Latest news with #A-League
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Report reveals accuracy of A-League match officials improved during 2024-25 season
Referees boss Jon Moss has hailed the 'professionalism' of A-League match officials following an improvement in decision-making accuracy during the 2024-25 season. Football Australia's end-of-season refereeing and video assistant referee report revealed that a 'benchmark' 98.8 per cent of VAR decisions were correct. The report showed that VAR reviews had reduced to 48 – 44 fewer than the pre-season – across 1556 on-field decisions, and there was an intervention rate of just 4 per cent. 'We're seeing tangible year-on-year improvement, not just in accuracy, but in game management and the integration of new talent into the elite level,' Moss said. 'The data tells a clear story – fewer cards, fewer incorrect calls, and more consistency. 'This is a credit to the professionalism of our referees and their willingness to adapt to the tactical shifts occurring in the A-League.' Yellow cards per game dropped by 12.8 per cent from the previous season, while the total number of red cards fell by 56.8 per cent and second yellow-card dismissals were down by 13 per cent. FA interim chief executive officer Heather Garriock said the data 'demonstrates the progress we're making in delivering officiating that is both accurate and aligned with the modern game'. 'To see improved decision-making across the board, combined with fewer cards and a low VAR intervention rate, speaks volumes about the quality and consistency of our match officials,' Garriock said.
Sydney Morning Herald
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney FC v Wrexham AFC as it happened: Teenage sub steals the show as Sky Blues win 2-1
Posts area Go to latest Pinned post from 9.09pm on Jul 15, 2025 WATCH: Joe Lacey's stunning goal Latest posts 10.07pm on Jul 15, 2025 Thanks and good night That'll be all from us on the live blog tonight. Thanks for reading along. Hope you enjoyed the game and our coverage - and I hope you do as Ufuk Talay says and watch the A-League this coming season, because it's absolutely worth your time. This event all about Wrexham - and it was - but Sydney FC put on a good show too and stole some of the spotlight at Allianz Stadium tonight. What a moment for Joe Lacey, as well. Cheers, and have a great night. 10.05pm on Jul 15, 2025 Ufuk Talay: 'Hopefully we've excited these people and they buy memberships' Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay, meanwhile, had a message for the 40,000 fans who turned up - many of whom, we presume, have not been to an A-League game before. Maybe they should think about it. As much as we're here to win games and win trophies, we're here to entertain as well. And it's great that the young boys came on and entertained and we scored a goal to win the game. That's what football is, and that's the brand that we've always tried to play. That's the brand that we want to play at Sydney FC where we are getting in goal scoring opportunities sometimes, we are defending our box with desperation and we want to score goals to win games. Hopefully we've excited these people and they buy memberships and they come to our games. As he said in our story quoting him yesterday, though, Talay wasn't having any of the debate about where the A-League would hypothetically rank in the English pyramid and how teams like his compare with the likes of Wrexham: I personally don't like this comparison. They play in their own competition. We play in our own competition. And I don't think we're comparing apples with apples at the same time. It's apples with oranges. Their budgets compared to our budgets are totally different. But one thing I will say, our game is the A-League. So we should love and support our domestic game regardless, because it is our game. And the talent it produces, you look at the Socceroos where Popa [Tony Popovic] selects players from within our competition. So obviously our competition level is good enough for players to be selected to play at international level. We do produce players, players do go overseas. In the last two and a half years, I think Sydney's made sales that they've never made before previously in the 20 years that the club's been around for. It is our game and I think comparing it with other competitions, I don't believe it's the right thing to do. 10.00pm on Jul 15, 2025 Phil Parkinson: 'Some of the quality from us wasn't where it needs to be' Coach Phil Parkinson wasn't overly happy with how Wrexham played: As a workout, it was a decent game for us. Some of the quality from us wasn't where it needs to be. First half, I thought we were in control, got the goal and then conceding off a set play, it gave them a lift … second half, we got a lot of good possession, got into some good areas but the quality of our crossing wasn't where it needed to be to go and take advantage of that kind of pressure we had. In fairness to [Sydney's] youngsters, the lad who came on and scored the goal produced one moment of real quality in the second half and that's what football is about. It's big moments and credit to him for that. Parkinson was, however, impressed with the calibre of talent in the Australian game - particularly young talent. It was put to him that one of Wrexham's rivals in the Championship this coming season, Portsmouth, have gone big on Aussie players in the belief that there are undervalued players here and therefore transfer bargains to be had. You look at the young players who came on tonight, the athleticism of them and the quality … the European market is expensive and they've dipped into the Australian market. In every league there's quality players to be identified and signed but I think the Sydney youngsters tonight, in front of 40,000 people, what an opportunity for them. Same as a few of our youngsters, two in the first half: Aaron James and Harry Ashfield. That was a big game for them today, playing at a stadium like this in front of such a great crowd. 9.57pm on Jul 15, 2025 Danny Ward: 'Sydney played really well' We've just heard from some of the players and coaches in the post-match press conference, starting with Danny Ward, the former Liverpool and Leicester City goalkeeper who now plays with Wrexham. He was impressed with the talent on show from Sydney FC, and the huge crowd that turned out to watch them. Playing in front of big crowds at this point of the season is a testament not only to the people of Sydney, but also how big the club and the direction that Wrexham's going in as well. To draw a crowd like that in our second pre-season game is top. In terms of the game, I thought Sydney played really well. They were sharp and gave us a real good test. The result aside, it's a good workout for the boys. It's pre-season. We're here to get fit and get our sharpness and ideas back across. The result aside, I think we did that. 9.34pm on Jul 15, 2025 Joe Lacey: 'It just felt like a video game. It felt like I had a VR headset on.' Awesome stuff from Joe Lacey, the 18-year-old junior for Curl Curl, speaking on Paramount+ about what I'm safely assuming is the greatest moment of his life so far. It's massive. My mum's Welsh. It's very big for me and my family because they're all watching in Wales. She's there at the moment actually, so it's huge. All credit to the boys. On the goal: It just felt like a video game. It felt like I had a VR headset on. I didn't know what to do to celebrate, I just chucked my hands in the air. I had all the boys around me, it made it even more special. 9.20pm on Jul 15, 2025 FULL-TIME: Sydney FC 2-1 Wrexham AFC And that's it! Sydney FC have done it. The full-time whistle has blown and they have secured a 2-1 victory over Wrexham AFC. An own goal off Corey Hollman in the 18th minute gave the Red Dragons the lead, but they couldn't hold it. On the stroke of half-time, Alex Popovic pulled Sydney FC level - and after both sides made mass changes at about the hour mark, the Sky Blues were simply the better team, with Joe Lacey's match-winning goal in the 74th minute the absolute highlight of the match. People came here to soak in a bit of that Wrexham magic, but they will leave talking about the promise of Sydney's next generation of talent. Superb. 9.15pm on Jul 15, 2025 Sydney FC are almost there Just a few minutes left in this match and what a feat it would be if Sydney FC can seal the victory here. Since those changes at about the 60-minute mark, they've been fielding what is essentially an NPL team. Every player, bar Devenish-Meares, has come through their academy. Yes, Wrexham made 10 changes too but you'd expect a club of their calibre to have better depth than the A-League's seventh-best team from last season. Terrific signs for the future. Sydney FC 2-1 Wrexham AFC, 87 minutes 9.09pm on Jul 15, 2025 WATCH: Joe Lacey's stunning goal 9.08pm on Jul 15, 2025 More than 40,000 fans in the house The official crowd for tonight is 40,242. Massive turnout. That's about 5000 more than the crowd that watched the Socceroos beat Indonesia here a few months ago. In a live, consequential World Cup qualifier. 9.06pm on Jul 15, 2025 These kids are alright These young Sky Blues are well on top, winning back-to-back corners and continuing to apply pressure on the visiting side. They've got their tails up - no fear, just confidently attacking the game as kids do. In fact they've looked the better team since the mass substitutions about 20-odd minutes to go. Bodes well for the upcoming A-League season if this is the depth that Sydney FC has to lean upon. I've said it before and I'll say it again - Australia is producing some really good talent these days.
Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Wrexham's transfer budget at source of opponent's frustration with spending spree to continue
Sydney FC's head coach rejected comparisons to Wrexham, who the A-League side beat 2-1 in a pre-season friendly, citing vast budget differences compared to the Championship club The manager of one of Wrexham's pre-season opponents has rejected comparisons between the two sides after highlighting the financial gulf between them. The Red Dragons are currently taking part in a tour of Australia and New Zealand as they prepare for life in the Championship next term by taking on a trio of A-League clubs. Phil Parkinson's side eased to a comfortable 3-0 win in their opening friendly against Melbourne Victory last week. However, they suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat to a young Sydney FC team on Tuesday. Wrexham, owned by Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, were dealt a further blow as star midfielder Ollie Rathbone was taken to hospital for an X-ray after injuring his ankle during the first half of the game. Sydney boss Ufuk Talay praised the Welsh outfit's quality during his post-match press conference, but took issue when asked to compare them to A-League standards. He said: "I personally don't like this comparison. They [Wrexham] play in their own competition, we play in our own competition. I don't think we're comparing apples with apples at the same time - it's apples with oranges. "Their budgets compared to our budgets are totally different. Our game is the A-League so we should love and support our domestic game regardless. Our competition level is good enough for players to be selected at international level." While Sydney play in the top tier of Australian football, the spending power of teams in the division pales in comparison to Wrexham's. A "soft" salary cap of £1.24m ($2.55m) currently exists in the A-League to try and stop teams from spending beyond their means. Some exceptions are allowed for marquee signings, with the average annual wage bill standing at £2.34m ($4.8m) per club in 2023-24, according to Professional Footballers Australia. By contrast, Wrexham's wage bill for the same season was £11m, taking into account pay for both playing and non-playing staff. The figure covers the period when the club gained automatic promotion from League Two. Their spending shows no sign of slowing either after signing two players so far in the summer transfer window. Plymouth striker Ryan Hardie and Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward have been brought in to bolster Wrexham's squad. More new arrivals are expected, with a £5m fee reportedly agreed with Nottingham Forest for midfielder Lewis O'Brien. While negotiations are ongoing over personal terms, the deal would dwarf Wrexham's current record transfer fee of around £2m if it goes ahead. Liverpool left-back Owen Beck has also been linked with a move to the Racecourse Ground. While Wrexham's main focus is currently on their tour Down Under, Parkinson said the club is still working hard to bring in new faces. Writing for The Athletic, Parkinson said: "We might be on the other side of the world for a couple of weeks, but recruitment doesn't stop just because we're away. "We made a couple of signings — Ryan Hardie and Danny Ward — before the tour, but we're still looking to add extra quality before the season starts. Those attempts continue regardless of whether we are in Australia, New Zealand or back home in Wales." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'. But does it have a dedicated, quality source of information piped through to your inbox each week, free of ads but packed with informed opinion, analysis and even a little bit of fun each week? That's where Wrexham is the Game steps in... Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'Great addition': Jets land new keeper for upcoming A-League season
The Newcastle Jets have bolstered their goal-keeping stocks for the upcoming A-League Men's season by signing former Adelaide United goalkeeper James Delianov. The 25-year-old, who played 60 games for the Reds across five seasons, has linked with Newcastle for the next two years. A Victorian, Delianov has spent the majority of his A-League career at the Reds, who he joined in 2020 after stints with Western United and Melbourne City, where he played just one game. The former Australian under-17s and 20s representative kept 12 clean sheets with Adelaide, but has joined the Mark Milligan era at Newcastle. Delianov will vie with home-grown keeper Noah James to be the Jets' first-choice shot-stopper. The more youthful Jordan Baylis and Oscar Archbold are also training with the top squad. "I'm excited to begin this chapter with the Newcastle Jets. I want to get started right away and immerse myself at this club and the work starts now," Delianov said in a statement released by the Jets late Wednesday. "I'm looking forward to meeting all the fans and I want to represent the Jets with pride every time I put on the jersey and give nothing short of 100 per cent." Milligan, in his first head-coaching role at Newcastle - after the club parted ways with Rob Stanton in May - continues to build his roster ahead of the 2025/26 season, which begins in October. In addition to Delianov, the Jets have added fellow experienced A-League players Max Burgess and Alex Badolato since Milligan took charge. Irish defender Joe Shaughnessy, who has been playing in the Scottish Premier League, has also signed on for the next two years. "We look forward to getting James in and on the training pitch," Milligan said. "James has a lot of potential that is still to be unlocked and will be a great addition to the squad with his ambition and determination. "We strongly believe he will add to the goal-keeping stocks we already have and create great competition in that position. "Something that we strive for across all positions in the squad." Milligan's squad began pre-season training this month. They were playing a friendly match in Sydney against one of Milligan's old NPL clubs on Wednesday night. The 2025/26 season draw will be released in coming weeks. The Jets are set to announce details of an exhibition match and other pre-season activities on Thursday. The Newcastle Jets have bolstered their goal-keeping stocks for the upcoming A-League Men's season by signing former Adelaide United goalkeeper James Delianov. The 25-year-old, who played 60 games for the Reds across five seasons, has linked with Newcastle for the next two years. A Victorian, Delianov has spent the majority of his A-League career at the Reds, who he joined in 2020 after stints with Western United and Melbourne City, where he played just one game. The former Australian under-17s and 20s representative kept 12 clean sheets with Adelaide, but has joined the Mark Milligan era at Newcastle. Delianov will vie with home-grown keeper Noah James to be the Jets' first-choice shot-stopper. The more youthful Jordan Baylis and Oscar Archbold are also training with the top squad. "I'm excited to begin this chapter with the Newcastle Jets. I want to get started right away and immerse myself at this club and the work starts now," Delianov said in a statement released by the Jets late Wednesday. "I'm looking forward to meeting all the fans and I want to represent the Jets with pride every time I put on the jersey and give nothing short of 100 per cent." Milligan, in his first head-coaching role at Newcastle - after the club parted ways with Rob Stanton in May - continues to build his roster ahead of the 2025/26 season, which begins in October. In addition to Delianov, the Jets have added fellow experienced A-League players Max Burgess and Alex Badolato since Milligan took charge. Irish defender Joe Shaughnessy, who has been playing in the Scottish Premier League, has also signed on for the next two years. "We look forward to getting James in and on the training pitch," Milligan said. "James has a lot of potential that is still to be unlocked and will be a great addition to the squad with his ambition and determination. "We strongly believe he will add to the goal-keeping stocks we already have and create great competition in that position. "Something that we strive for across all positions in the squad." Milligan's squad began pre-season training this month. They were playing a friendly match in Sydney against one of Milligan's old NPL clubs on Wednesday night. The 2025/26 season draw will be released in coming weeks. The Jets are set to announce details of an exhibition match and other pre-season activities on Thursday. The Newcastle Jets have bolstered their goal-keeping stocks for the upcoming A-League Men's season by signing former Adelaide United goalkeeper James Delianov. The 25-year-old, who played 60 games for the Reds across five seasons, has linked with Newcastle for the next two years. A Victorian, Delianov has spent the majority of his A-League career at the Reds, who he joined in 2020 after stints with Western United and Melbourne City, where he played just one game. The former Australian under-17s and 20s representative kept 12 clean sheets with Adelaide, but has joined the Mark Milligan era at Newcastle. Delianov will vie with home-grown keeper Noah James to be the Jets' first-choice shot-stopper. The more youthful Jordan Baylis and Oscar Archbold are also training with the top squad. "I'm excited to begin this chapter with the Newcastle Jets. I want to get started right away and immerse myself at this club and the work starts now," Delianov said in a statement released by the Jets late Wednesday. "I'm looking forward to meeting all the fans and I want to represent the Jets with pride every time I put on the jersey and give nothing short of 100 per cent." Milligan, in his first head-coaching role at Newcastle - after the club parted ways with Rob Stanton in May - continues to build his roster ahead of the 2025/26 season, which begins in October. In addition to Delianov, the Jets have added fellow experienced A-League players Max Burgess and Alex Badolato since Milligan took charge. Irish defender Joe Shaughnessy, who has been playing in the Scottish Premier League, has also signed on for the next two years. "We look forward to getting James in and on the training pitch," Milligan said. "James has a lot of potential that is still to be unlocked and will be a great addition to the squad with his ambition and determination. "We strongly believe he will add to the goal-keeping stocks we already have and create great competition in that position. "Something that we strive for across all positions in the squad." Milligan's squad began pre-season training this month. They were playing a friendly match in Sydney against one of Milligan's old NPL clubs on Wednesday night. The 2025/26 season draw will be released in coming weeks. The Jets are set to announce details of an exhibition match and other pre-season activities on Thursday. The Newcastle Jets have bolstered their goal-keeping stocks for the upcoming A-League Men's season by signing former Adelaide United goalkeeper James Delianov. The 25-year-old, who played 60 games for the Reds across five seasons, has linked with Newcastle for the next two years. A Victorian, Delianov has spent the majority of his A-League career at the Reds, who he joined in 2020 after stints with Western United and Melbourne City, where he played just one game. The former Australian under-17s and 20s representative kept 12 clean sheets with Adelaide, but has joined the Mark Milligan era at Newcastle. Delianov will vie with home-grown keeper Noah James to be the Jets' first-choice shot-stopper. The more youthful Jordan Baylis and Oscar Archbold are also training with the top squad. "I'm excited to begin this chapter with the Newcastle Jets. I want to get started right away and immerse myself at this club and the work starts now," Delianov said in a statement released by the Jets late Wednesday. "I'm looking forward to meeting all the fans and I want to represent the Jets with pride every time I put on the jersey and give nothing short of 100 per cent." Milligan, in his first head-coaching role at Newcastle - after the club parted ways with Rob Stanton in May - continues to build his roster ahead of the 2025/26 season, which begins in October. In addition to Delianov, the Jets have added fellow experienced A-League players Max Burgess and Alex Badolato since Milligan took charge. Irish defender Joe Shaughnessy, who has been playing in the Scottish Premier League, has also signed on for the next two years. "We look forward to getting James in and on the training pitch," Milligan said. "James has a lot of potential that is still to be unlocked and will be a great addition to the squad with his ambition and determination. "We strongly believe he will add to the goal-keeping stocks we already have and create great competition in that position. "Something that we strive for across all positions in the squad." Milligan's squad began pre-season training this month. They were playing a friendly match in Sydney against one of Milligan's old NPL clubs on Wednesday night. The 2025/26 season draw will be released in coming weeks. The Jets are set to announce details of an exhibition match and other pre-season activities on Thursday.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Hollywood-worthy drama in Wrexham friendly, star player sent to hospital
A near sell-out crowd in Sydney watched Hollywood-backed Welsh club Wrexham on Tuesday night, as a teenage A-League rising star shone bright in a 2-1 win for the home side. An impressive 40,242 fans - an overwhelming majority of which were wearing red Wrexham merchandise - packed into Sydney Football Stadium on a school night, as the visiting Championship side from Wales played its second friendly in Australia. There was no sign of Wrexham's famous owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney making a surprise appearance in the stands, but Sydney FC's supporter section 'The Cove' and the many Red Dragons fans ensured a loud and lively atmosphere. Wrexham scored the opener after a mean cross into the penalty area by captain James McLean led to a Sydney defender conceding an own-goal. Sydney FC didn't collapse like their A-League rivals Melbourne Victory did last weekend in a 3-0 defeat to Wrexham, though. Alexandar Popovic equalised for Sydney FC before half-time as Wrexham watched Ollie Rathbone, the club's reigning player of the year, go down with an ankle injury that immediately sent him to hospital for X-rays. Then, not long after the start of the second half, both teams substituted all their starters in somewhat comical scenes, with Sydney FC's youngsters given a chance to strut their stuff, and they did not disappoint. It was 18-year-old Joe Lacey's curling strike for his first senior goal in the 74th minute that eventually gave Sydney FC a 2-1 victory, with a heartwarming backstory that wouldn't be out of place if it featured in Wrexham's popular Disney documentary series. The Sydney youth academy product with Welsh heritage grew up in the harbour city, but both his parents were watching the game from Wales on holiday. There is even a family connection to Wrexham A.F.C. with Lacey's aunt a game-day paramedic at the club's famous Racecourse home ground. Lacey was in tears after the game as he was congratulated by his sister in the stands. "Well, as much as we're here to win games and win trophies, we're here to entertain as well," Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay said post-game. "It's great that the young boys came on and entertained. "Hopefully we've excited these people and they buy memberships and they come to our games." The loss was Wrexham's first in its Australia and New Zealand pre-season tour. "We needed a competitive game and it certainly was that in front of 40,000 people, but obviously work to be done from our point of view," Wrexham coach Phil Parkinson said. "Some of the quality from us wasn't where it needs to be. There was some good stuff, but probably not enough, but it was a good, physical workout. "Ollie had to go to the hospital for an X-ray, so we're hoping. It's a quiet dressing room because we're concerned about Ollie. It swelled up instantly in the dressing room. We've just got to keep our fingers crossed." The next stop for the Red Dragons is Wellington for a game against A-League side, the Phoenix, on Saturday. Then the squad heads back to Wales in preparation for a Championship campaign starting August 9, chasing a fourth-straight promotion into the English Premier League. Welcome to Wrexham, Down Under. Australia is 16,000 kilometres from the small Welsh city, but for two off-season friendly matches soccer fans here have been swept off their feet by the Disney-produced, fairytale comeback story of Wrexham A.F.C. Unless Ryan Reynolds was dressed in his Deadpool costume to deliver the match ball in Melbourne, there have been no sightings of Wrexham's Hollywood star owners Reynolds and Rob McElhenney for the Australian tour - as yet. It doesn't seem to matter if they don't show, though. Through the exposure the acting duo have brought the club via a Disney documentary series 'Welcome to Wrexham', more fans, unprecedented investment, and even an economic boom has hit 'The Town'. And that impact has reverberated throughout the globe with extraordinary reach. A strong crowd of 37,020 turned out to Melbourne's Docklands for the first match of Wrexham's visit to Australia and New Zealand, and another impressive crowd is expected for the match at Moore Park on Tuesday night against Sydney FC. Meet-and-greet events in Australia in addition to the games truly highlight the mania surrounding the club that once languished in one of the worst leagues of professional soccer in Europe. Aussies have happily jumped on the bandwagon, wear all the kit, know the team chants, and worship past and present players as if they were born and bred in Wrexham. Now, from near financial ruin to achieving historic back-to-back-to-back promotions in the highly-competitive English football system, Wrexham is playing in the Championship, one division below the lucrative English Premier League. The underdog story well-documented in the Disney series is hard not to get behind, but the rise of Wrexham within just a few years to become a globally-adored team has been a whirlwind journey that even those within the squad struggle to process. Just ask Wrexham coach Phil Parkinson, sunkissed by Sydney's winter sunshine, fresh off the training pitch at NSW Rugby League Headquarters where Bulldogs NRL coach Cameron Ciraldo paid a visit, before a kick-around with a Steeden. "Sometimes you've got to pinch yourself," Parkinson said. "Young players, they can't quite believe it - to be representing Wrexham in Australia from where the club's come from. "It's been a tough period over the last 20 years... to imagine that we'd be touring Australia and having all these great experiences..." "There's been so many moments where people think, 'Has it been scripted?' But no, it actually all did happen," he added. Behind the revival has been Reynolds and McElhenney, who took over Wrexham's majority ownership in 2020. But unlike some sporting ownership changes, it appears as though every facet has been done right, and wholly embraced by original fans, as well as the ever-expanding new supporter community. The success along the way is proof of that. Could this happen to any other club in the world? For soccer fans in Canberra eagerly awaiting a new ownership announcement for its A-League Women and Men's team, it's a tantalising thought. "Of course, it can happen to any club," Parkinson said. "But for a club of the divisions we played in, to have this kind of publicity, it's pretty unheard of really". Wrexham's revival certainly is an inspirational story for struggling clubs around the world, and remarkably that story isn't over, nor has the club reached its ceiling. Major redevelopment is planned for its historic home ground, the Racecourse, the club's academy and women's programs still need improving, and of course, with further on-field success an EPL promotion is within reach. Experts will say Wrexham needs to sit in the Championship for a few seasons to allow the club to steadily grow on and off the field before the EPL, but good luck telling this team to slow down. While Parkinson said his team must be "realistic" with the playing roster dwarfed in salaries by some other Championship clubs, Wrexham dare to dream - and after what its achieved, who can blame them. "It's a very, very tough league [the Championship]. It's a huge step," the coach said. "I think hunger can take you a long way. It's not everything, but we have got players with a bit of a point to prove, and if we can add some Championship quality [players] to that, who knows?" A near sell-out crowd in Sydney watched Hollywood-backed Welsh club Wrexham on Tuesday night, as a teenage A-League rising star shone bright in a 2-1 win for the home side. An impressive 40,242 fans - an overwhelming majority of which were wearing red Wrexham merchandise - packed into Sydney Football Stadium on a school night, as the visiting Championship side from Wales played its second friendly in Australia. There was no sign of Wrexham's famous owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney making a surprise appearance in the stands, but Sydney FC's supporter section 'The Cove' and the many Red Dragons fans ensured a loud and lively atmosphere. Wrexham scored the opener after a mean cross into the penalty area by captain James McLean led to a Sydney defender conceding an own-goal. Sydney FC didn't collapse like their A-League rivals Melbourne Victory did last weekend in a 3-0 defeat to Wrexham, though. Alexandar Popovic equalised for Sydney FC before half-time as Wrexham watched Ollie Rathbone, the club's reigning player of the year, go down with an ankle injury that immediately sent him to hospital for X-rays. Then, not long after the start of the second half, both teams substituted all their starters in somewhat comical scenes, with Sydney FC's youngsters given a chance to strut their stuff, and they did not disappoint. It was 18-year-old Joe Lacey's curling strike for his first senior goal in the 74th minute that eventually gave Sydney FC a 2-1 victory, with a heartwarming backstory that wouldn't be out of place if it featured in Wrexham's popular Disney documentary series. The Sydney youth academy product with Welsh heritage grew up in the harbour city, but both his parents were watching the game from Wales on holiday. There is even a family connection to Wrexham A.F.C. with Lacey's aunt a game-day paramedic at the club's famous Racecourse home ground. Lacey was in tears after the game as he was congratulated by his sister in the stands. "Well, as much as we're here to win games and win trophies, we're here to entertain as well," Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay said post-game. "It's great that the young boys came on and entertained. "Hopefully we've excited these people and they buy memberships and they come to our games." The loss was Wrexham's first in its Australia and New Zealand pre-season tour. "We needed a competitive game and it certainly was that in front of 40,000 people, but obviously work to be done from our point of view," Wrexham coach Phil Parkinson said. "Some of the quality from us wasn't where it needs to be. There was some good stuff, but probably not enough, but it was a good, physical workout. "Ollie had to go to the hospital for an X-ray, so we're hoping. It's a quiet dressing room because we're concerned about Ollie. It swelled up instantly in the dressing room. We've just got to keep our fingers crossed." The next stop for the Red Dragons is Wellington for a game against A-League side, the Phoenix, on Saturday. Then the squad heads back to Wales in preparation for a Championship campaign starting August 9, chasing a fourth-straight promotion into the English Premier League. Welcome to Wrexham, Down Under. Australia is 16,000 kilometres from the small Welsh city, but for two off-season friendly matches soccer fans here have been swept off their feet by the Disney-produced, fairytale comeback story of Wrexham A.F.C. Unless Ryan Reynolds was dressed in his Deadpool costume to deliver the match ball in Melbourne, there have been no sightings of Wrexham's Hollywood star owners Reynolds and Rob McElhenney for the Australian tour - as yet. It doesn't seem to matter if they don't show, though. Through the exposure the acting duo have brought the club via a Disney documentary series 'Welcome to Wrexham', more fans, unprecedented investment, and even an economic boom has hit 'The Town'. And that impact has reverberated throughout the globe with extraordinary reach. A strong crowd of 37,020 turned out to Melbourne's Docklands for the first match of Wrexham's visit to Australia and New Zealand, and another impressive crowd is expected for the match at Moore Park on Tuesday night against Sydney FC. Meet-and-greet events in Australia in addition to the games truly highlight the mania surrounding the club that once languished in one of the worst leagues of professional soccer in Europe. Aussies have happily jumped on the bandwagon, wear all the kit, know the team chants, and worship past and present players as if they were born and bred in Wrexham. Now, from near financial ruin to achieving historic back-to-back-to-back promotions in the highly-competitive English football system, Wrexham is playing in the Championship, one division below the lucrative English Premier League. The underdog story well-documented in the Disney series is hard not to get behind, but the rise of Wrexham within just a few years to become a globally-adored team has been a whirlwind journey that even those within the squad struggle to process. Just ask Wrexham coach Phil Parkinson, sunkissed by Sydney's winter sunshine, fresh off the training pitch at NSW Rugby League Headquarters where Bulldogs NRL coach Cameron Ciraldo paid a visit, before a kick-around with a Steeden. "Sometimes you've got to pinch yourself," Parkinson said. "Young players, they can't quite believe it - to be representing Wrexham in Australia from where the club's come from. "It's been a tough period over the last 20 years... to imagine that we'd be touring Australia and having all these great experiences..." "There's been so many moments where people think, 'Has it been scripted?' But no, it actually all did happen," he added. Behind the revival has been Reynolds and McElhenney, who took over Wrexham's majority ownership in 2020. But unlike some sporting ownership changes, it appears as though every facet has been done right, and wholly embraced by original fans, as well as the ever-expanding new supporter community. The success along the way is proof of that. Could this happen to any other club in the world? For soccer fans in Canberra eagerly awaiting a new ownership announcement for its A-League Women and Men's team, it's a tantalising thought. "Of course, it can happen to any club," Parkinson said. "But for a club of the divisions we played in, to have this kind of publicity, it's pretty unheard of really". Wrexham's revival certainly is an inspirational story for struggling clubs around the world, and remarkably that story isn't over, nor has the club reached its ceiling. Major redevelopment is planned for its historic home ground, the Racecourse, the club's academy and women's programs still need improving, and of course, with further on-field success an EPL promotion is within reach. Experts will say Wrexham needs to sit in the Championship for a few seasons to allow the club to steadily grow on and off the field before the EPL, but good luck telling this team to slow down. While Parkinson said his team must be "realistic" with the playing roster dwarfed in salaries by some other Championship clubs, Wrexham dare to dream - and after what its achieved, who can blame them. "It's a very, very tough league [the Championship]. It's a huge step," the coach said. "I think hunger can take you a long way. It's not everything, but we have got players with a bit of a point to prove, and if we can add some Championship quality [players] to that, who knows?" A near sell-out crowd in Sydney watched Hollywood-backed Welsh club Wrexham on Tuesday night, as a teenage A-League rising star shone bright in a 2-1 win for the home side. An impressive 40,242 fans - an overwhelming majority of which were wearing red Wrexham merchandise - packed into Sydney Football Stadium on a school night, as the visiting Championship side from Wales played its second friendly in Australia. There was no sign of Wrexham's famous owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney making a surprise appearance in the stands, but Sydney FC's supporter section 'The Cove' and the many Red Dragons fans ensured a loud and lively atmosphere. Wrexham scored the opener after a mean cross into the penalty area by captain James McLean led to a Sydney defender conceding an own-goal. Sydney FC didn't collapse like their A-League rivals Melbourne Victory did last weekend in a 3-0 defeat to Wrexham, though. Alexandar Popovic equalised for Sydney FC before half-time as Wrexham watched Ollie Rathbone, the club's reigning player of the year, go down with an ankle injury that immediately sent him to hospital for X-rays. Then, not long after the start of the second half, both teams substituted all their starters in somewhat comical scenes, with Sydney FC's youngsters given a chance to strut their stuff, and they did not disappoint. It was 18-year-old Joe Lacey's curling strike for his first senior goal in the 74th minute that eventually gave Sydney FC a 2-1 victory, with a heartwarming backstory that wouldn't be out of place if it featured in Wrexham's popular Disney documentary series. The Sydney youth academy product with Welsh heritage grew up in the harbour city, but both his parents were watching the game from Wales on holiday. There is even a family connection to Wrexham A.F.C. with Lacey's aunt a game-day paramedic at the club's famous Racecourse home ground. Lacey was in tears after the game as he was congratulated by his sister in the stands. "Well, as much as we're here to win games and win trophies, we're here to entertain as well," Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay said post-game. "It's great that the young boys came on and entertained. "Hopefully we've excited these people and they buy memberships and they come to our games." The loss was Wrexham's first in its Australia and New Zealand pre-season tour. "We needed a competitive game and it certainly was that in front of 40,000 people, but obviously work to be done from our point of view," Wrexham coach Phil Parkinson said. "Some of the quality from us wasn't where it needs to be. There was some good stuff, but probably not enough, but it was a good, physical workout. "Ollie had to go to the hospital for an X-ray, so we're hoping. It's a quiet dressing room because we're concerned about Ollie. It swelled up instantly in the dressing room. We've just got to keep our fingers crossed." The next stop for the Red Dragons is Wellington for a game against A-League side, the Phoenix, on Saturday. Then the squad heads back to Wales in preparation for a Championship campaign starting August 9, chasing a fourth-straight promotion into the English Premier League. Welcome to Wrexham, Down Under. Australia is 16,000 kilometres from the small Welsh city, but for two off-season friendly matches soccer fans here have been swept off their feet by the Disney-produced, fairytale comeback story of Wrexham A.F.C. Unless Ryan Reynolds was dressed in his Deadpool costume to deliver the match ball in Melbourne, there have been no sightings of Wrexham's Hollywood star owners Reynolds and Rob McElhenney for the Australian tour - as yet. It doesn't seem to matter if they don't show, though. Through the exposure the acting duo have brought the club via a Disney documentary series 'Welcome to Wrexham', more fans, unprecedented investment, and even an economic boom has hit 'The Town'. And that impact has reverberated throughout the globe with extraordinary reach. A strong crowd of 37,020 turned out to Melbourne's Docklands for the first match of Wrexham's visit to Australia and New Zealand, and another impressive crowd is expected for the match at Moore Park on Tuesday night against Sydney FC. Meet-and-greet events in Australia in addition to the games truly highlight the mania surrounding the club that once languished in one of the worst leagues of professional soccer in Europe. Aussies have happily jumped on the bandwagon, wear all the kit, know the team chants, and worship past and present players as if they were born and bred in Wrexham. Now, from near financial ruin to achieving historic back-to-back-to-back promotions in the highly-competitive English football system, Wrexham is playing in the Championship, one division below the lucrative English Premier League. The underdog story well-documented in the Disney series is hard not to get behind, but the rise of Wrexham within just a few years to become a globally-adored team has been a whirlwind journey that even those within the squad struggle to process. Just ask Wrexham coach Phil Parkinson, sunkissed by Sydney's winter sunshine, fresh off the training pitch at NSW Rugby League Headquarters where Bulldogs NRL coach Cameron Ciraldo paid a visit, before a kick-around with a Steeden. "Sometimes you've got to pinch yourself," Parkinson said. "Young players, they can't quite believe it - to be representing Wrexham in Australia from where the club's come from. "It's been a tough period over the last 20 years... to imagine that we'd be touring Australia and having all these great experiences..." "There's been so many moments where people think, 'Has it been scripted?' But no, it actually all did happen," he added. Behind the revival has been Reynolds and McElhenney, who took over Wrexham's majority ownership in 2020. But unlike some sporting ownership changes, it appears as though every facet has been done right, and wholly embraced by original fans, as well as the ever-expanding new supporter community. The success along the way is proof of that. Could this happen to any other club in the world? For soccer fans in Canberra eagerly awaiting a new ownership announcement for its A-League Women and Men's team, it's a tantalising thought. "Of course, it can happen to any club," Parkinson said. "But for a club of the divisions we played in, to have this kind of publicity, it's pretty unheard of really". Wrexham's revival certainly is an inspirational story for struggling clubs around the world, and remarkably that story isn't over, nor has the club reached its ceiling. Major redevelopment is planned for its historic home ground, the Racecourse, the club's academy and women's programs still need improving, and of course, with further on-field success an EPL promotion is within reach. Experts will say Wrexham needs to sit in the Championship for a few seasons to allow the club to steadily grow on and off the field before the EPL, but good luck telling this team to slow down. While Parkinson said his team must be "realistic" with the playing roster dwarfed in salaries by some other Championship clubs, Wrexham dare to dream - and after what its achieved, who can blame them. "It's a very, very tough league [the Championship]. It's a huge step," the coach said. "I think hunger can take you a long way. It's not everything, but we have got players with a bit of a point to prove, and if we can add some Championship quality [players] to that, who knows?" A near sell-out crowd in Sydney watched Hollywood-backed Welsh club Wrexham on Tuesday night, as a teenage A-League rising star shone bright in a 2-1 win for the home side. An impressive 40,242 fans - an overwhelming majority of which were wearing red Wrexham merchandise - packed into Sydney Football Stadium on a school night, as the visiting Championship side from Wales played its second friendly in Australia. There was no sign of Wrexham's famous owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney making a surprise appearance in the stands, but Sydney FC's supporter section 'The Cove' and the many Red Dragons fans ensured a loud and lively atmosphere. Wrexham scored the opener after a mean cross into the penalty area by captain James McLean led to a Sydney defender conceding an own-goal. Sydney FC didn't collapse like their A-League rivals Melbourne Victory did last weekend in a 3-0 defeat to Wrexham, though. Alexandar Popovic equalised for Sydney FC before half-time as Wrexham watched Ollie Rathbone, the club's reigning player of the year, go down with an ankle injury that immediately sent him to hospital for X-rays. Then, not long after the start of the second half, both teams substituted all their starters in somewhat comical scenes, with Sydney FC's youngsters given a chance to strut their stuff, and they did not disappoint. It was 18-year-old Joe Lacey's curling strike for his first senior goal in the 74th minute that eventually gave Sydney FC a 2-1 victory, with a heartwarming backstory that wouldn't be out of place if it featured in Wrexham's popular Disney documentary series. The Sydney youth academy product with Welsh heritage grew up in the harbour city, but both his parents were watching the game from Wales on holiday. There is even a family connection to Wrexham A.F.C. with Lacey's aunt a game-day paramedic at the club's famous Racecourse home ground. Lacey was in tears after the game as he was congratulated by his sister in the stands. "Well, as much as we're here to win games and win trophies, we're here to entertain as well," Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay said post-game. "It's great that the young boys came on and entertained. "Hopefully we've excited these people and they buy memberships and they come to our games." The loss was Wrexham's first in its Australia and New Zealand pre-season tour. "We needed a competitive game and it certainly was that in front of 40,000 people, but obviously work to be done from our point of view," Wrexham coach Phil Parkinson said. "Some of the quality from us wasn't where it needs to be. There was some good stuff, but probably not enough, but it was a good, physical workout. "Ollie had to go to the hospital for an X-ray, so we're hoping. It's a quiet dressing room because we're concerned about Ollie. It swelled up instantly in the dressing room. We've just got to keep our fingers crossed." The next stop for the Red Dragons is Wellington for a game against A-League side, the Phoenix, on Saturday. Then the squad heads back to Wales in preparation for a Championship campaign starting August 9, chasing a fourth-straight promotion into the English Premier League. Welcome to Wrexham, Down Under. Australia is 16,000 kilometres from the small Welsh city, but for two off-season friendly matches soccer fans here have been swept off their feet by the Disney-produced, fairytale comeback story of Wrexham A.F.C. Unless Ryan Reynolds was dressed in his Deadpool costume to deliver the match ball in Melbourne, there have been no sightings of Wrexham's Hollywood star owners Reynolds and Rob McElhenney for the Australian tour - as yet. It doesn't seem to matter if they don't show, though. Through the exposure the acting duo have brought the club via a Disney documentary series 'Welcome to Wrexham', more fans, unprecedented investment, and even an economic boom has hit 'The Town'. And that impact has reverberated throughout the globe with extraordinary reach. A strong crowd of 37,020 turned out to Melbourne's Docklands for the first match of Wrexham's visit to Australia and New Zealand, and another impressive crowd is expected for the match at Moore Park on Tuesday night against Sydney FC. Meet-and-greet events in Australia in addition to the games truly highlight the mania surrounding the club that once languished in one of the worst leagues of professional soccer in Europe. Aussies have happily jumped on the bandwagon, wear all the kit, know the team chants, and worship past and present players as if they were born and bred in Wrexham. Now, from near financial ruin to achieving historic back-to-back-to-back promotions in the highly-competitive English football system, Wrexham is playing in the Championship, one division below the lucrative English Premier League. The underdog story well-documented in the Disney series is hard not to get behind, but the rise of Wrexham within just a few years to become a globally-adored team has been a whirlwind journey that even those within the squad struggle to process. Just ask Wrexham coach Phil Parkinson, sunkissed by Sydney's winter sunshine, fresh off the training pitch at NSW Rugby League Headquarters where Bulldogs NRL coach Cameron Ciraldo paid a visit, before a kick-around with a Steeden. "Sometimes you've got to pinch yourself," Parkinson said. "Young players, they can't quite believe it - to be representing Wrexham in Australia from where the club's come from. "It's been a tough period over the last 20 years... to imagine that we'd be touring Australia and having all these great experiences..." "There's been so many moments where people think, 'Has it been scripted?' But no, it actually all did happen," he added. Behind the revival has been Reynolds and McElhenney, who took over Wrexham's majority ownership in 2020. But unlike some sporting ownership changes, it appears as though every facet has been done right, and wholly embraced by original fans, as well as the ever-expanding new supporter community. The success along the way is proof of that. Could this happen to any other club in the world? For soccer fans in Canberra eagerly awaiting a new ownership announcement for its A-League Women and Men's team, it's a tantalising thought. "Of course, it can happen to any club," Parkinson said. "But for a club of the divisions we played in, to have this kind of publicity, it's pretty unheard of really". Wrexham's revival certainly is an inspirational story for struggling clubs around the world, and remarkably that story isn't over, nor has the club reached its ceiling. Major redevelopment is planned for its historic home ground, the Racecourse, the club's academy and women's programs still need improving, and of course, with further on-field success an EPL promotion is within reach. Experts will say Wrexham needs to sit in the Championship for a few seasons to allow the club to steadily grow on and off the field before the EPL, but good luck telling this team to slow down. While Parkinson said his team must be "realistic" with the playing roster dwarfed in salaries by some other Championship clubs, Wrexham dare to dream - and after what its achieved, who can blame them. "It's a very, very tough league [the Championship]. It's a huge step," the coach said. "I think hunger can take you a long way. It's not everything, but we have got players with a bit of a point to prove, and if we can add some Championship quality [players] to that, who knows?"
