Wrexham

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Wrexham travel to Bramall Lane on Tuesday for a first-round EFL Cup tie against Sheffield United - a match that rekindles memories of the two clubs' memorable FA Cup meetings in 2023.

Then a National League club, Wrexham gave the Blades a real scare before the Championship side progressed to the fifth round.

Phil Parkinson's Wrexham had already beaten Blyth Spartans in the fourth qualifying round, before comfortable victories over Oldham and Farnborough in rounds one and two.

The Dragons then produced one of the season's big upsets with a 4-3 third round win at Championship Coventry City - and came within minutes of repeating the feat at home to United in round four.

There was plenty more drama to come in the replay - and a little bit of needle.

After United won 3-1, goalscorer Billy Sharp criticised the match officials as well as some of Wrexham's players.

"They thought we would just roll over when they got back in it and I think the referee was helping them as well, I don't think he gave me one foul all night," Sharp said at the time.

He was fined by the FA for his comments.

The gap between the two clubs is now much narrower, with Wrexham having enjoyed two successive promotions to reach League One while United are back in the Championship having played in the Premier League last season.

But if there is half as much drama on Tuesday as the two FA Cup ties 19 months ago produced, then fans are in for a treat.

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Jack Marriott has matched his tally of goals for Wrexham in the second half of last season after only one game of the 2024-25 campaign.

Marriott, 29, scored only once in 17 League Two appearances – though just three of those were starts – after joining Wrexham from Fleetwood Town last January.

For a player of Marriott’s calibre, that was a disappointing return.

Yet he started the new season in style, scoring a fabulous goal as Wrexham marked their return to the third tier – after 19 years away – with a 3-2 victory over Wycombe.

“Jack has had a good pre-season - he was superb [in the friendly] against Chelsea,” said Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson.

“The goal [against Wycombe], I don’t think you will see too many better in the EFL.

“You could sense our supporters warming to him because of his work for the team. He is a team player but all strikers want to put the ball in the back of the net and he has done that.”

Marriott has vast experience of League One and Championship football after spells with Peterborough United and Derby County.

He also played in the third tier for Fleetwood before moving to the Stok Racecourse.

“Jack has got good pedigree. He has scored goals in the Championship and at the top end of this division,” Parkinson added.

“He has moved into the area now which is great. We have got him settled, where we want him, so we can really work with him. He is not travelling too much.”

Parkinson also praised veteran former Scotland forward Steven Fletcher after he scored what proved to be the match-winning third goal against Wycombe.

“Fletch has missed a bit of pre-season because his groin tightened up in San Francisco,” Parkinson explained.

“He has only trained two days, but in those two days he has shown what he is all about. He is a maestro, he really is. What a player to come off the bench.”

Fletcher could be a contender to start when Wrexham go to Sheffield United in the Carabao Cup first round on Tuesday.

Wrexham Women have signed forward Abbie Iddenden on a one-year deal.

Iddenden, 24, arrives after two years at Stoke City, having previously spent time playing in the USA.

“I’m excited to see her play her part over the season as we look to build on our progress in the Genero Adran Premier,” said Wrexham boss Steve Dale.

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Jobi McAnuff expects Wrexham to thrive in League One this season but feels a third straight promotion may be a tall order for Phil Parkinson’s team.

Wrexham begin their first season in the third tier in 19 years when they host Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.

The north Wales club finished second in League Two last term having won the National League in 2022-23.

Despite their rapid rise, Wrexham will start the new campaign with high hopes thanks to the continued backing of Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

But EFL pundit McAnuff has warned that the step up to League One is bigger than the change Wrexham faced when starting out in League Two last season.

“I think there may need to be a bit of time for them to consolidate at this level,” McAnuff said.

“You've got some big, big clubs with lofty ambitions in League One. Birmingham have come down, Bolton I expect to be up there, Charlton will be a lot better this season under Nathan Jones, Huddersfield - there's some really good teams in there.

“I wouldn't put it past them [to win promotion] just because they're Wrexham and everyone knows what their ambitions are. I just think it'd be a bit much for them to expect to get up straight away.”

McAnuff says Wrexham will have no issue establishing themselves in a new division because they have a number of players with experience of playing at the higher level.

He also feels that despite the arrival of some notable signings this summer, Reynolds and McElhenney could spend again in the mid-season transfer window.

“With Wrexham, we know if they are in with a sniff [of promotion] in January, then maybe that's the time they go, ‘right, who's going to be the player or two that can come and really get us over the line?’” he added.

“I wouldn’t write them off, not at all. I just think there's some other very, very good teams at that level this season.”

Excited about heading to the Stok Racecourse for the first game of the new season? Wales international Sam Vokes is.

The Wycombe Wanderers forward has been looking forward to kicking off the League One campaign at Wrexham on the Feast of Football podcast.

Wrexham are back in English football’s third tier after an absence of 19 years following back-to-back automatic promotions, while Wycombe go into a fourth League One campaign since their one Championship season in 2020-21.

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Defender Jordan Tunnicliffe has joined National League side Solihull Moors after settling his contract dispute with Wrexham.

Tunnicliffe, 30, had initially been released from the Racecourse at the end of last season.

However, reports claimed an administrative error meant Tunnicliffe had a further year to run on his deal with manager Phil Parkinson admitting there had been an issue to resolve.

But Moors have confirmed the centre-back has agreed a one-year deal with the non-league side following the end of his Dragons contract.

“It’s a local club to me, I’ve lived in the area the last few years and it’s a club that have got aspirations to get into the football league and I want to be a part of that,” said Tunnicliffe.

“I’ve got promoted from this league before and I want to try and do it again”

Tunnicliffe joined Wrexham in July 2022 following his release from Crawley Town.

He scored two goals in 41 appearances in all competitions in his two seasons at the Stok Racecourse, but was hampered by injuries.

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Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson says his side must remain "humble" despite back-to-back promotions that have seen them rise from non-league to League One.

The 56-year-old has huge experience as a manager, having led clubs including Hull City, Charlton Athletic, Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland.

And Parkinson warned that Wrexham's return to the third tier of the English football pyramid after a 19-year absence will see them pitted this season against clubs with an impressive pedigree.

Wrexham will play eight clubs in the league this season who are former Premier League sides - Barnsley, Birmingham City, Blackpool, Bolton, Charlton, Huddersfield Town and Reading.

"I've managed a lot of the so-called 'bigger teams' in this division over the years and there's an expectancy and a tension at those teams where the fans will expect (success)," Parkinson told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"Birmingham (relegated from the Championship last season) for instance, the supporters will be expecting comfortable victories each week and for them to be riding high.

"We've got to keep that humbleness, not only in the squad but in the supporters as well.

"We've come a long way, we want to achieve again, but we've got to make sure there's that real togetherness in the Racecourse with the supporters and players and that connection we've created in the last few years."

Wrexham begin the new season on Saturday at home to Wycombe Wanderers, with that game kicking off at 17:30 BST.

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Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson says the club is ready for a "mouthwatering" return to third-tier football after 19 years away.

The Dragons begin their League One campaign at home to Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday after a second successive promotion.

It will be Wrexham's first game at that level since 2005.

"There’s an air of excitement more than anything in the club because we are going into a division which we haven’t operated in, in 19 years," said Parkinson.

"Some of the games we've got coming up are mouthwatering, home and away.

"Everybody is really ready now to get started."

Aided by investment from Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Parkinson has been able to add five new players to his squad, the latest being defender Dan Scarr from Championship side Plymouth Argyle.

But Parkinson says the new arrivals make it likely players will be leaving the club on loan, with fans' favourite Jordan Davies among those who may be allowed to go.

"There’s a couple we’re talking with clubs about taking on," added Parkinson.

"We can only have 22 in the squad, everybody knows that, so as much as we’re bringing players in, we've got to have one eye on being fair to other players as well.

"There are a few clubs in for some of our players who we feel it would be the right decision for them to go."