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.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's epic season adds one more trophy: Finals MVP
OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander understood the assignment of Game 7. "Those are the minutes, those are the moments when the best players, the biggest stars, the superstars, Hall of Fame players, make their name. I want to have that name, I want to have those titles attached to my name," he said. Advertisement Haliburton excelled under the brightest of lights: 29 points and a career-playoff-high 12 assists in Game 7, leading the Thunder to a 103-91 win and the team's first championship in the city. He controlled and orchestrated the game in a masterclass performance, and with that, he was the unanimous NBA Finals MVP. Gilgeous-Alexander's list of accomplishments in these Finals and throughout this season is historic: • He is only the fifth player with 25+ points, 5+ rebounds and 10+ assists in Game 7 of the NBA Finals (Jerry West, Walt Frazier, James Worthy and LeBron James). • First player to be named the regular-season regular season MVP and Finals MVP in the same season since LeBron James in 2012-13. • First player to earn regular-season MVP and win the NBA championship in the same season since Stephen Curry in 2014-15. • First player to win the NBA scoring title and the NBA championship in the same season since Shaquille O'Neal in 1999-00. • Fourth player to win the NBA scoring title and be named the regular-season MVP and the Finals MVP in the same season (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan — four times — and Shaquille O'Neal). Advertisement "Yeah, it's hard to believe that I'm part of that group. It's hard to even fathom that I'm that type of basketball player sometimes," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "As a kid, you dream. Every kid dreams. But you don't ever really know if it's going to come true. I'm just glad and happy that my dreams have been able to come true. That's a "thank you" to everyone that's been in my corner that helped me get there." His teammates were in awe. "At the end of the day that's going to go down in history as one of the greatest seasons that's ever been had by a player," Chet Holmgren said. "It's amazing to be a part of that, to witness somebody going through it, succeeding in so many different ways He really makes it a joy to be around. It's never about him. It's always about us. It's always about winning. His talent shines through all of that. We saw that all year. He's a hell of a basketball player, but he's an even better person." "I think he has a unique mindset. I think he gives us a lot of confidence," Isaiah Hartenstein said of SGA. "Like we say all season, he's always zero and zero. I don't think he ever gets too high, too low. A great leader on and off the court. He also puts the work in. If you see him on a daily basis, the work he puts in on and off the court, the way he leads. I've been with a lot of players, a lot of superstars, but just how ego-less he is really makes him special." That 0-0 always mindset — which his teammates tease him about at times — has carried him to one of the great individual seasons in NBA history. And it earned him the NBA Finals MVP and a ring.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Thunder had one more opponent after winning the NBA title. The champagne corks were formidable
Clay Bennett, center, chairman the ownership group of the Oklahoma City Thunder, celebrates with players in the locker room after winning the NBA basketball championship with a Game 7 victory against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Clay Bennett, center, chairman the ownership group of the Oklahoma City Thunder, celebrates with players in the locker room after winning the NBA basketball championship with a Game 7 victory against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams celebrates with teammates in the locker room after winning the NBA basketball championship with a Game 7 victory against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Oklahoma City Thunder players celebrate in the locker room after winning the NBA basketball championship with a Game 7 victory against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander celebrates with teammates in the locker room after winning the NBA basketball championship with a Game 7 victory against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander celebrates with teammates in the locker room after winning the NBA basketball championship with a Game 7 victory against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Clay Bennett, center, chairman the ownership group of the Oklahoma City Thunder, celebrates with players in the locker room after winning the NBA basketball championship with a Game 7 victory against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Clay Bennett, center, chairman the ownership group of the Oklahoma City Thunder, celebrates with players in the locker room after winning the NBA basketball championship with a Game 7 victory against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams celebrates with teammates in the locker room after winning the NBA basketball championship with a Game 7 victory against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Oklahoma City Thunder players celebrate in the locker room after winning the NBA basketball championship with a Game 7 victory against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander celebrates with teammates in the locker room after winning the NBA basketball championship with a Game 7 victory against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder had just won the NBA championship, the on-court ceremony was over and they were heading to the locker room to start the party. This typically includes the traditional spraying of champagne all over everyone and everything. And the Thunder were ready to partake in all that. Advertisement 'Where's the champagne at?' some yelled on their way into the room. It was ready. Problem was, the Thunder were not. See, the Thunder are young, the youngest NBA champion in nearly a half-century. And, well, it turns out that most players had absolutely no idea how to pop the corks. 'None of us knew how to do it," center Isaiah Hartenstein said, revealing that some players — yes, moments after winning the NBA title — were going onto YouTube in search of tutorials for how to make the bubbles fly. Enter Thunder guard Alex Caruso, who has already won an NBA title. The oldest player on the team, at 31, showed everyone how to get it done. And eventually, they got it right. Advertisement 'We didn't do it all at the same time until, like, the third try," Caruso said. "I tried my best.' In time, they all figured it out. It was the last lesson of many this season for the Thunder, who finished with 84 wins — tying for the third-most in NBA history. And the team could have all of its key players back next season; they're all under contract. So, if the Thunder find a way to go back-to-back, Caruso expects the locker room celebration to go a bit more smoothly in 2026. 'We'll get some rest, reset, try to go again next year and see if we can do it again," Caruso said. "We'll be better. We'll be better next year.' ___ AP NBA:
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Panthers' Sam Reinhart channels DJ Khaled after missing parade in 2024
The post Panthers' Sam Reinhart channels DJ Khaled after missing parade in 2024 appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Florida Panthers are parading through the streets as they celebrate a second consecutive Stanley Cup. Sam Reinhart is there after his four-goal performance in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. But last year, Reinhart was missing from the parade, attending a friend's wedding. So when Reinhart grabbed the mic, he gave the Panthers fans a rousing speech at the parade. Advertisement 'The only thing I've heard all day is how this is the best parade that's ever happened in South Florida,' Reinhart said. 'Thank God I missed last year and not this year,' Reinhart said, per Jordan McPherson of The Miami Herald. 'We the best! And I mean that!' he finished, channeling DJ Khaled. There have certainly been a few championship parades in South Florida over the years. The Marlins won the World Series in 1997 and 2003, the Heat won twice with LeBron James and once with Shaquille O'Neal, and the Dolphins have one Super Bowl title. But with the franchise's first two Stanley Cups coming in consecutive years, this Panthers squad has lived it up in Fort Lauderdale. Reinhart missed the Panthers' Stanley Cup Parade last year as his contract was expiring. But that did not prevent him from staying in Florida. He signed an eight-year deal worth $69 million hours before free agency began last summer. Many insiders are using his negotiations as an example ahead of Sam Bennett's contract, which could take up until the deadline to sign. The Panthers traded for Sam Reinhart in the 2021 offseason, giving up a first-round pick and goalie prospect Devon Levi. Since then, Reinhart has 324 points in 321 regular-season games. Compare that to his 295 points in 454 games in Buffalo, and it is clear that he fits well in Florida. With 22 goals in the last two postseasons, Reinhart has every excuse to celebrate twice as much on Sunday. Related: Panthers take shot at haters amid packed Stanley Cup parade Related: Sam Bennett's NSFW 'apology' to haters at Panthers championship parade
