Sydney FC match winner Lacey's Welsh connectionspublished at 13:21 16 July
13:21 16 July
Image source, Getty Images
For Sydney FC's Joe Lacey, a matchwinning goal against Wrexham was particularly special because of his Welsh background.
The Red Dragons went ahead in Tuesday's pre-season contest through Corey Hollman's early own goal before Alex Popovic equalised for the Sky Blues just before half-time.
Lacey struck in the 74th minute as the Australian side beat Phil Parkinson's men at the Allianz Stadium.
The goal meant that little bit more for Lacey, he revealed, because he has a Welsh mother while his aunty has worked at the Stok Cae Ras on matchdays as a paramedic.
"My mum's Welsh and it's very big for me," he said in a post-match interview.
"My family, they're all watching in Wales, she (Lacey's mother) is there at the moment.
"I love them all. I'm very grateful for them. They're all in Wales besides from my sister who came in from Newcastle, so I'm very grateful for them."
On his goal, Lacey added: "It just felt like a video game. It felt like I had a VR (virtual reality) set on."
Wrexham conclude their pre-season tour with a match against New Zealand side Wellington Phoenix at the Sky Stadium on Saturday, 19 July (06:30 BST).
Rathbone taken to hospital with ankle injurypublished at 13:20 15 July
13:20 15 July
Image source, Getty Images
Ollie Rathbone has been taken to hospital to undergo an X-ray after sustaining an ankle injury during Wrexham's 2-1 pre-season loss to Sydney FC.
The midfielder was withdrawn late on in the first-half at the Allianz Stadium after suffering the ankle issue.
Following the match in Sydney, Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson confirmed Rathbone had gone to hospital to receive further tests on the injury.
"Ollie's had to go to hospital for an X-ray," said Parkinson.
"It's a very quiet dressing room in there because we're concerned about Ollie.
"It didn't look that bad an incident when it happened but it swelled up instantly in the dressing room.
"Kev's [physio Kevin Mulholland] gone with him to hospital and we've just got to keep our fingers crossed."
Rathbone joined Wrexham from Rotherham United last summer and was a pivotal figure in helping the club secure promotion from League One into the Championship.
The 28-year-old netted eight times in 41 league appearances during the 2024-25 campaign and was named Wrexham's Player of the Season.
Wrexham beaten by Sydney FC in pre-seasonpublished at 12:35 15 July
12:35 15 July
Shalom Robinson BBC Sport Wales
Image source, Getty Images
Wrexham continued their pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand with a 2-1 defeat by A-League side Sydney FC.
The home side took control of the game in the opening stages with Sydney FC threatening Danny Ward's goal on a couple of occasions.
After a nervy opening, Wrexham broke the deadlock through captain James McClean's delivery into the penalty area, which was turned in by Sydney midfielder Corey Holman.
Wrexham began to build momentum following the goal, however, last year's Player of the Season Ollie Rathbone was withdrawn before half-time after picking up an apparent leg injury.
In the wake of a controversial no-handball decision, Sydney FC equalised from a corner on the stroke of half-time.
The initial header was saved from summer signing Ward, but the rebound was converted from close range by defender Alexandar Popović.
Wrexham applied pressure to start the second half, with the wing pairing of Ryan Barnett and McClean continuously putting dangerous crosses in the penalty box for the forwards.
The Red Dragons narrowly missed the chance to retake the lead through the combination of substitutes Ryan Longman and Jack Marriott as they were denied by an emphatic save by Harrison Devenish-Meares.
Moments later Sydney took the lead through a beautifully finessed shot from just outside the 18-yard box by youngster Joe Lacey.
Wrexham struggled to create chances after falling behind, failing to break down the disciplined Sydney FC defence as they suffered a first loss on the tour Down Under.
Wrexham conclude their tour against Wellington Phoenix at the Sky Stadium on Saturday, 19 July (06:30 BST).
Parkinson's side start their 2025-26 Championship campaign at Southampton on Saturday, 9 August (12:30 BST).
They will host West Bromwich Albion in their first home league fixture of the new season a week later (12:30 BST).
Wrexham's new shirt a nod to 1980s kitpublished at 17:16 9 July
17:16 9 July
Image source, Wrexham AFC/Macron
Image caption,
Wrexham's 2025-26 home shirt
Wrexham have unveiled the new home shirt they will be wearing in the Championship next season - a nod to the strip they wore the last time they played in English football's second tier.
The shirt is inspired by the strip worn between 1981 and 1984, which included the 1981-82 season.
That was the final campaign of a four-season stint Wrexham had in the old Second Division.
It's taken them 43 years to return but Wrexham fans will only have to wait until Saturday, 9 August to see their team back at the level, with Phil Parkinson's team starting the new Championship season at Southampton.
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
The late Billy Ronson wearing the original Wrexham shirt during the 1981-82 season
Wrexham's home opener with Baggies handed early tv kick-offpublished at 11:38 4 July
11:38 4 July
Image source, Rex Features
Wrexham's first home game in the Championship has been selected for live television coverage, with the visit of West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, 16 August now set for a 12:30 BST kick-off on Sky Sports Football.
The game will be the first time Wrexham have met the Baggies in the league.
The Stok Cae Ras will also now play host to the tv cameras for the visit of Derby County on Saturday, 27 September, with that game also moved to a 12:30 BST kick-off on Sky Sports+.
Wrexham's trip to Southampton for their league campaign opener on Saturday, 9 August had already been confirmed for television coverage, with that game set for 12:30 BST on Sky Sports Football.
Forest Green sign Wrexham keeper McNicholaspublished at 10:33 4 July
10:33 4 July
Image source, Rex Features
New Forest Green Rovers boss Robbie Savage has made Wrexham's Luke McNicholas one of his first recruits, signing the goalkeeper on an undisclosed deal.
The 25-year-old Irishman joined Wrexham in August 2023 from Sligo Rovers and made his debut the following October in a 3-0 EFL Trophy win over Crewe Alexandra, playing twice more in the competition that season.
McNicholas did not feature again for Wrexham and with game time hard to come by joined Rochdale on loan last season, playing nine times in the National League where he will now ply his trade with Rovers under ex-Wales midfielder Savage.
Wrexham wished McNicholas well at his new club: "Everyone at the football club would like to thank Luke for his contributions on and off the pitch during his time with Wrexham and we wish him all the best for the future."
Mullin the 'embodiment of Wrexham's incredible journey'published at 11:55 27 June
11:55 27 June
BBC Sport Wales asked Wrexham fans for their views on Paul Mullin's loan move to Wigan Athletic.
Chris:
Paul's treatment like other loyal wxm fc players at times has been appalling. with the support of his team mates he dragged us up from the pits. I believe the income created by his presence has been a huge contributor to Wrexham's meteoric rise, he was just finding his feet scoring goal of the season when just over halfway through the season he and Ollie [Palmer] were sent into the cold.
Chris:
He was excellent in the National League and League 2 but struggled in League one until he was dropped. Unfortunately he is not a Championship player. Mullin will always be thanked for what he did at Wrexham.
Joji:
I'm very sad he's not getting his chance to play in the Championship, but from 17 appearances Mullin only scored 3 goals, it's not enough for a striker and not even a single assist.
Dominic:
Like many I've followed Wrexham by watching the show, I'm a Brit (Everton supporter) living in Canada but I'm shocked they let Mullin go after all he's done.
Barry:
HUGE MISTAKE BY PARKINSON
Reg:
It's just football really. He's been superb since arriving in 2021, bags of goals every season. He's missed 2 pre-season's training for 2 years through no fault of his own, that's massively problematic. His job is scoring goals and he hasn't done it all season with any consistency or volume.
Chris:
Mullin isn't just a player; he's been the very embodiment of Wrexham's incredible journey under Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. From the National League to the Championship, his goals have been the soundtrack to our ascent.
Who could forget the crucial goals in those promotion campaigns? The hat-tricks, the last-minute winners, the moments when you just knew Mullin would deliver. He played with his heart on his sleeve, a true warrior on the pitch.
Wrexham handed all-Championship EFL Cup tiepublished at 17:06 26 June
17:06 26 June
Image source, Getty Images
Wrexham have been handed a home tie against rival Championship club Hull City in the first round of the EFL Cup.
Phil Parkinson's side will face the Tigers in the week commencing 11 August.
Hull's visit to the Stok Cae Ras will be Wrexham's first home game of 2025-26, with their league campaign starting at Southampton on Saturday, 9 August.
They will be back on their own patch on Saturday, 16 August when they take on West Bromwich Albion.
Wrexham to kick-off Championship season at Southamptonpublished at 12:00 26 June
12:00 26 June
Image source, Getty Images
Promoted Wrexham will start the 2025-26 Championship season away to Southampton, who were relegated from the Premier League last season.
The game on Saturday, 9 August at St Mary's will kick-off at 12.30 BST for live television coverage.
Wrexham will be playing in English football's second tier for the first time in 43 years after securing a third successive promotion last season.
The Dragons host West Bromwich Albion in their first home game of the campaign a week later.
Other fixtures of note see Phil Parkinson's men host fellow promoted side Birmingham City on Saturday, 4 October, while they face Welsh rivals Swansea City away on Saturday, 20 December.
Boxing Day sees Wrexham renew acquaintances with Sheffield United at the Stok Cae Ras, followed by the visit of Preston North End on Monday, 29 December.
Blackburn Rovers away will be Wrexham's opponents on New Year's Day and they travel to Derby County on Saturday, 4 January, 2026.
The return Welsh derby against Swansea takes place on Saturday, 14 March and the regulation season ends with a home game against Middlesbrough on Saturday, 2 May (kick-off 12:20 BST).
Follow this link for Wrexham's full 2025-26 fixture list.
*Dates and kick-off times will be subject to change.
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The 30-year-old has scored 110 goals in 170 games in all competitions for the Welsh club since joining in the summer of 2021.
Mullin helped the club win promotion from the National League to the Championship in successive seasons but was on the sidelines for much of the last campaign.
After missing the start of 2024-25 through injury, he made only 17 appearances for Wrexham last term and started just nine League One games, scoring three league goals.
Image source, Getty Images
