommy Bannan
Template:Flagicon Ken Barnes
Template:Flagicon Gary Bennett
Template:Flagicon Horace Blew
Template:Flagicon Brian Carey
Template:Flagicon Mark Carrington
Template:Flagicon Ron Chaloner
Template:Flagicon Carroll Clark
Template:Flagicon Karl Connolly
Template:Flagicon Dai Davies
Template:Flagicon Gareth Davies
Template:Flagicon Carlos Edwards
Template:Flagicon Johnny Edwards
Template:Flagicon Mickey Evans
Template:Flagicon Brian Flynn
Name
Template:Flagicon Alan Fox
Template:Flagicon Bert Goode
Template:Flagicon Arfon Griffiths
Template:Flagicon Pryce Griffiths
Template:Flagicon Phil Hardy
Template:Flagicon Ron Hewitt
Template:Flagicon Alf Jones
Template:Flagicon Joey Jones
Template:Flagicon Albert Kinsey
Template:Flagicon Dennis Lawrence
Template:Flagicon Brian Lloyd
Template:Flagicon Cliff Lloyd
Template:Flagicon Andy Marriott
Template:Flagicon Tommy Matthias
Template:Flagicon Eddie May
Template:Flagicon Ally McGowan
Template:Flagicon Sammy McMillan
Name
Template:Flagicon Dixie McNeil
Template:Flagicon Andy Morrell
Template:Flagicon John Neal
Template:Flagicon Gareth Owen
Template:Flagicon Ted Robinson
Template:Flagicon Kevin Russell
Template:Flagicon Bobby Shinton
Template:Flagicon George Showell
Template:Flagicon Denis Smith
Template:Flagicon Ray Smith
Template:Flagicon Mel Sutton
Template:Flagicon Mickey Thomas
Template:Flagicon Billy Tunnicliffe
Template:Flagicon Graham Whittle
Template:Flagicon Mike Williams
Template:Flagicon Wrexham Supporters Trust

Player of the Year

Template:Main

Player records

Template:Main

Non-playing staff

Coaching staff

Template:Updated

Current Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson joined the club in 2021.
Role Name
First-team manager Template:Flagicon Phil Parkinson
First-team assistant manager Template:Flagicon Steve Parkin
First-team coach Template:Flagicon David Jones
Goalkeeping coach Template:Flagicon Aidan Davison
Head of First-Team Operations Template:Flagicon Adam Greaves-Smith
Head of performance, medicine and sport science Template:Flagicon Kevin Mulholland
First team physiotherapist Template:Flagicon Jonny Griffiths
Template:Flagicon Catherine Beattie
First team sports therapist Template:Flagicon Ryan Murray
Template:Flagicon Ashley Paynter
First team sports scientist Template:Flagicon Owen Jackson
First team strength and conditioning coach Template:Flagicon Richard Hill
Performance analyst Template:Flagicon Kyle Crutchley
Template:Flagicon George Parkinson
Chief scout Template:Flagicon Andy Kidby
Kitman Template:Flagicon Iwan Pugh-Jones
Club doctor Dr. James Edgerley

Academy staff

Template:Updated

Role Name
Academy manager Gus Williams
Head of academy coach development Pav Singh
Head of recruitment Chris Burn
Assistant head of recruitment Andrew Jones
Head of player care Toby Rossiter
Head of education & welfare Kierenne Baldwin
Senior physiotherapist Dan Jones
PDP coach Dan Moore
YDP lead Gareth Richards
FP lead Finnley Harris
Lead sports scientist Luke Wakeling
Lead goalkeeping coach Harri Lloyd
S&C coaches Greg Kettlewell
Sam Prior

Club staff

Template:Updated

Role Name
Club historian Geraint Parry
Head of operations Julie Greenwood
Head of ticketing Peter Wynne
Stadium operations manager Phil Bennett
Safety officer Martin Bradley
Head of partnership management Jamie Lewis
Head of media & communications Colin Henrys
Head of community Jamie Edwards
Head of licensing & retail Mike Walker
Head of safeguarding Jamie Dixon
Commercial executive Sion Hughes
Retail store manager Emily Lloyd
Finance director Steve Phillips
Finance manager Iwan Jones
Head of food & beverage Gareth Jones
Disability liaison officer Kerry Evans
Head groundsman Paul Chaloner
Event co-ordinator Steph Lloyd
Ellie Ross
Media executives Will Pritchard
Matt Waters
Head of procurement Thomas Patterson
Head of accounting Paul Craven
Accounts assistant Luke Allwood-Reid
Stadium doctor Dr. Adam Khalifa
Club chaplains Josh Smith
Sarah Sanky
Supporter liaison officer Julie Greenwood

Managerial history

Managerial history for Wrexham AFC from 1912 to present.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Manager Years
Template:Flagicon Ted Robinson 1912–1924
Template:Flagicon Charlie Hewitt 1924–1929
Template:Flagicon Jack Baynes 1929–1931
Template:Flagicon Ernest Blackburn 1932–1937
Template:Flagicon Jimmy Logan 1937–1938
Template:Flagicon Tom Morgan 1938–1940
Template:Flagicon Tom Williams 1940–1949
Template:Flagicon Les McDowall 1949–1950
Template:Flagicon Peter Jackson 1950–1954
Template:Flagicon Cliff Lloyd 1954–1957
Template:Flagicon John Love 1957–1959
Template:Flagicon Cliff Lloyd 1959–1960
Template:Flagicon Billy Morris 1960–1961
Template:Flagicon Ken Barnes 1961–1965
Template:Flagicon Billy Morris 1965
Template:Flagicon Jack Rowley 1966–1967
Template:Flagicon Alvan Williams 1967–1968
Template:Flagicon John Neal 1968–1977
Template:Flagicon Arfon Griffiths 1977–1981
Template:Flagicon Mel Sutton 1981–1982
Template:Flagicon Bobby Roberts 1982–1985
 
Manager Years
Template:Flagicon Dixie McNeil 1985–1989
Template:Flagicon Brian Flynn 1989–2001
Template:Flagicon Joey Jones (caretaker) 2001
Template:Flagicon Denis Smith 2001–2007
Template:Flagicon Brian Carey 2007
Template:Flagicon Brian Little 2007–2008
Template:Flagicon Dean Saunders 2008–2011
Template:Flagicon Andy Morrell 2011–2014
Template:Flagicon Billy Barr (caretaker) 2014
Template:Flagicon Kevin Wilkin 2014–2015
Template:Flagicon Gary Mills 2015
Template:Flagicon Dean Keates 2016–2018
Template:Flagicon Carl Darlington (caretaker) 2018
Template:Flagicon Andrew Davies (caretaker) 2018
Template:Flagicon Sam Ricketts 2018
Template:Flagicon Graham Barrow 2018–2019
Template:Flagicon Bryan Hughes 2019
Template:Flagicon Brian Flynn (caretaker) 2019
Template:Flagicon Dean Keates 2019–2021
Template:Flagicon Phil Parkinson 2021–present
 

Supporters

A sold out Kop End and Mold Road Stand

Wrexham is regarded as "the heart and soul of this Welsh community",<ref name="auto2" /> and has been since the club was founded on 4 October 1864, in The Turf Tavern.<ref name=":12">Template:Cite web</ref> In fact, when faced with being expelled from the Football Conference in 2011,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> fans rallied and subsequently raised £127,000 in a single day so that the club could play in the forthcoming season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A month later, the Wrexham Supporters' Trust (WST) took over the day-to-day running of the club,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and fan ownership of Wrexham was officially ratified on 12 December 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Wrexham fans and local community "saved the club" from government administration,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and at one point, the Wrexham Supporters' Trust had 4,129 adult members and joint-owners of the club.<ref name="wst.org.uk">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2020, following the takeover by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds from the WST,<ref name=":0" /> alongside the global publicity and critical success of the Welcome to Wrexham documentary series, Wrexham AFC experienced a surge in popularity and likewise, an unprecedented new international fanbase for an at the time non-league team.<ref name="auto2" />

In addition to the city of Wrexham, support for the club is drawn from nearby towns in North Wales,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> across the border in Shropshire,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and exiled supporters clubs in South Wales,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Manchester and London.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Notably, Wrexham also have a namesake club in Uganda, i.e. Wrexham F.C. Uganda, established in 2009 by the Welsh charity Teams4U.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Team mascot and nickname(s)

Wrex the Dragon

The club's official team mascot is 'Wrex the Dragon', who made his debut when Wrexham played Manchester United in a testimonial match for Kevin Reeves and Brian Flynn on 4 August 2001, at the Racecourse Ground.<ref name=":11">Template:Cite web</ref> The mascot, along with the team nickname the 'Red Dragons', was introduced in the 2001–02 season in order to help promote the club and broaden the club's Welsh image.<ref name=":11" /> This change was made to better differentiate the club from Bristol City, Swindon Town and Cheltenham Town, who had the same nickname as Wrexham at the time (i.e. 'The Robins').<ref name=":11" />

In 2024, the role of Wrex was played by Anthony Hopkins in an advertisement for STōK Cold Brew during the Super Bowl.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Rivalries

Template:Main

Wrexham has a fierce rivalry with Chester; the two contest the cross-border derby.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The clubs are located just 10 miles apart, but are Welsh and English respectively. The first match was held in 1888 with Wrexham running out 3–2 winners at Faulkner Street, the former home of Chester City; the most recent was played in March 2018 with Wrexham winning 2–0 at the Racecourse Ground.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wrexham lead the head-to-head rivalry with 67 wins compared to Chester's 50. Games between the two are classed as "high risk"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> for the potential of disorder and are generally moved to early kick-offs with a large police presence to prevent it,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> though arrests do still occur for various offenses surrounding the fans of both clubs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Chester vs Wrexham in 1954

Former Chester City player Lee Dixon said of the derby "I'm telling you, Chester versus Wrexham was a real derby! It's difficult to compare if you've not played in each one but there's something special about any derby at any level. I played for Chester v Wrexham and that could get ferocious, it lost nothing in ferocity compared to Arsenal v Spurs".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Former Wales and Liverpool striker Ian Rush, who played for both clubs, said in 2013 that the cross-border derby between the two clubs is "as intense as they come" and "It is like Wales v England really, it is incredible".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Wrexham also have a fierce rivalry with Shrewsbury Town<ref name="footballfanscensus.com">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Tranmere Rovers due to geographical proximity. The games are often moved to early kick-offs, in accordance with police wishes, to minimize the potential of trouble as has happened between clubs previously. In 2003, 32 hooligans were jailed after a Tranmere v Wrexham match at Prenton Park<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and trouble was again evident when the two clubs met in a 2013 friendly at the Racecourse Ground.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Though not as intense as they once were, due to divisional differences, Crewe Alexandra and Port Vale, as well as fellow Welsh clubs Cardiff City, Newport County,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Swansea City are also classed as rivals.<ref name="footballfanscensus.com" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wrexham is represented by a hooligan firm known as the 'Front Line' that have been involved in major disorder around Britain since the early 1980s.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Recent seasons have also seen rivalries cultivated with both Stockport County and Notts County after Wrexham battled Stockport for the 2021–22 National League title, narrowly missing out in spite of a late season surge that saw Wrexham beat Stockport at home twice in the FA Trophy<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and League,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> before battling Notts County for the title in 2022–23 in a season that saw both teams clear the century mark for both goals and points with a 3–2 win on Easter Monday in 2023 for Wrexham, helped by a Ben Foster penalty save in the last minute,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> proving crucial as Wrexham finished 4 points clear of Notts to win the title and promotion back to the EFL. 2023–24 saw Wrexham win another promotion in 2nd place, just behind Stockport who won the league (although Wrexham beat them 2–1 at home on the final day of the season <ref name="Pritchard2024"/>) to ensure the two would be in League One for the 2024–25 League One season. Wrexham would beat Stockport to promotion to the Championship in 2024–25 as they finished 2nd, 5 points clear of Stockport who were defeated in the playoffs.

Since being promoted to League One for the 2024–25 season, Wrexham have formed a rivalry with Birmingham City, who were relegated in the previous season from the Championship. The rivalry has been dubbed the "Hollywood Derby", as Wrexham is owned by American actor Rob McElhenney and Canadian-American actor Ryan Reynolds while Birmingham is partially owned by former American football quarterback Tom Brady.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Ownership and management

Ownership

Wrexham AFC Limited is wholly owned by Wrexham Holdings LLC, which, is then majority owned by the R.R. McReynolds Company LLC.<ref name=":0" /> Ownership of the R.R. McReynolds Company LLC is split equally between Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, such that they are jointly ultimate beneficial owners of the majority of Wrexham AFC Limited.<ref name=":0" />

In terms of minor stakes in Wrexham Holdings LLC, five per cent is held by Al Tylis and Sam Porter (who also own around fifty per cent of Mexican Club Necaxa),<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Novy-Williams2024"/> and "up over 10 per cent" is owned by Red Dragon Ventures LLC.<ref name=":0" /> Red Dragon Ventures LLC is owned by R.R. McReynolds Company LLC and Wrexham Scope LLC (which, is in turn owned by the Allyn Family), with the latter owning a majority stake.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Turner2025"/>

The joint venture (Red Dragon Ventures LLC) further purchased a majority stake in the local firm Wrexham Lager in the same month.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref>

Wrexham Holdings LLC Ownership Breakdown
scope="col" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle" | Person / People scope="col" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle" | Associated company scope="col" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle" | Shares scope="col" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle" | Ref.
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds R.R. McReynolds Company LLC 85% (approx.) <ref name=":0" />
Allyn Family Red Dragons Ventures LLC (via Wrexham Scope LLC) 10% (approx.)
Al Tylis and Sam Porter Al Tylis and Sam Porter Investment Group 5%

Board of directors

Template:Updated

Role Name
Chairman Rob McElhenney & Ryan Reynolds
Directors Kaleen Allyn, Humphrey Ker, Shaun Harvey, Caroline Hutchinson, Thayer Joyce, George Dewey, Ricky Engelberg
Chief Executive Officer Michael Williamson
Chief Business and Communications Officer Rob Faulkner
Chief of Staff Tina Roberts
Advisor to the Board Peter Moore, Les Reed

Honorary

Role Name
Club President Dixie McNeil
Vice Presidents Dave Bennett
Dave Griffiths
Spencer Harris
Gavin Jones
Rob Parry
Phil Salmon
Mark Williams

Stadium

Template:Main

The Racecourse Ground

Wrexham's home stadium is the Racecourse Ground (Welsh: Y Cae Ras), and has been since the club was formed in 1864.<ref name=":7" /> It is the world's oldest international football stadium that still hosts international matches, having been the venue for Wales' first home international match in 1877,<ref name=":7" /> and has hosted more Wales international matches than any other ground.<ref name="welshfootball-racecourse">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2011, Wrexham University purchased the stadium and the club training facilities in Gresford,<ref name="BBC_News2011">Template:Cite news</ref> adding their name to the stadium for a period: i.e., The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium.<ref>Glyndŵr University was the name of Wrexham University at the time.</ref> Subsequently, in 2016, the Wrexham Supporters Trust secured a 99-year lease on the ground, and the name reverted to the Racecourse Ground.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2022, Wrexham AFC Limited purchased the Racecourse Ground freehold from the university.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 3 March 2025, Wrexham County Borough councillors approved the proposal for the construction of a new 5,500-seater Kop stand at the ground. The club aims to have it ready in time for the 2026/27 season, as the stadium is scheduled to host UEFA European Under-19 Championship matches.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The current capacity is 10,500, which made it one of the largest stadiums in the National League.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, the maximum capacity temporarily peaked during the 2024–25 season at 13,341, due to an expanded Kop.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref>

Training ground

Initially, Wrexham's training ground was the purpose-built Colliers Park, in neighbouring Gresford,<ref name="auto1">Template:Cite news</ref> opened in June 1997 at a building cost of £750,000.<ref name="auto1" /> It was widely regarded in English football as one of the best training grounds outside the top flight,<ref name="auto">Template:Cite news</ref> and has been used by the England national team, Barcelona, Rangers and the Wales national team for training purposes.<ref name="auto" /><ref name="Gary2016">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2011, Colliers Park was bought by Glyndwr University as part of their purchase of the Racecourse Ground.<ref name="BBC_News2011"/> Following the acquisition, Wrexham AFC left the training grounds during the 2016–17 season due to financial costs,<ref name="Gary2016"/> and Colliers Park has since been transformed into a National Development Centre by the Football Association of Wales.<ref name="wrexham.com" />

Currently, whilst Wrexham still occasionally train at Colliers Park, the team is now forced to use multiple venues and does not have a permanent training venue.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

European record

European Cup Winners' Cup / UEFA Cup Winners' Cup:

Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Aggregate Ref
1972–73 Cup Winners' Cup First round Template:Flagicon FC Zürich 2–1 1–1 3–2 <ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Second round Template:Flagicon Hajduk Split 3–1 0–2 3–3 <ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1975–76 Cup Winners' Cup First round Template:Flagicon Djurgården 2–1 1–1 3–2 <ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Second round Template:Flagicon Stal Rzeszów 2–0 1–1 3–1 <ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Quarter-final Template:Flagicon Anderlecht 1–1 0–1 1–2 <ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1978–79 Cup Winners' Cup First round Template:Flagicon Rijeka 2–0 0–3 2–3 <ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1979–80 Cup Winners' Cup First round Template:Flagicon FC Magdeburg 3–2 2–5 5–7 <ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1984–85 Cup Winners' Cup First round Template:Flagicon FC Porto 1–0 3–4 4–4 <ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Second round Template:Flagicon Roma 0–1 0–2 0–3 <ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1986–87 Cup Winners' Cup First round Template:Flagicon Żurrieq 4–0 3–0 7–0 <ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Second round Template:Flagicon Real Zaragoza 2–2 0–0 2–2 <ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1990–91 Cup Winners' Cup First round Template:Flagicon Lyngby 0–0 1–0 1–0 <ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Second round Template:Flagicon Manchester United 0–2 0–3 0–5 <ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1995–96 Cup Winners' Cup First round Template:Flagicon Petrolul Ploiești 0–0 0–1 0–1 <ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Honours

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Wrexham's first trophy was the Welsh Cup in 1877–78, which was also the inaugural edition of the tournament.<ref name=":6">Template:Cite web</ref> The club went on to win the Welsh Cup a record twenty-three times, in addition to other domestic cups: namely, the FAW Premier Cup a record five times, and the Football League North Cup, Football League Trophy and FA Trophy each once.<ref name=":6" />

In respect to league titles, the club won two titles in the Welsh Senior League and four titles in The Combination, prior to entering the Football League.<ref name=":6" /> In 1977–78, after decades in the English Football League, Wrexham finally won another league title in the form of the Third Division Championship.<ref name=":6" /> After an extended period of non-League football, the club won the 2022–23 National League and subsequently re-entered the English Football League;<ref name=":5" /> where, Wrexham have since finished second in back-to-back seasons (i.e. in the 2023–24 EFL League Two, and in the 2024–25 EFL League One).

Wrexham AFC's honours include:<ref name="Wrexham History 20220615"/><ref name="History and Honours"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

League

Cup

Club records

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See also

Notes

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References

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