The Ascent of Wrexham FC: Rising through the Ranks to Football Glory

by , 16 May 2023

As Wrexham Football Club gears up for their campaign in League Two, there is growing anticipation surrounding their prospects of securing back-to-back promotions. This article examines the Wrexham promotion journey and will explore the club’s storied history, their performance this season, standout players, recruitment needs, and the challenges they face in their promotion journey. By drawing inspiration from teams that have achieved consecutive promotions, we explore the exciting journey ahead for Wrexham as they strive to carve their path to success in the footballing landscape. Join us as we delve into the ambitions driving Wrexham’s pursuit of greatness.

Wrexham FC

In the vibrant world of football, stories of underdogs and remarkable triumphs continue to capture our imagination and prove profitable for football betting enthusiasts. Amongst these narratives, Wrexham Football Club has emerged as a compelling tale of resilience, ambition, and determination. As the club embarks on their Wrexham FC promotion journey in League Two, the lowest tier of the English Football League (EFL), fans and pundits alike are eager to assess their chances of securing back-to-back promotions.

This article delves into the rich history of Wrexham FC, their noteworthy performances in the current season, and the key individuals who have propelled their rise. Additionally, we explore the areas where the club may need to recruit to bolster their chances. Drawing inspiration from teams that have achieved back-to-back promotions in the past, we also shed light on the challenges that lie ahead for Wrexham as they strive to etch their name among the notable success stories in football.

By examining Wrexham’s journey through the lens of history, present form, standout players, and potential areas of improvement, we gain insights into the club’s prospects for ascending to higher divisions.

So join us as we explore Wrexham’s quest for promotion and the obstacles they must overcome on their path to prominence in the footballing world.

Will Wrexham be Promoted to the Premier League

Wrexham Association Football Club is the oldest football club in Wales and is in the world’s top ten most senior teams and was founded in October 1864. Like Swansea City and Cardiff City, the Wales outfit plays on the English football ladder.

The club, nicknamed The Red Dragons, is home at the Racecourse Ground, which has a 10,771 capacity. The team came into the limelight after American actor Ryan Reynolds and Canadian Ron McElhenney bought the club in November 2020 by a 98.9% vote.

The question is, “Will Wrexham be promoted to the Premier League?”

We are about to go into the details of the quick transformation of the Welsh side and how momentous the changes are influencing the club, which could lead to a Wrexham promotion.

One step at a time, the Red Dragons finished top of the National League with 111 points to achieve promotion. Furthermore, we highlight the changes, the key players, the significant history of the team, the ownership change and what to expect next season in League Two regarding transfers and performances in their quest to reach the Premier League.

The Historical Roots of Wrexham FC

The Welsh side has become an immediate spectacle attracting interest and attention from all over the world, but the question arises, what is the history of Wrexham?

The team boast a rich history as the oldest club in Wales and the eighth-oldest professional club dating back to October 1864. The team in North East Wales enables them to compete in both Welsh and English competitions and leagues in disparate seasons throughout the years.

They played their first game against Athletic Club, losing 2 – 1 on The Racecourse Ground. The two sides, Athletic Club and Wrexham reformed as Wrexham Football Club in 1872 and won the inaugural Welsh Football Association Cup by a 1 – 0 scoreline in 1878. The first of their record twenty-three Welsh Cup victories.

The Red Dragons are credited with influencing how football was played, and they were the genius behind the pyramid system commencing in the 1877-78 season, consisting of five forwards, three half-backs, and two backs.

Teams around England and Wales replicated the system with a most notable performance by Preston North End side that won the inaugural English Football League and the FA Cup without losing a game for the entirety of the competition.

Wrexham played their first English FA Cup in 1883 in the second round against Oswestry. Wrexham was one of the twelve founding clubs of the second embodiment of the Combination League but walked away due to the enormous costs that prompted them to become the founding comrade of the new Welsh League that they won the two consecutive seasons.

They returned to the Combination in 1896, winning the title four times, including the 1904-05 season, where they won the Welsh Cup, Flintshire Charity Cup, The Denbighshire and the Shropshire Mayors Charity Cup.

The team survived the post-war era by establishing a fund to buy equipment and repair damages and establishing a supporter’s association. However, they were relegated in 1960 to the newly formed Fourth Division back and forth till 1970, when they won the Welsh Cup again and played in the European Cup Winners Cup.

The Red Dragons won their European debut against FC Zurich but were eventually knocked out in the second round by Hajduk Split.

In 1974, they qualified for the quarter-finals of the English FA Cup and, the following season, won the Welsh Cup to head to Europe, where they reached the quarter-finals. In 2012, they finished second in the Conference Premier League, gathering ninety-eight points but lost the playoffs in the semi-finals.

The 2013 FA Trophy Final between Grimsby Town and Wrexham resulted in a 1-1 draw followed by a penalty shoot-out, with Wrexham emerging as the winner. This victory marked Wrexham’s first-ever triumph in the FA Trophy and the first time a Welsh club had secured the trophy. They, however, lost in the playoffs final at the same stadium later in the year.

They attained a decade-long lease on the Racecourse, playing in the Conference Premier League as one of the division’s most exciting, well-attended and supported teams.

Wrexham FC standings over the last decade;

Season League Played Won Drawn Lost Goals For Goals Against Points Position
2012–13 Conference National 46 22 14 10 74 45 80 5th
2013–14 Conference National 46 16 11 19 61 61 59 17th
2014–15 Conference National 46 17 15 14 56 52 66 11th
2015–16 National League 46 20 9 17 71 56 69 8th
2016–17 National League 46 15 13 18 47 61 58 13th
2017–18 National League 46 17 19 10 49 39 70 10th
2018–19 National League 46 25 9 12 58 49 84 4th
2019–20 National League 37 11 10 16 46 49 43 19th
2020–21 National League 42 19 11 12 64 43 68 8th
2021–22 National League 44 26 10 8 91 46 88 2nd
2022–23 National League 46 34 9 3 116 43 111 1st

Wrexham – Promotion after the Heartbreak of Last Season

The 2021/22 season ultimately ended in disappointment for Wrexham as Stockport County pipped them by six points to the one and only automatic promotion spot in the National League.

National League final table, leading positions
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Stockport County 44 30 4 10 87 38 +49 94
2 Wrexham 44 26 10 8 91 46 +45 88
3 Solihull Moors 44 25 12 7 83 45 +38 87
4 FC Halifax Town 44 25 9 10 62 35 +27 84
5 Notts County 44 24 10 10 81 52 +29 82
6 Grimsby Town 44 23 8 13 68 46 +22 77
7 Chesterfield 44 20 14 10 69 51 +18 74

Wrexham lost to Grimsby Town in nine-goal thriller playoffs semi-finals. Grimsby Town booked a place in the National League playoff final that they eventually won (2 – 1 vs Solihull Moors), beating Wrexham 5 – 4 after extra time in an epic semi-final.

Quarter-finals
Date Home Team Result Away Team Venue Attendance Referee
23 May 2022 Notts County 1–2 (a.e.t.) Grimsby Town Meadow Lane, Nottingham 12,023 Sunny Sukhvir Gill
24 May 2022 FC Halifax Town 1–2 Chesterfield The Shay, Halifax 5,661 Scott Tallis
Semi-finals
Date Home Team Result Away Team Venue Attendance Referee
28 May 2022 Wrexham 4–5 (a.e.t.) Grimsby Town Racecourse Ground, Wrexham 9,734 Adam Herczeg
29 May 2022 Solihull Moors 3–1 Chesterfield Damson Park, Solihull 4,026 Thomas Kirk

To make matters worse for the Welsh club, former Red Dragon Luke Waterfall headed the winning goal with a minute of extra-time to play to end the Welsh side’s promotion dream.

The defeat motivated the team to perform exceptionally well this campaign and avoid the playoffs clinching the top spot that guarantees promotion, not to relive last season’s disappointments.

The Welsh side cruised to the top, gathering a mouth-watering 111 points, four points ahead of Notts County to avoid the playoffs. The two sides traded the top spot regularly throughout the season, and Wrexham sat second ahead of their second leg head-to-head, level on a century of points but behind on goal difference and with a game in hand.

They won the encounter 3 – 2 and went unbeaten till the end of the season (winning three, drawing two) to launch their advantage and avoid a repeat of a nervy playoff.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Avg Pts Last 10 Matches
1 Wrexham 46 22 1 0 74 19 +55 111 2.41 WWWWLWdWWD
2 Notts County 46 17 5 1 54 12 +42 107 2.32 WWDWWWLWWD
3 Chesterfield 46 15 2 6 48 27 +21 84 1.82 WWWdLWWWLW
4 Woking 46 11 7 5 38 24 +14 82 1.78 WLWDWDLWLW
5 Barnet 46 12 5 6 35 30 +5 74 1.60 DWDLDddWDL
6 Boreham Wood 46 9 8 6 22 19 +3 72 1.56 LdLWLDWLLW
7 Bromley 46 9 10 4 35 23 +12 71 1.54 LWWWDDWDWD

Wrexham’s promotion will be attributed to mental toughness and eagerness to improve from the heartbreak of last season that pushed them to perform better.

How Did Last Season’s National League Promoted Teams Fare?

Stockport County was promoted to Football League Two as Champions, while Grimsby Town broke the hearts of Wrexham, beating them in the playoff finals to gain promotion.

Although it is common for newly promoted sides to struggle, to their credit, both teams have been exceptional.

Stockport finished the season fourth, four points off third place which could have guaranteed automatic promotion to Football League One.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Leyton Orient 46 26 13 7 61 34 +27 91
2 Stevenage 46 24 13 9 61 39 +22 85
3 Northampton 46 23 14 9 62 42 +20 83
4 Stockport 46 22 13 11 65 37 +28 79
5 Carlisle 46 20 16 10 66 43 +23 76

Instead, they will welcome the visit of Salford for the second leg of the playoff semi-final this Saturday hoping to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg. If they are successful, they will play in the final set for May 28th at Wembley Stadium.

Grimsby Town finished eleventh, contented with playing another season in the Football League after their stint in non-league.

While Grimsby didn’t do as well in the league as Stockport, they received worldwide attention with a fantastic FA Cup run which saw them reach the quarter-finals of the world’s oldest football competition and the owners have promised the money gained will be re-invested in the squad.

There are huge expectations for Wrexham, after fifteen years of hiatus from the Football League, to replicate the performance of last season’s National League Champions Stockport County.

Their performances throughout the season were explosive, and we predict they could take the Football League by storm to finish in the top seven. Finishing in the top three guarantees automatic promotion is top of their objectives but a top seven finish that could either send them to the playoffs in their first season after promotion would be a fascinating story in their ongoing fairy-tale.

The Power Behind the Throne: The Owners of Wrexham FC

We have heard of the names Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, but Who are Wrexham’s Owners?

The most popular of the two is Canadian American actor Reynolds who came to the limelight with commercial success with epic performances in the movie Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018), following up with exceptional performances in Red Notice, Free Guy and The Adam Project.

The maestro started his career in a Canadian teen soap opera, Hillside and was the lead character on ‘Two Guys and a Girl Between’ between 1998 and 2001.

The 46-year-old was named 2010 People’s Sexiest Man Alive, and in 2017 he received the landmark award of Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Rob McElhenny’s breakthrough and most famous acting performance was and are his performance in the comedy series, ‘It’s always sunny in Philadelphia, which has aired for about two decades. In addition, he produced Mythic Quest, Lost, ER, and Law and Order. He is a co-creator and writer of the series. His memorable contribution as an executive producer in the sports documentary ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ familiarised him with the football world.

The actor-turned-businessman owns a stake in Mint Mobile, while Reynold founded a production company called Maximum Effort in 2018. It is believed the two actors turned businessmen started venturing into the same business in 2019 when it was revealed that the Deadpool star owned 25% of Mint Mobile.

The breakthrough venture, however, was when the two co-opened the company RR McReynolds Company LLC to purchase Wrexham in November 2020.

It is believed British writer and comedian Humphrey Ker was the genius behind generating the idea for McElhenney to have an interest in football through their lunch habits. Ker, now the club’s executive director, worked with the actor for quite a while and developed a lunchtime football ritual during the break.

McElhenney then pitched the idea to Reynold, who loved the idea, and the two quickly found a football brokerage team in New York. Ker runs the club from the United States and has made the National side a Hollywood destination with high-profile actors affiliated with the two owners, such as David Beckham, John Cleese, Paul Rudd, Will Ferrell, Emma Corrin, and Hugh Jackman.

The surprise appearances of the icons have strategically increased the attendance, with fans excited by their team is a deal to be associated with such figures they see on the stands and get to interact with after the games. In addition, the move has led to an influx of income from tickets because of the high attendance in matches, as the club boasts the highest numbers in League One, League Two and the Nations League.

The Wrexham fans are living the dream and looking forward to their matchdays.

Wrexham’s Pride: Spotlight on Key Players

The big question we want to highlight is who are the key players in the Wrexham team? Look no further as we give a detailed review of the goalkeeper who came out of retirement to save the Red Dragons’ season. They are the two prolific attackers in the team and their most consistent defender and midfielder.

Paul Mullin

Wrexham goal-scoring machine with thirty-eight goals in forty-six appearances this campaign. The twenty-eight-year-old has been their most prolific goal scorer, with sixty-six goals since joining Cambridge United in 2021.

He, however, missed out on the golden boot to Macaulay Langstaff, who bagged forty-one goals. Nevertheless, the maestro has scored in the team’s last four wins, including their most important game of the season against title rivals Notts County and bagged two against Boreham Wood to secure the title. In addition, the Englishman’s fitness levels are commendable, with the attacker starting forty-six games as the most used player in the team and delivering consistently throughout.

Paul Mullin Record 2022-23
Tournament Apps Goals Assists
National League Premier 46 38 0
FA Cup 5 8 0

Ollie Palmer

Second in line in the goal-scoring department is Palmer, who bagged sixteen goals in thirty-seven appearances. The thirty-one-year-old attacker made to the side in January 2022 was the club record signing, with the team coughing up £300,000 for his services. However, the maestro is a natural goal poacher, and his partnership with Mullin could provide more goals as they hope to gain immediate promotion from League Two.

Ben Foster

The former English international goalkeeper came out of retirement to join Wrexham at forty years of age. He had a loan spell in the 2004-05 season where he made seventeen appearances, and since joining, he has already made eight appearances. The maestro showed his experience and, most importantly, contributed to the team’s title charge when he saved a ninety-seven-minute penalty in their most crucial game of the season against title rivals Notts County to maintain his side’s 3 – 2 lead. He is expected to be the most vital player in their journey, using his experience to help them manoeuvre crucial moments in a season.

Ben Tozer

The second player after Mullin to appear in all forty-six league games in the National League. The central defender captains the side and has been the cool figure leading the team from behind. He played an integral part in keeping the backline solid in their twenty-eight-game unbeaten run that gave them mileage in the title race they eventually won. The thirty-three-year-old and Foster have the uphill task of inspiring and motivating the team through the season.

James Jones

In the heart of the midfield is twenty-seven-year-old Scottish midfielder James. Jones scored four goals in forty-five games and was the team’s most used and prolific midfielder. The maestro has excellent goal distribution and is the most efficient player in delivery on the side will be one to look out for in the promotion season.

Rising Above the Challenge: Wrexham’s Chances in League Two

League Two feels like an achievable step in Wrexham’s promotion journey. However, the setup differs slightly from what Wrexham have been accustomed to in the National League.

Despite featuring the same number of teams (twenty-four), the top three teams attain automatic promotion as the preceding four teams are embroiled in a playoff to determine who takes the final fourth spot to League One.

The goal of getting back-to-back promotions would be an incredible fairy tale story that is realistic with the enormous financial muscle they boast and the interest they have pulled over the years. They have to recover lost time after their defeat in the playoffs last season, meaning they could be battling for League One promotion this season, but they have become a better side this campaign and will hope to carry the form to the next level. Not gaining promotion last year may have actually helped them as it instilled mental toughness and a greater understanding of each other.

It has happened before! Bristol Rovers was the last team to attain immediate consecutive promotion from the National League to League One between 2014-16.

Some teams have done even better.

Luton Town has experienced a rollercoaster journey from the top division to non-league football and now finds itself on the brink of reaching the Premier League if they can overturn a 2-1 defeat by Sunderland in the Championship semi-final playoffs. In 1991/92, Luton last played in the First Division, just a year before the establishment of the Premier League. However, they were eventually relegated and spent five seasons in non-league football. Nevertheless, their remarkable recovery could see them join the exclusive club group that has risen from non-league to the Premier League.

Wigan Athletic is another club with a remarkable rise through the football divisions. In 1977, they were not even a professional club and played in non-league football. However, their success in the lower levels led to their promotion to the Football League in 1978. With the support of owner Dave Whelan, Wigan climbed from the Fourth Division to the Premier League in just 23 years. Whelan’s investments in players paid off, and one of them, Roberto Martinez, went on to manage Belgium at the World Cup. Wigan even lifted the FA Cup in 2013. Although they experienced a slide down the leagues, they have rallied and now compete in the Championship.

Wimbledon FC, which later became the MK Dons, achieved a similar feat. They were elected to the Football League in 1977 and quickly climbed the divisions, reaching the top flight in 1986, just nine years after entering the professional ranks. Their most outstanding achievement came in 1988 when they won the FA Cup, defeating Liverpool in the final. The Crazy Gang, known for their uncompromising style of play, became a team to be reckoned with, even if they didn’t receive much praise. Wimbledon stayed in the Premier League until 2000 before facing financial difficulties and being relocated to Milton Keynes. However, the spirit of the Crazy Gang lives on in AFC Wimbledon, a club founded in protest of the original Wimbledon’s move.

While Blackpool FC didn’t drop to non-league football, they faced the threat of relegation in the 1982/83 season. They were in the relegation places finishing 21st in the old Division Four. However, the rules at the time required the Conference champions to win a membership vote for promotion to the professional ranks. Maidstone United, the hopeful non-league champions, failed to secure the necessary votes, giving Blackpool a lifeline. They seized the opportunity and eventually reached League One in 1992 and the Championship in 2007. In 2010, they won the playoffs and earned promotion to the Premier League, completing a remarkable ascent from the bottom of the football pyramid.

The format is also very convenient; they must finish in the top seven for a reasonably achievable promotion. They will also build their motivation from the strides that last season National League winners, Stockport County working their way to the playoffs to try to write a replica of their story and get a shot at promotion. The thought of this should wow Wrexham supporters, who are growing by the numbers daily.

Wrexham New Blood: Potential Transfers and Acquisitions

Wrexham has the financial muscle, and with their American celebrity owner bringing in the media attention, they can attract the players they want and need to make League season a success. We anticipate they will make the necessary acquisition to boost the team and improve its weaknesses.

Let us look at who Wrexham may buy to improve their team and what areas need reinforcement. There is a definite need to boast the Wrexham squad, as competition is healthy for the team’s development.

Creative Midfield; Burns and Thomas

The team needs to add depth in the midfield, as they have not been dominant at the centre of the park. They have to compete more, especially physically in the midfield and find a more consistent figure who can deliver throughout the season. Ipswich winger Wes Burns has been linked to the team and could be an essential inclusion, with the maestro having nineteen goal involvements (eight goals, eleven assists). Although the eleven assists are pretty delicious for a side with lethal goal-scorers like Miller, you would understand why they are eyeing a creative player like Burns from Ipswich Town. Sorba Thomas from Huddersfield Town has been linked to the team as well.

Experienced Players; Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey

The manager Phil Parkinson has a policy of staying away from the loan market. Still, with the outgrowing ambitions of the teams, it won’t hurt to get two or more loan players from high-profile clubs to assist in developing the team players.

Former Wales captain Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey are on the high-profile list, and Ryan Reynolds has been very public in declaring his longing for the Welshman to join. However, the pursuit is likely tongue-in-cheek and would be a seismic shock if the former Tottenham and Real Madrid man joined the League Two club.

McElhenney said recently, “I think there’s seriousness from our side, but I don’t know that there’s seriousness from his. I think he’s happy,”

Journalist Dean Jones said, “The momentum that Wrexham have built over the past year is staggering. It will be interesting to discover how they continue to build as they enter the Football League.

“From what I have heard so far in terms of signings, they will turn to Welsh players where possible – players that can fit the model. That identity is important to all of this. People want that to mean they will be signing Hollywood names like Bale and Ramsey, but more realistic options include Ipswich’s Wes Burns or Sorba Thomas, who has been on loan at Blackburn from Huddersfield.

“If you think about how Newcastle have adjusted to their newfound wealth at the top of the Premier League and built steadily and smartly, this is going to be a lower league version of that.

Aaron Ramsey also seems very unlikely. The 32-year-old is currently with Ligue 1 club Nice where he has played 27 games this season, scoring one and assisting one.

Aaron Ramsey 2022-23 Stats
Tournament Apps Mins Goals Assists Yel Red SpG PS% AerialsWon MotM Rating
UEFA Nations League A Wales 0(2) 79 – 1 – – 1 82.4 0.5 1 7.53
Ligue 1 18(9) 1588 1 1 3 – 0.8 87.8 0.2 1 6.69
European Championship Wales 2 154 – – – – – 81.4 0.5 – 6.37
FIFA World Cup Wales 3 267 – – 1 – 0.3 81.1 – – 5.97
Conference League 3 N/A – N/A 1 – N/A N/A N/A N/A –
Total / Average 37 2088 1 2 5 0 0.7 86.5 0.2 2 6.66

Ramsey’s current deal runs out this summer, having signed for Nice on a 12-month contract from Juventus. However, it seems likely that the Welshman will extend his stay in France.

A Youthful Goalkeeper

The heroics of forty-year-old Ben Foster with the penalty save will go down as one the most iconic moments in the club’s history. However, given their ambitions, there is a need to find a feasible younger option that can produce such performances consistently and for a long time. Rob Lainton has been exceptional but has been plagued with injuries and will be a considerable risk in their quest for promotion from league two with the thirty-three-year-old as their main gloves.

The Road Ahead for Wrexham FC

Wrexham FC has a similar story to Newcastle United. Despite the enormous financial takeover, they don’t need to overspend on buying expensive players; the change in ownership motivates the players with an increase in salaries and incentives. Imagine David Beckham sitting in your stands and cheering you on; that’s a fate even the Championship side thirst for; that’s why we have seen a significant improvement in the team’s performances. Now you can understand why the Wrexham players have been performing exceptionally well.

The big question is, will Wrexham be promoted? I believe they will. The format of League Two is accommodating, starting a season with a goal for a top-three finish to qualify automatically.

“There is little doubt that Wrexham will be the team with the most focus on them next season and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them clinch back-to-back promotions. Wrexham tend to do it the hard way, so I’m predicting a playoff victory next year.” – Luke Andrews, Betting Expert – UK Market.

They can land in seventh position and contest the playoffs if they fail to achieve this. Despite my setting the standards so low to show the potential, they are League Two prospects with a definite shot at winning the title if they can replicate this season’s performance in the National league.

The team is motivated, and it would be Hollywood ending if they and American icons could make it to the greatest league in the world, the Premier League.

Paddy Power has joined the Hollywood frenzy with their latest offering, the ‘Wrexham Specials 2023/24’ section. In this category, the Wrexham promotion odds to achieve a remarkable back-to-back promotion are set at evens.

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