logo
Dale steps down as Wrexham Women's manager

Dale steps down as Wrexham Women's manager

Yahoo23-05-2025
Steve Dale has resigned as the manager of Wrexham AFC Women.
During his four seasons in charge, the 34-year-old led Wrexham to promotion to the Adran Premier in 2023, as well as two Welsh Cup finals.
Their promotion to the Welsh top division paved the way for Wrexham to become the first women's team in Wales to become semi-professional.
"After four fantastic seasons in charge of Wrexham AFC Women, I have made the decision to step down as manager to pursue other opportunities," Dale told the club website.
Dalby and Davies leave Championship-bound Wrexham
Wrexham 'on march to history' after promotion
Fletcher to leave Wrexham 'not by choice'
"I would like to thank everyone at the football club for their support during my time here, and especially to the staff and players for helping us to make history with Wrexham AFC.
"I am hugely proud of our achievements on the pitch, and honoured to have been able to play a part in the growth of women's football not just in Wrexham but the whole of north Wales."
Dale, who was also involved in coaching the men's youth team set-up, first took charge in October 2021 after Mari Edwards' departure.
Wrexham chief executive Michael Williamson said: "We would like to thank Steve for everything he has contributed to women's football here.
"He has helped to change the face of the game not just in Wrexham but in all of Wales, overseeing an historic and hugely successful four years.
"Steve departs with our grateful thanks and with our very best wishes for the future. Our search for his replacement is now under way."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ryan Reynolds And Rob McElhenney May Bring Women's World Cup To Wrexham
Ryan Reynolds And Rob McElhenney May Bring Women's World Cup To Wrexham

Forbes

time6 hours ago

  • Forbes

Ryan Reynolds And Rob McElhenney May Bring Women's World Cup To Wrexham

Ambitious plans to redevelop the oldest venue in the world to stage international soccer could result in Wrexham hosting matches at the 2035 FIFA Women's World Cup. The Welsh club are owned by American actor Rob McElhenney and Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, through their RR McReynolds Company LLC. Since their takeover was approved in 2021, they have helped the team secure three successive promotions from tier five to tier two of the English men's game. The club's fortunes have been documented on the hugely successful FX television series 'Welcome to Wrexham' broadcast on Disney Plus. The Hollywood actors were present on Saturday to see their team play its first game of the new Championship season against West Bromwich Albion, a match watched by an attendance of 10,656 spectators. It was the club's first game at that level for 43 years. The United Kingdom are the sole bidders to host the 2035 FIFA Women's World Cup. It will be the second tournament to feature 48 teams and will therefore utilise more venues than previous editions. The Football Associations of the four nations staging games - England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales - will submit their bid document to FIFA in November which is expected to include up to sixteen stadiums. It is believed that the Football Association of Wales (FAW) want to put forward two stadiums, one in Cardiff, in the south of the country, and one in the north of the nation. The Racecourse Ground (Y Cae Ras in Welsh) is the largest ground in North Wales and has a storied history having first staged games in 1864. Currently, FIFA bid requirements stipulate that a minimum of eight stadiums must be proposed and each stadium must be an all-seater with a minimum capacity of 20,000. This is double the current limit of the Racecourse Ground. A new 7,750-capacity Kop Stand is currently being developed which will take the seating capacity to 18,000. It will be fully compliant with UEFA Category Four stadium requirements. The new Kop will be completed in time for it to be used next summer when the stadium will host matches at the U19 UEFA European Championship. However in May 2024, Reynolds and McElhenney outlined plans to redevelop all four sides of the ground. McElhenney said 'it's hard to say for sure, but we think we can get between 45,000 and 55,000 people in there'. Stadium architects Populous have been appointed to create a masterplan for the venue. Speaking to the Press Association yesterday, Noel Mooney, the chief executive of the Football Association of Wales (FAW) admitted that 'the Kop development is a significant first step and the vision for the stadium is incredible.' 'What Ryan and Rob are doing is amazing. They are looking to look to invest in the stadium and build up the Cae Ras, which is the oldest international ground in the world, and there is a potential North Star for them. The city and the club have a chance to bring a World Cup to North Wales. What a story that would be. What a legacy for Ryan and Rob to leave Wrexham.' The Racecourse Ground first hosted an international games in 1877 when Wales played Scotland on March 5. Since then it has staged 95 senior international Wales matches, more than any other stadium in the country. The last of those came against Gibraltar in October 2023. The Wrexham Women's team were promoted to the Welsh Premier Division in 2023 and finished fourth in the league last season. The investment and interest created by Reynolds and McElhenney have led to a partnership between the women's team and Ally Financial, the largest all-digital bank in the United States. As part of the deal, they organised for the team to compete in tour matches in the United States in 2024 and, this summer, in Hong Kong. Last month, the Welsh women's team competed at their first-ever senior tournament, the UEFA Women's Euro in Switzerland. The Welsh women's team played Sweden at the Racecourse Ground in the UEFA Nations League in February. As hosts of the Women's World Cup, Wales will qualify automatically for a tournament they have never competed at before. Mooney added that 'there is a symbiotic relationship there where we can create a lot of value for each other. People all over the world are talking about Wrexham and that inspires partners like FIFA, commercial bodies and Governments to get involved.'

Wrexham owners' 'legacy' in 2035 Women's World Cup plan
Wrexham owners' 'legacy' in 2035 Women's World Cup plan

Yahoo

time21 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Wrexham owners' 'legacy' in 2035 Women's World Cup plan

Football Association of Wales (FAW) chief executive Noel Mooney has revealed the "legacy" role of Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in their 2035 Women's World Cup plan. The United Kingdom is the sole bidder to host an expanded 48-team tournament in 2035 - and the FAW has targeted two venues among the 16 stadiums planned. The FAW wants one in the south of the country - probably Cardiff City Stadium rather than Welsh rugby's Principality Stadium home - and one in the north, Wrexham's redeveloped Stok Cae Ras home. Wrexham's Hollywood owners Reynolds and McElhenney are seeking to expand the Red Dragons' stadium, with a proposed 7,750-seater Kop stand taking capacity to around 18,000. The pair - who were at the Stok Cae Ras on Saturday to watch newly-promoted Wrexham play their first home game in the Championship - said in May 2024 that development on all four sides of the ground could lead to "between 45,000 and 55,000 people in there". "The Kop development is a significant first step and the vision for the stadium is incredible," Mooney told the PA news agency. "What Ryan and Rob are doing is amazing. They are looking to invest in the stadium and build up the Cae Ras, which is the oldest international ground in the world, and there is a potential north star for them. "The city and the club have a chance to bring a World Cup to north Wales. What a story that would be. What a legacy for Ryan and Rob to leave Wrexham." Reynolds and McElhenney 'don't make football decisions' Wrexham AFC West Brom beat Wrexham to maintain winning start The FAW and Wrexham held talks over the Women's World Cup last week and Wales will host the 2026 European Under-19 Championship next summer. All games will be played in the north at Bangor, Colwyn Bay, Deeside, Denbigh, Deeside and Wrexham, with the Stok Cae Ras hosting the final. "It's our 150th anniversary next year, we were founded in Wrexham, and the story is very powerful for us," added Mooney, who said the FAW will launch a 10-year strategy for Welsh football in 2026. "The impact of Ryan and Rob has been manna from heaven for us, the timing of it. "We've been very fortunate over the last few years to get to a men's World Cup, first women's Euros, and have our young teams starting to qualify for major championships." "That has coincided with Ryan and Rob coming in." Under Reynolds and McElhenney Wrexham have risen from the National League to the Championship with three successive promotions, and manager Phil Parkinson has been able to spend around £20m on player recruitment this summer, including Wales internationals Nathan Broadhead, Kieffer Moore and Danny Ward. "Wrexham has already started collecting a lot of our national team players, and will produce lots of players for us in the future with their investment in youth development and academy," noted Mooney. "There is a symbiotic relationship there where we can create a lot of value for each other. "People all over the world are talking about Wrexham and that inspires partners like Fifa, commercial bodies and governments to get involved." The UK's formal bid for the 2035 Women's World Cup will be submitted in November and likely to be approved by Fifa next year, with all four home nations automatically qualifying for the tournament.

Ryan Reynolds Rob McElhenney's bold World Cup plan sparks talk
Ryan Reynolds Rob McElhenney's bold World Cup plan sparks talk

Yahoo

time21 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Ryan Reynolds Rob McElhenney's bold World Cup plan sparks talk

Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney's bold World Cup plan sparks talk originally appeared on The Sporting News Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have never been shy about big dreams for Wrexham. From Hollywood screens to the oldest international stadium in the world, their story keeps adding new chapters. Now, the co-owners are linked with an idea that could take things to a whole new level — World Cup football in North Wales. The UK is on track to host the 2035 Women's World Cup, with 16 stadiums needed across the four nations. Wales is expected to put forward two venues. Cardiff City Stadium is seen as a certain choice, but there is now growing talk about Wrexham's SToK Cae Ras being the other. 📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp Could Wrexham's Cae Ras really host the World Cup? The answer, surprisingly, is not impossible. Reynolds and McElhenney are pushing ahead with plans to redevelop the Kop stand, a project that could lift capacity past 18,000 in the short term. But their long-term vision is even bolder — a ground that could seat up to 55,000. FAW chief Noel Mooney praised the owners, saying: 'The city and the club have a chance to bring a World Cup to North Wales. What a story that would be. What a legacy for Ryan and Rob to leave Wrexham.' For now, it's still a case of wait and see. Expansion plans must be completed, and FIFA approval is no small hurdle. But as fans know, Wrexham's Hollywood scriptwriters are used to plot twists. From non-league to the Championship, they've already made football fans believe in fairy tales. A World Cup match at Cae Ras might sound like a long shot — but so did everything else when this journey began. Wrexham news and related links The risk behind Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham success explained Wrexham's promotion explained

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store