Wrexham

Image source, Rex Features

Paul Mullin sent Wrexham fans into raptures just 16 seconds into his side's 1-0 win at Rotherham United on Saturday.

But it appears fitting that they will be toasting a significant landmark on their own turf tonight as the club celebrates its 160-year anniversary.

Phil Parkinson's side welcome Huddersfield Town to the Stok Racecourse (19:45 BST) looking to secure a sixth consecutive home League One victory this season.

The club have been on a remarkable journey since being founded by members of Wrexham Cricket Club at a meeting at the Turf Hotel.

Players had been eager to find a sport to occupy themselves through winter, and they played their first ever fixture against the Prince of Wales Fire Brigade on 22 October, 1864.

Both sides played the match with just 10 players, and according to reports from the day, the fire crew won "comfortably" with a 2-1 victory.

Wrexham, enjoying a strong start to the season after the stunning resurgence of the club under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in recent years, will be hoping for a better result than they managed on that occasion 160 years ago when they host the Terriers tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

As a boyhood Liverpool fan, it is quite some statement from Paul Mullin.

But he insists he has got such a strong connection with Wrexham now that he would probably choose to go and watch them rather than the Merseyside Reds when he stops playing.

"I used to watch Liverpool home and away, and go all over the world," Mullin said after scoring the winner 16 seconds into Saturday's game at Rotherham.

"But that would change if my career ended tomorrow.

"I'd be going to watch Wrexham everywhere. I absolutely love the place for everything it's given me and the support the fans have given me.

"I've been here long enough now, Wrexham's become part of me. I'm really attached to this club.

"So I always want to do well."

More than 100 goals for Wrexham since joining in 2021 - and a talismanic presence for the team in much of that time - tells you just how well he has done.

Mullin's expression of devotion to the club came after that lightning fast goal at Rotherham which kept Wrexham within two points of League One leaders Birmingham.

He will now face his first professional club, Huddersfield Town, in front of another bumper - and expectant - Racecourse crowd on Tuesday night.

"I had a good couple of years at Huddersfield," said Mullin.

"I've never played against them before so hopefully I can try to come back and haunt them on Tuesday night."

The 29-year-old striker will hope to keep his place up front after making only his second league start of the campaign, replacing the injured Jack Marriott.

Marriott suffered a fractured leg in training and will undergo surgery today.

"Me starting [at Rotherham] probably came through very unfortunate cirumstances because Jack's been phenomenal for us this season," Mullin said.

"Sometimes people say 'It's your chance now' but that's not how I see it. I was really gutted for Jack, he's been fantastic."

Marriott, who had scored five goals in 10 League One games this season, will be out until 2025 as his fibula heals.

"It's horrible to see. He waited a long time to get into the side last season, but he's been a real star for us this year and worked hard each game.

"He's been through injuries before and come back strong. I'm sure he'll do the same again."

Image source, Getty Images

Phil Parkinson can have few concerns after the start Wrexham have made to life in League One, but the manager is especially pleased with the strength in depth running through his squad this campaign.

Their last fixture was a stylish 3-0 EFL Trophy win over Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s that saw some of Wrexham's fringe players state their cases for more playing time in the league.

While he may stick more with the tried and tested for Saturday's trip to Rotherham United (15:00 BST) - especially after last weekend's game with Lincoln City was postponed due to international commitments - Parkinson admitted more than a few have caught his eye.

"I thought it was a good night's work [against Wolves] for us and... we shouldn't underestimate the professionalism and standards we set in that game," Parkinson said.

"People might say, 'Oh, it's only Wolves Under-21s' but Aston Villa [Under-21s] went to Bolton and won on penalties against them, and if the attitude and motivation is not right then you can come unstuck in those games.

"I was very pleased that the lads performed well, obviously delighted for Mo [Faal] to get his first goal.

"He's working every day in training, we're chipping away with him, getting him fitter, making him understand his role for us within the team, but he's got an eye for goal and that finish was typical of him.

"Brunty (Lewis Brunt) getting a goal as well and backing up his cameo performance against Northampton with a superb display just showed us what we know, that he's a very good player all round.

"And Ollie Rathbone I thought was outstanding for us; he's had to be patient since he's been here but that's just like other players who have joined us, but equally he's had a couple of setbacks early with little injuries but I thought he was immense and he's carried that into training this week."

Image source, Getty Images

Ollie Palmer admits he is glad he bought into the Wrexham project after signing a fresh contract with the club.

The forward, 32, joined Phil Parkinson's side from Wimbledon in the summer of 2022 and has enjoyed back-to-back promotions during his time with the club.

Ahead of Wrexham's trip to Rotherham United on Saturday (15:00 BST), Palmer put pen to paper on a new deal to remain at the Stok Racecourse until the end of the 2025-26 season.

And Palmer - who has netted two goals in League One so far this term - believes Wrexham have "many more ambitions" to achieve under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

"When I spoke to the gaffer before I signed, he told me his vision and where the club was going," he explained.

"When you add it all up and you look at the owners of the football club, the foundations, the fanbase, the community and the passion within Wrexham and the surrounding areas, why not buy into it.

"It's proved successful so far and I'm sure the club's got many more ambitions and things they want to achieve on and off the pitch.

"It's a great project to be a part of."

Wrexham sit second ahead of their fixture with Steve Evans' Rotherham at the weekend.

Despite there being 36 league fixtures remaining this season, Palmer believes Wrexham have already proven they are capable of challenging for a top six place.

"It's only 10 games into League One but I think we've shown we can chuck our hat into the ring and compete with the best teams in the league," added Palmer.

"It's down to us to keep growing on that momentum, and we're doing that, we work hard every single day.

"The gaffer doesn't let anyone get complacent and we'll be working towards our target of what we believe we can achieve this season.

"It won't be easy because there's a lot of big football clubs in this league, but I think we've shown we can compete there."

Image source, Getty Images

Wrexham's FA Cup first-round contest with League Two side Harrogate Town has been selected for television coverage.

The fixture will now take place on Sunday, 3 November, with kick-off at 15:30 GMT.

The game at the Exercise Stadium will be shown live on ITVX.

Phil Parkinson's side reached the fourth round of the competition last season following wins over Mansfield, Yeovil and Shrewsbury prior to a 4-1 defeat by Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

Image source, Getty Images

Wrexham have the chance to prove Rotherham United boss Steve Evans right or wrong on Saturday.

In September, when his side were lying 15th in League One and only five games into the season, Evans described Wrexham as the "Harlem Globetrotters" of the division.

He also referred to Birmingham as the "Real Madrid" of the tier.

Rotherham are still 15th with three wins, five draws and three defeats thus far while second-placed Wrexham head there on Saturday hoping to rise above leaders Birmingham.

It's not difficult to understand why Evans took that view of the club owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Before his side's 2-0 defeat by Birmingham in September, Evans said: "We've not played the Harlem Globetrotters, who will turn up when Parky (Phil Parkinson) brings Wrexham here with the stars that come with the ownership there.”

So it's over to Wrexham to live up to Evans' expectations as they return to league action after the international break.

They say don't look at the table until ten games in.

Well Wrexham fans won't need reminding that - now the League One campaign has reached double figures of games played - Phil Parkinson's side are doing just fine.

With ten games gone going into the international break, the Red Dragons are second with 20 points to their name.

Only big-spending Birmingham are ahead of Parkinson's promotion winners, Blues living up to their pre-season favourites' tag.

There were Wrexham fans - former player Waynne Phillips included - who always believed there could be a third challenge to go up on the way this term.

But there had also been plenty of talk of consolidation this season.

So has what you have seen so far changed your mind on what could be achieved in the club's first year back at this level in two decades?

Or are Wrexham simply showing that you were right to get excited all along?

Have your say by letting us know your thoughts here, external.

Image source, PA Media

Wrexham’s start to life in League One shows they are on track to challenge for promotion – and leave an exclusive club to start their own.

Only a handful of sides have the distinction of winning back-to-back promotions, as Wrexham managed in jumping from the National League to the third tier last season.

But no other club has earned three promotions in a row in English football’s professional game.

That’s the prospect Phil Parkinson’s side face if they can keep up the form shown over their first ten games in their return to this level for the first time in 19 years.

Making the leap from League Two to the Championship isn’t unheard of with five sides having completed the feat since the millennium.

They include two teams who went on to eventually reach the top-flight. They include Brighton in 2000-2002 under Micky Adams and Peter Taylor, and Luton Town - who had earlier won promotion from the National League at the expense of Wrexham – under the stewardship of Nathan Jones and Mick Harford.

Former Wrexham captain Darren Ferguson managed it with Peterborough between 2007 and 2009, as did Burton under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Nigel Clough in 2014-2016, the Brewers another side who had previously gone up from the fifth tier.

And current League One rivals Rotherham have pulled it off twice, first in 1999-2001 under Ronnie Moore and then again between 2012 and 2014 under Steve Evans who is now back at the club for a second spell with the Millers.

Wrexham’s current tally of 20 points after ten games stacks up well against the most recent teams to go from fourth to second tier, although lag behind Luton who amassed an incredible 28 points from the first 30 on offer before going on to win the title with 98 points, 12 ahead of their nearest rivals.

Burton were only two points better off than Wrexham on their way to a second-placed finish in 2016, while Rotherham (19) and Peterborough (17) were both behind Parkinson’s points return to date, Posh going up automatically behind future Premier League champions Leicester and Rotherham going up via the play-offs.

Of course, such numbers will mean little to Parkinson and his composed managerial style which has served the Dragons more than well during his time at the Racecourse.

But it does show – if the table did not already – that Wrexham should already be taken seriously as challengers as they back up James McClean’s claim that they are “more than a match” for their League rivals.

And if they do, they would not only emulate Swansea City’s successive climb from fourth tier to second under John Toshack, but stand alone as back-to-back-to-back promotion specialists.

Image source, Rex Features

Given that his team have played 13 games in all competitions already this season, Phil Parkinson may be grateful Wrexham have a break before they return to action against Rotherham United on 19 October.

The Red Dragons were due to host Lincoln City at the Stok Racecourse on Saturday, but the game was postponed owing to international call-ups within the Imps' squad.

Wrexham will hope to benefit from additional time on the training ground, plus a few days off.

Yet the Welsh side might have wanted to take to the field this weekend given their astonishing home record.

Wrexham have won each of their opening five home games in the current League One campaign.

The last time they achieved a better return from the outset of a season was in 1975-76, when John Neal's side won their first six home Third Division fixtures.

Last weekend's 4-1 triumph over Northampton Town took Wrexham to nine consecutive home league wins, matching the run set during the 2022-23 season when Parkinson's side were promoted from the National League as champions.

However, they have some way to go when it comes to their best ever home sequence.

Wrexham won 29 consecutive home matches between February 1904 and September 1905, with 19 of those triumphs coming in the league.

Nevertheless, it is fair to say Parkinson's home league record since becoming Wrexham boss in the summer of 2021 is formidable.

Wrexham lost just one regular season home fixture - against Yeovil Town in November 2021- across their two seasons under Parkinson in the National League.

Last term, MK Dons, Bradford City and Tranmere Rovers were the only sides to secure league wins in north Wales as Wrexham gained promotion from League Two.

That means Wrexham have won 59 of their 73 home regular-season league games under Parkinson at a win rate of 81%. They have lost just four of those matches, with the remaining 10 being draws.

These impressive numbers will undoubtedly be put to the test over the coming months as the likes of Huddersfield Town, Mansfield Town, Blackpool, Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers come to town.

But with increased crowds and an ever-growing feel-good factor around the club, Wrexham's Stok Racecourse fortress is proving pivotal in the club's quest to continue their climb towards the upper echelons of the football pyramid.

Image source, Getty Images

Mo Faal opened his goal account for Wrexham in style on Tuesday night, hitting a spectacular volley to round off a 3-0 EFL Trophy win against Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s.

The 21-year-old striker has had to be patient since joining from West Bromwich Albion on transfer deadline day for £500,000, and has yet to makes his League One debut for Wrexham.

But Faal was one of a number of youngsters including Aaron James and Harry Ashfield who were given a chance to shine in the EFL Trophy by Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson.

"It was good, I came into that game wanting to score a goal and I put a little bit of pressure on myself," said Fall, who was born in The Gambia but from the age of seven grew up in Birmingham after his family moved to England.

"Coming in at half-time, speaking to the gaffer [Parkinson], he just said, 'look, just keep doing the right stuff and it will come' and that's exactly what happened so I'm delighted, I'm buzzing."

Faal - who also scored in the EFL Cup for the Baggies in August before his transfer - struck in the 57th minute at the Stok Racecourse, but admitted he only attempted his eye-catching goal thinking an offside flag was imminent.

"It [the finish] was decent wasn't it?" he said.

"I've just said... if I didn't think I was offside I probably wouldn't have gone for it... because I thought I was offside I just went acrobatic. It doesn't get much better than that for a first goal, does it?"

The Wrexham fans responded to Faal's talent and enthusiasm by naming him player of the match, and Faal is eager to take any future chances he earns.

"I don't know how I nicked that man of the match award, there were so many great performers out there, but I'm just pleased they thought I did alright," he said modestly.

At the very least, with Wrexham now having secured a place in the knock-out stages of the EFL Trophy, Faal will continue to get opportunities in cup games as he continues to improve.

"It's definitely about building confidence, definitely gelling with the team, and to be honest even gaining a bit more fitness," Faal added.

Image source, Getty Images

Teenager Harry Ashfield faces the challenge of turning himself into a regular having made his first senior start in Wrexham’s EFL Trophy win over Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s on Tuesday.

Local lad Ashfield, 18, has been at Wrexham since he was aged six and was named academy player of the year in 2023-24.

The midfielder made his senior bow as a late substitute in the EFL Trophy last season, and came off the bench again in the same competition against Salford City last month.

But Ashfield was picked from the start – and played 80 minutes – as Wrexham beat Wolves’ youngsters 3-0 at the Stok Racecourse.

“He works had in training all the time,” said Wrexham first-team coach David Jones.

“He has been playing for the youth team, the reserves and has appeared a few times for the first team.

“For him to continue that progression [with a first start], as well as other players like Aaron James… hopefully they will keep building on those performances and be an integral part of the squad moving forward.”

Fellow youth product James, 19, made his fifth Wrexham start – and first appearance this season – in the Wolves win.

Wrexham triumphed thanks to goals from Lewis Brunt, Paul Mullin and Mo Faal.

Dylan Griffiths
BBC Sport Wales at the Stok Racecourse

Image source, Getty Images

Wrexham are through to the knock-out stages of the EFL Trophy after a convincing 3-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s with one game remaining in the group.

Manager Phil Parkinson made 11 changes from the side that started Saturday's 4-1 win in League One against Northampton Town, with Paul Mullin named captain.

Wrexham took the lead after 22 minutes when defender Lewis Brunt slotted home Anthony Forde’s free-kick, and seven minutes before half-time Mullin lobbed Wolves goalkeeper Tom King.

Wrexham dominated possession and striker Mo Faal extended their lead in the second half, scoring his first goal for the Welsh club with an acrobatic volley.

The Dragons will face Port Vale next month in their final game in Northern Group B.

Image source, Getty Images

Assistant manager Steve Parkin expects changes to be made to the Wrexham team for Tuesday’s EFL Trophy match against Wolves.

That could mean starting places for strikers Paul Mullin and Steven Fletcher, who came on as substitutes during the 4-1 win against Northampton Town in League One.

Manager Phil Parkinson made several changes for the EFL Trophy win over Salford City in September and Parkin expects the same against Wolves.

“There are key players in the building that definitely need some minutes, so I won’t see that changing,” said Parkin.

“They are a great bunch of lads and are really good to work with. Sometimes it’s not easy being out of the team and seeing the team winning but the boys that train with us have been magnificent”.

Parkin says recent injury replacements in the team has shown the strength of the current squad.

“We got an unfortunate injury to Max [Cleworth] last week and somebody has to step in, i.e. Scarry [Dan Scarr],” Parkin added.

“We’ve got a strong squad and they are all motivated to get in the team so to see some of them play on Tuesday night will be good”.