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Leader Live
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Wrexham AFC end season in style with celebration event
A 3-0 victory over Charlton Athletic just over a week earlier secured a historic third promotion in a row for the club, who will now go on to spend next season in the EFL Championship. To celebrate a memorable campaign, the club organised a get-together for players, staff and fans at the SToK Cae Ras. During the event, midfielder Ollie Rathbone was voted as the Club's Player of the Season, with fans in the stadium singing his name before it had even been announced. Max Cleworth was voted Young Player of the Season, as well as being named Players' Player of the Season for the first time by his peers. The talented defender has has now won that award three times in the last four seasons. The awards capped an afternoon of celebration, which included live music from The Royston Club as well as Danny Gruff, Rhythm Train and Osian 'Powsy' Jones. Matchday Live presenters Chris Mallaband, Andy Morrell and Mia Roberts also all shared their reflections on the season, before seven awards were handed out in total. RELATED READING Also crowned on the day was Bob Clark Academy Player of the Season, Alex Moore, while Elliot Lee was presented with his Top Goalscorer award – after his final-day goal saw him pip three team-mates to the title. The Steve Edwards Goal of the Season Award was voted on the day, with Paul Mullin's superb strike against Blackpool taking the honours. A great atmosphere building ahead of our 2024/25 Men's End of Season Awards, presented by @MetaQuestVR 🏆 🔴⚪️ #WxmAFC — Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) May 4, 2025 Club secretary Geraint Parry was also given a 'Lifetime Achievement' award for his contribution to the club over the years. The event followed on from Wrexham's 2-0 win at Lincoln on Saturday (May 3). Elliot Lee and Ryan Longman were on target as the club ended their time in the EFL League One.
New York Times
03-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Wrexham season review: Historic promotion, Premier League in sight, scenes at the ‘circus'
Seventeen years to the day since bidding farewell to the Football League at Lincoln City's Sincil Bank, Wrexham's emotions couldn't have been more contrasting on their return. 'Championship, we're on our way…' sang the 1,861 jubilant supporters, many sporting fancy dress, lucky enough to get a ticket for the final act of a season that has seen history made in north Wales. Advertisement A third consecutive promotion, sealed with victory over Charlton Athletic, means Wrexham standalone in the pantheon of fallen EFL clubs who have pulled themselves together in non-League. Where the unknown lay ahead for the world's third oldest professional club when leaving Lincoln in 2008, now it is new stadiums never visited before such as Leicester City and Southampton on the agenda, plus first league meetings with West Bromwich Albion and Ipswich Town. Phil Parkinson's side signed off with a 2-0 victory, both goals coming in the second half from Elliot Lee and Ryan Longman. Really, though, Saturday was about much more than the result. It was about a sense of pride restored and a promise of what lays ahead in a division the club last competed in 1982. 'The Championship is one of the most watched leagues in world football,' says Parkinson. 'It's a dream really for this club. A few years ago, we were fighting our way out of the National League but now we are competing at that table. 'Now, it is up to us to prove we can live in that company. Just as we did when coming into League One last season. We showed it then and we have to do it again.' Thursday June 26 is the date Wrexham fans will have ringed in the summer diary, when the EFL fixtures will be released. Only then can the planning begin for the weekend of August 8-10 and the start of what promises to be a truly momentous campaign at the SToK Cae Ras. The sense of excitement evident at Lincoln is only likely to grow throughout the summer, judging by the chanted countdown among a travelling band of fans that included one T-Rex, a host of traffic cones and at least three Mexicans, complete with sombreros. 'Sixty minutes to the Championship…' began a chant that continued all the way down to zero and referee Thomas Kirk blowing the final whistle. As the close season gets under way — and the Wrexham players this week jet out to Las Vegas for their now traditional celebratory trip — it's surely worth one last look-back at 2024-25 and an unprecedented third straight promotion. Here's The Athletic's verdict…. Football's wider public realising just how serious Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds are in their quest to take Wrexham to the top. Talk of the Premier League when a club is languishing in non-League is easily dismissed as fanciful. Returning to the EFL fold and even the third tier doesn't make it feel any more likely, either, such is the gulf between the top table of English football and Leagues One and Two. Now, though, Wrexham sit just one step away from fulfilling their owners' dream. Remarkable considering it's just two years since Parkinson's side signed off their stint in non-League at Torquay United, who on Saturday were competing in the National League South play-offs. Advertisement Unlike previous campaigns when there were plenty of humdingers, this time around has felt to be a much calmer affair. An indication of that comes via the ten 1-0 wins, plus another seven triumphs by a one-goal winning margin. There's still been plenty of entertainment, mind, with the 1-1 draw at home to champions Birmingham City early in the New Year a fine advert for League One, as was the 2-2 draw away to Charlton in October. We're going for the latter, even if it was Wrexham on the end of some late drama this time via a 96th minute equaliser from the penalty spot. Sam Smith heading in Wrexham's third goal against Charlton to rubber-stamp promotion. The visitors had never looked like getting back into the game after going 2-0 behind inside 18 minutes but, still, there's always that doubt over how one goal could change everything. Smith heading in Max Cleworth's cross on 81 minutes meant the party could start. One unheralded aspect about Wrexham's third promotion is how much their discipline has improved compared to the 2023-24 season, when Parkinson's side had six players sent off. Four of these were straight red cards, the joint highest tally in League Two. To go from such a damning rap sheet to not having even one player dismissed in 46 league fixtures this time around shows how hard the manager has worked on sorting out what had become a problematic area. Only Rotherham United boast an unblemished record in League One this season. 'What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,' said James McClean when asked by The Athletic after the Lincoln game what his team-mates who have joined in the last 12 months can expect from this week's players' trip to Sin City. But we can't look past Charlton manager Nathan Jones' pre-match comments regarding his side's trip to Wrexham on the penultimate weekend. 'It's a bumper game, we have to go to the circus and see what we can get,' he said. One question, Nathan. Why? Advertisement 'You've seen the circus, now f*** off home,' came the retort time and time again from a pumped-up Racecourse crowd to Jones, as his Charlton side were well beaten. Paul Mullin no longer being Wrexham's main man. Just three goals from 26 league appearances (17 from the bench) is not what supporters have to come to expect from the usually free-scoring Liverpudlian and there will be big questions over his future this summer. Don't write the 30-year-old just yet, mind. He's now missed two consecutive pre-seasons after suffering a collapsed lung and four broken ribs in 2023 and undergoing back surgery last year. If Mullin can have a problem-free run at 2025-26, maybe the goals will flow once again. Tomoki Iwata. Hands down, the best player Wrexham faced all season. He was immense in the 3-1 win for Birmingham, clearly way too good for this level after joining from Celtic. A special mention should also go to Lee Gregory and Will Evans, the Mansfield Town strike-force who caused all manner of problems at The Racecourse back in November. Tyler Roberts also carried a real threat despite Northampton Town's 4-1 defeat in October. Nine. Rarely put a foot wrong and was not worried to make the big calls, particularly at the start of February when a reset was needed after an awful first month of the year had yielded just four points from five games. Out went fans favourites Mullin and Ollie Palmer, as Smith and Jay Rodriguez came in to form a partnership that ultimately got Wrexham over the line via two defeats in 17 games together. The shift in tactics to effectively 3-5-1-1 in late November may not have won universal backing from supporters. But, again, it worked as Wrexham racked up 92 points, 27 wins and 24 clean sheets thanks to a manager whose mentality was perhaps best summed after the Lincoln game by the man himself. 'I like to win a game of cards against my kids,' says Parkinson. Advertisement Recruitment. There's no doubt this squad needs major surgery to compete in the Championship. Arthur Okonkwo (The Athletic's player of the year), Cleworth and Smith look ready but others may struggle with the step-up. A recurring theme this summer is likely to be the need to pay players to leave, as there will inevitably be some surplus to requirements who are under contract and unlikely to command anything like their wages at Wrexham. It's a price the club must pay for such a rapid rise. 'Crikey, the Championship is a step-up from anything Wrexham have seen in years. So, to stay up quite comfortably is surely an achievement on a par with those three straight promotions.'
Leader Live
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
The Royston Club to perform at STok Cae Ras this weekend
Wrexham AFC were promoted to the EFL Championship via a 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic on April 26, making it a historic three promotions in a row. This Sunday (May 4), a special event will be held at the club's home ground, the SToK Cae Ras to bring yet another successful season to a close in style. The club has now confirmed that The Royston Club will be among the acts to put on a show that day. Three old school friends - Tom Faithfull, Ben Matthias and bassist Dave Tute - founded The Royston Club before later adding drummer Sam Jones. They've risen in tandem with the wider resurgence of Wrexham led by the football club, with its co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney becoming one of their first few famous fans. The band's position as hometown heroes was underlined by a recent three-night run at the city's Rockin' Chair venue, which sold-out in minutes. But The Royston Club's popularity certainly isn't confined to north Wales - they've also sold-out London's KOKO, completed three unforgettable sets at Glastonbury, and played at Liam Gallagher's Malta Weekender. This Sunday though, there will be a homecoming for the band. Wrexham AFC said: "Wrexham favourites, The Royston Club, will perform at our End-of-Season Celebration on Sunday – with tickets for the afternoon still on sale now (To buy your ticket, visit the eTicketing website now)." RELATED READING They added: "Join us at the STōK Cae Ras from 1.30pm, with tickets costing just £5. "The Royston Club will be among the musical acts performing at the world's oldest international football stadium. "The afternoon will also feature our end-of-season awards – with voting still open. "Concessions will be open in all three stands – the Macron Stand, Wrexham Lager Stand and STōK Cold Brew Coffee Stand – with food and drink allowed to be consumed in your seats. "All profits from the event will go towards supporting the Wrexham AFC Foundation's work in the community."
Irish Examiner
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
'How do you put this into words?' - McClean captains Wrexham to another promotion
James McClean toasted a bit of history as Wrexham beat Charlton 3-0 at the SToK Cae Ras to secure promotion to the Sky Bet Championship, moving up a division for the third-straight year. With the former Ireland winger as captain the Welsh club - whose fortunes have been transformed under the co-ownership of Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney - took an early hold against the play-off chasing Addicks through goals from Ollie Rathbone and Sam Smith in the space of three first-half minutes. Smith made sure of a third successive promotion for Phil Parkinson's side by firing in his second goal with nine minutes left before the final whistle brought jubilant scenes around the ground as supporters flooded onto the pitch. "How do you put this into words?" wondered McClean during the raucous celebrations. "To be captain, to be given the honour of being the man leading that, it's incredible. It's one big group effort. You see how tight we are together." The result ended Charlton's own hopes of automatic promotion, although their place in the Sky Bet League One play-offs is secure. Earlier on Saturday, Carlisle's 20-year stay in the EFL was ended after a 3-2 defeat at Cheltenham, with George Miller scoring for the home side in time added on. Doncaster and Port Vale both secured their promotion to League One. The evergreen Billy Sharp scored the decisive second as Doncaster ended a three-season stay in the fourth tier with a 2-1 win over Bradford, who still have a chance of going up next weekend. Port Vale secured an immediate return to League One after a 2-0 win at Wimbledon with Jayden Stockley and Jaheim Headley on target. Cambridge, though, were relegated to League Two after losing 2-1 at Burton, where both teams had been reduced to 10 men just ahead of the break. Dylan Williams scored a stoppage-time winner for Burton, who sit three points clear of the relegation zone. Elsewhere in League One, Stockport came from 2-0 down to beat Lincoln 3-2 and put themselves third, with Jayden Fevrier, Will Collar and Isaac Oloafe all scoring in the second half. Leyton Orient remain on course for the play-offs after a 1-0 win over faltering Wycombe. Orient's fifth straight victory leaves them ahead of seventh-placed Reading on goal difference. The Royals won 2-0 at Bristol Rovers, who remain deep in the relegation mix, with Lewis Wing and Chem Campbell scoring. Crawley prolonged relegation by beating Northampton 3-0, John Marquis scored twice as relegated Shrewsbury won 2-1 at Barnsley, Peterborough drew 1-1 with Bolton and it also finished 1-1 between Wigan and Blackpool. In the battle for the remaining promotion spot out of League Two, Notts County guaranteed their play-off place after a 3-1 victory at Harrogate, where Conor Grant scored a second-half brace. However, Walsall's slump continued with a 1-0 home defeat by Accrington, finishing with 10 men, to stay fourth and a point behind Bradford. Tranmere had secured their own league status after a 2-0 win over Crewe, who finished with nine men while Rovers also had a player sent off in stoppage time. Tom Davies and Kristian Dennis scored for the hosts. Salford got themselves into the play-off places with a 4-1 win over Colchester, whose own top-seven chances faded following a second straight defeat. Bromley fought back to draw 3-3 at Barrow with a stoppage-time goal from Omar Sowunmi, while Chesterfield thumped relegated Morecambe 4-1 and remain in the play-off hunt themselves. It finished 0-0 between MK Dons and Grimsby, who are out of the top seven on goal difference. Fleetwood beat managerless Newport 2-0 while Gillingham had two players sent off during stoppage time in their 1-1 draw against Swindon. PA
Leader Live
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
George Dobson "focused" on match against Charlton Athletic
The midfielder has played a crucial part in the Reds League One campaign after joining on a free from Saturday's opponents Charlton Athletic in the summer. Dobson, a former Charlton captain, spent three "brilliant" years at the Valley, but is now on the verge of gaining promotion with his new side. A win for Wrexham on Saturday night, coupled with Wycombe Wanderers dropping points at Leyton Orient will result in a third successive promotion and a place in the Championship next season. The midfield maestro admitted that he had received a couple of texts from his former teammates ahead of the game, but is fully focused on delivering a result. He said: "I had a couple, had a couple earlier on in the week, but I've dialled it down a bit. "I had three brilliant years there and really enjoyed it at Charlton, met a lot of special people that I'm still close with but it always seems to be that things like that happen and you end up playing former teams when it matters the most but I'm just focused on the game and really hoping we can deliver like we did on Monday and deliver like we did on Monday." Dobson has called on the Wrexham faithful to create an "electric atmosphere" at the SToK Cae Ras tomorrow night. When asked about the impact the fans can make, he replied: "Huge, I think they've just got to do what they have done all season and bring the energy. "Bring the atmosphere, because it's such a brilliant stadium when it's full, which it has been all season and they can really generate that electric atmosphere and make it like a cup final sort of feeling and I just can't wait for the game now and I'm really looking forward to it."
