Wrexham

Image source, Getty Images

Wrexham will this weekend aim to end a 26-year wait for a win over Reading - a run part-inspired by their own manager.

The Royals arrive in north Wales with both sides looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the League One season.

The visitors, though, have relatively recent history on their side, with Wrexham winless in the last seven meetings.

Granted, the Red Dragons' demise into non-league and subsequent rise back to their third tier means that it has been some time since the last meeting.

In fact, Saturday will be the first since December 2001 when Alan Pardew's Reading ran out 2-0 winners at the Racecourse on their way to promotion - a side captained by a certain Phil Parkinson.

It was one of 415 appearances the current Wrexham boss made for the Berkshire club, a record that saw him achieve fan-favourite status as a tough-tackling midfielder.

Parkinson also played the full 90 minutes in the previous season's win at the Racecourse, Lee Trundle's goal not enough to stop Brian Flynn's side going down 2-1.

But he also played in the 4-0 Reading win at the Madejski Stadium in 1999, scoring in the 82nd minute to wrap up a 4-0 victory.

Parkinson had already been at the club seven years at that point, winning player of the season in that campaign under Tommy Burns.

Wrexham have not beaten the Royals since - one draw and six defeats coming in the games that followed - and you have to go back to early August 1998 for the last victory.

Karl Connolly and Peter Ward were on the scoresheet for Flynn's men at the Racecourse, as well as an own goal for former Cardiff and Swansea defender Andy Legg.

And the game also included a debut for Wales legend Ian Rush, making his first start in a fairly forgettable - and goalless - time with Wrexham after moving on a free from Newcastle.

More than quarter of a century on, Parkinson will not be fussed by such history given the way he has rewritten it during his time at the helm of the Hollywood-owned Reds.

Nevertheless, facing a club he represented for 11 years as a player will no doubt mean something. Even though he is closing in on 1,000 games in management, he has only come up against Reading seven times, with his only defeat coming in a FA Cup quarter-final replay while with third-tier Bradford.

Image source, Getty Images

Wrexham will look to maintain their unbeaten start to League One against Reading this weekend, with one former player already convinced they will be promotion contenders.

Phil Parkinson's side face the Royals at the Racecourse after an opening day win against Wycombe Wanderers marked their first game at this level in 19 years.

They followed that up with a creditable goalless draw at Bolton Wanderers, the first time last year's play-off finalists had been held at home in 29 fixtures.

Not since a 4-0 defeat by Wigan on 19 August 2023 had Bolton been shut-out at the Toughsheet Stadium - almost one year exactly since Sunday's stalemate.

It did mean Wrexham had to show their defensive side at times, with goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo coming in for praise.

The Hollywood-owned Red Dragons will be expected to be more of a threat back in north Wales, even against a Reading team who have also picked up four points from their first two games.

But former Wrexham midfielder Waynne Phillips says Wrexham's start has shown why he thought a third straight promotion is not out of the question.

And he claims their "different" display to restrict a side who were the second-highest scorers in the third tier last term only adds to his confidence.

Speaking on BBC Radio Wales Sport, Phillips said: "It’s not the Wrexham that we’ve come to be familiar with in the way they go away and create chance after chance, it was a different type of game.

"They’re playing against a top League One side who have come close on a number of times over the past two seasons and, sometimes you have to accept playing a different way; I’m sure the 4,000 travelling fans accepted it as well.

"We all want to see them winning every game, but it’s not going to happen – certainly not this season in the division they’re in - but it could be a valuable point.

"It’s proven to me they can compete with the best in the division and it hasn’t changed my view that Wrexham are going to be one of the contenders themselves this season to win promotion."

Image source, Getty Images

Wrexham duo Paul Mullin and Elliott Lee have missed out on winning the PFA League Two player of the year award but were recognised as part of the team of the year.

Notts County winger Jodi Jones took home the player of the year award as part of a six-man shortlist which included Mullin and Lee.

League Two team of the year:

Ben Hinchliffe (Stockport), Aiden Flint (Mansfield), Fraser Horsfall (Stockport), Mikey Demetriou (Crewe Alexandra), Ibou Touray (Stockport), Elliott Lee (Wrexham), Davis Keillor-Dunn (Mansfield), Daniel Crowley (Notts County), Macaulay Langstaff (Notts County), Paul Mullin (Wrexham), Jodi Jones (Notts County).

Image source, Getty Images

Defender Eoghan O’Connell says Wrexham won’t be 'getting ahead of themselves' despite an unbeaten start to their League One campaign.

Wrexham’s 0-0 draw at Bolton came off the back of an opening day win against Wycombe for the newly promoted side.

“[We have an] unbelievable following and when you come out for the warm up you feel the amount of people behind you," said O’Connell.

“But we won’t be getting ahead of ourselves, it’s a decent start but that’s what it is - just a start”.

On Saturday the Dragons host Reading, who were a Championship side the season before last before relegation and a series of off-field financial problems.

“They are another big club. In our last two promotions we’ve never taken any game for granted and with the size of the clubs in this league we definitely won’t,” added O’Connell.

"I watched snippets of their [Reading's] game against Birmingham and they looked a really good team, so it’s a really tough game but I’m sure we’ll be ready for it.

“We’ve used our home form in the last few years but it’s about winning games and just because it’s at home, doesn’t mean we can just turn up. So we need to keep on it and keep that form going.

“When we play at home the crowd is unreal for us and we need to make it the fortress we want - the same as last season - and play as well as we can”.

Image source, Getty Images

Wrexham defender Jacob Mendy has stepped up his recovery after returning to action for the first time in four months.

The Gambia international, 27, underwent surgery after suffering a hamstring injury at the tail-end of Wrexham's promotion from League Two.

But after a successful return to training, the full-back completed more than an hour as Wrexham's reserves beat Stoke's Under-21s 3-2 in a Central League fixture.

Mendy helped provide an assist for striker Jake Bickerstaff who scored a hat-trick against the Potters XI managed by former Premier League defender Ryan Shawcross.

Billy Waters and Anthony Forde also featured alongside several youngsters in the Red Dragon's side.

Mendy was a key part of Phil Parkinson's team last year, playing 37 times before damaging his hamstring in the April win at Colchester.

His return will boost Parkinson following an unbeaten start to their League One campaign, while striker Paul Mullin is also closing in on a return.

Mullin, Wrexham's top scorer for the past three seasons, has been back on the grass training after minor spinal surgery over the summer.

Image source, Getty Images

Wrexham duo Paul Mullin and Elliot Lee will find out tonight if they have won the PFA League Two Player of the Year Award.

They are two of six shortlisted for the accolade recognising performances for the 2023/24 season.

Notts County duo Macaulay Langstaff and Jodi Jones, and fellow promotion winners Davis Keillor-Dunn (Mansfield) and Paddy Madden (Stockport County) are also on the list.

Mullin scored 24 league goals last season, including hat-tricks against Morecambe and Accrington Stanley as Wrexham gained automatic promotion.

Lee scored 16 goals and contributed six assists across the league season.

Image source, Rex Features

Phil Parkinson will return to one of his former clubs this weekend when he takes his Wrexham side to Bolton Wanderers - and he sees some similarities in what the two sets of fans have experienced.

Parkinson got Bolton promoted to the Championship in 2017 and kept the club in the division despite dealing with a transfer embargo.

Towards the end of Parkinson's reign in 2019, with Bolton just days from liquidation, Wanderers were saved when Sharon Brittan bought the club.

Despite their perilous financial state at the time - a far cry from their Premier League success of the early 2000s - Bolton have now stabilised in League One and have come close to promotion in the past two seasons.

Wrexham have also had to recover from hard times, having spent more than a decade in non-league football under fan ownership before they were bought by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Now, having won back-to-back promotions, Wrexham are back in English football's third tier and looking forward to facing Bolton on Sunday.

“Bolton could easily have gone out of business but fortunately Sharon Brittan was a resilient pursuer of the ownership of the club, and I think the supporters have a lot to thank her for," Parkinson told BBC Sport Wales.

“She’s built a real credible football club, done things the right way, and they started from a very tough situation. It took some courage to buy a club in that situation.

“You want good people to do well. The Bolton fans have been through it, the highs and lows, from European football under Sam Allardyce to being close to going out of existence.

“Wrexham fans have had some tough times. This club, like Bolton, is such an important part of the community.

“Now the good times have come and we have fantastic owners who run the club in such a professional way, building foundations. It’s great to see the club and supporters are really flourishing off the back of that.”

Image source, Rex Features

Wrexham have money available to attract more signings but will not make further additions "for the sake of it", according to manager Phil Parkinson.

The Welsh club have recruited 10 new players since earning promotion to League One, breaking their transfer record to sign midfielder Ollie Rathbone from Rotherham United.

With the transfer window shutting on Friday, 30 August, Parkinson is still keen to add to his squad.

“Numbers-wise, we’re pretty close to where we want to be but there is the room in the budget to bring in another player," he told BBC Sport Wales.

“We’re not going to bring someone in just for the sake of it because we’ve got good players who deserve an opportunity.

“We’re working extremely hard as we always do. We have a list of players and sometimes deals take longer than anticipated.

"Sometimes you feel a deal is very close but the goalposts move and you have to reassess. That’s just normal transfer window activity."

Image source, Getty Images

Phil Parkinson says he is looking forward to returning to one of his old clubs as he prepares his Wrexham side for Sunday’s trip to Bolton Wanderers.

Parkinson got Bolton promoted to the Championship in 2017 and kept the club in the division despite dealing with a transfer embargo.

The Wrexham boss says he is excited about renewing old acquaintances.

“We will have a good squad to choose from for Sunday,” Parkinson told BBC Sport Wales.

“Sunday has a big game feel about it. Bolton is a great club at a great arena and we are really looking forward to it.

“When you go back to an old club it always has extra importance… it is not a place I have been back to much, so it will be good to see some familiar faces.”

Parkinson expects Bolton to be promotion contenders in League One this season.

“They are a big club in this division. They haven’t spent as much as Birmingham City, but they have spent,” he added.

“My promotion there was in very difficult circumstances and keeping them up in the Championship with an embargo was a great achievement.

“It went a bit sour after that. But it is not about me on Sunday, it is about the team.”

Chris Wathan
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Getty Images

James McClean may be a player many fans love to hate, but Wrexham new boy Seb Revan says he loves the inspirational Irishman.

Utility player McClean, 35, is a perennial pantomime villain for opposition supporters.

And the former Republic of Ireland international again received stick as the League One club bowed out of the Carabao Cup at Bramall Lane in a 4-2 defeat to Sheffield United.

But Revan, who grabbed his first Wrexham goal in the midweek clash, says McClean is “an amazing person”.

“I love him,” said 21-year-old Revan. “He’s a great guy. Obviously he’s got a reputation but I don’t take any notice of that, I just judge him for myself and I think he’s an amazing person.

“He’s so helpful on and off the pitch for me and my career, so it’s a pleasure to work with him.”

Revan started in the wing-back role McClean has held down, the veteran having started there in Saturday’s League One opening-day win against Wycombe Wanderers.

McClean signed from Wigan Athletic last August, the 103-cap former international making 44 appearances last season across a variety of positions, with his experience and double-figure assists playing a key role in the north Wales club's second successive promotion.

It was of little surprise, then, that McClean was offered a new two-year deal ahead of the return to the third tier.

With striker Paul Mullin still recovering from back surgery, McClean wore the armband through pre-season and led the side in midweek as the only survivor from the victory over the Chairboys.

Despite a career touching upon almost 600 games, the ex-West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland and Stoke City man is still seen as one of the fittest in the Racecourse ranks.

Revan said: “His versatility is amazing and how fit he is – he’s probably the fittest in the team. It really helps the team how he can keep going, keep playing in many positions, he’s a great asset for the team.”

With another wing-back, Jacob Mendy, closing in on his return to fitness, Revan says he relishes the challenge for a starting spot in Phil Parkinson’s side, while pointing out he can also play in different roles.

The flier caught the eye in the defeat to Championship side Sheffield United as he made his first start since his summer arrival, his debut having been off the bench against Wycombe.

Revan’s late consolation was described by Parkinson as being “exactly where you want your wide players to be”, hailing his display that could have seen the youngster score a hat-trick.

Having tasted Championship action on loan at Rotherham United last year, Revan is now keen to kick-on at the Racecourse and follow in the footsteps of some his FA Youth Cup-winning teammates from his Aston Villa days.

“There’s a few who’ve done well: Carney Chukwuemeka went to Chelsea, and Omari Kellyman is there now, Aaron (Ramsey) at Burnley,” said Revan. “There’s been quite a few so hopefully I can get to where they are right now and kick on further.

“It’s (Wrexham) a club going in the right direction, a good group of players and staff and it’s well run overall so I’m glad to be here.

“They’ve had a great couple of seasons and moving in the right direction, so hopefully we can help each other on the way.

“There’s great quality all over the squad. In every position we have great options, so for the players that aren’t starting it’s a challenge to get in, but I just have to keep trying my best and hopefully I can get in.

“I’m a defender first, but I love to attack, it’s something I enjoy, so I love to get forward when I can so hopefully I can help us keep the ball out the net and put the ball in the other net.

“It was great to make my debut, hopefully I can keep performing well and get more starts, more assists, more goals.”

Image source, Getty Images

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson says his players will be sharper for their Blades’ experience after rotating his squad for much-needed minutes.

The north Wales club suffered a Carabao Cup first-round exit at the hands of Championship side Sheffield United on Tuesday night.

But rather than send a full-strength side to Bramall Lane, Parkinson opted to rip up his teamsheet from the opening-day League One win over Wycombe Wanderers.

Only captain James McClean survived from the Racecourse win on the club’s first game back in the third tier in 19 years.

“This (first-round game) is almost an extension of pre-season,” Parkinson said, despite being frustrated by the defeat.

“You want to win the game but you have to make sure everybody is ready for the season ahead - and we’ll have a huge benefit from it.

“There’s certainly areas we can improve on and we know that, but there’s certainly players who will come on from tonight’s game from the minutes.”

Parkinson tipped United – relegated from the Premier League last season – to be among the promotion contenders in the second tier this season.

But he was happy at being able to give minutes to some of last season’s key men such as midfielder George Evans, who saw new boy George Dobson impress in his place in the win over Wycombe.

And there was the opportunity for a first competitive look at several new faces, with Parkinson handing out debuts to goalkeeper Callum Burton, centre-back Dan Scarr, defender Lewis Brunt and midfielder Ollie Rathbone, the club’s record signing.

“I was pleased with the debutants,” said Parkinson. “We only had Monday to do some teamwork and the picture you put together of how well the team will play is never going to happen, because there’s relationships around the pitch which need to form.

“You saw some rustiness around that, but you saw some good performances. The back lads (defence) playing together for the first time will do them a lot of good.”

There was also a first start for wing-back Seb Revan, a summer signing from Aston Villa who came off the bench at the weekend, but marked his full debut with Wrexham’s late second at Bramall Lane.

Parkinson admitted the 21-year-old could have scored a hat-trick in the cup tie, adding: “He’s got a bit of everything: he’s a tenacious defender but also dangerous in the final third.

"His goal is exactly what you want from your wide players, getting inside the full-back and it’s a brilliant finish, so you have to be pleased with his contribution so far.”

Image source, Getty Images

Wrexham are prepared to add further signings to their squad before the transfer window closes – with a striker understood to still be among the League One club’s targets.

The north Wales club have added seven permanent signings to their ranks following promotion back to the third tier for the first time in 19 years.

But manager Phil Parkinson could yet add to his forward options, hinting he has already identified who he wants.

“We’re not a million miles off from the numbers where we want to be, but we’re always looking if we can add a player or two of quality,” Parkinson said.

“We know the players we like and we’ll keep trying to get the player or players in, and if we do great, if not you can see we have a strong squad and we’ll go with what we’ve got.”

Wrexham have been linked with a move for Sheffield Wednesday frontman Michael Smith, who is in the final year of his contract with the Championship side.

Smith, 32, played and scored in Wednesday’s opening weekend win over Plymouth.

Wrexham’s recruitment so far this summer has yet to include a striker, with goalkeepers Arthur Okonkwo and Callum Burton, defenders Lewis Brunt, Seb Revan and Dan Scarr, and midfielders George Dobson and Ollie Rathbone all added to the ranks at the Racecourse.

Rathbone, who made his debut in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup defeat at Sheffield United, was a club record signing after his arrival from Rotherham last week.

Wrexham are thought to be ready to spend further, but Parkinson added: “When we target a player we decide where we feel that valuation is. More often that not we’ll stick to it and that’s what we’ll continue to do.”

Paul Mullin, the club’s top scorer in the past three seasons, is closing in on a return after undergoing back surgery over the summer.

Both January signing Jack Marriott and veteran striker Steven Fletcher were among the goals in Saturday’s win over Wycombe Wanderers that marked their return to League One.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil Parkinson says he received an apology for a “key moment” match officials missed in Wrexham’s EFL Cup exit at the hands of Championship Sheffield United.

League One Wrexham bowed out of the competition after a first-round defeat at Bramall Lane despite taking the lead through Will Boyle.

But manager Parkinson claimed a “blatant” block on Boyle led to United’s leveller through Auston Trusty 10 minutes from half-time – and that referee Keith Stroud held his hands up ahead of the second-half.

The north Wales club’s boss says that Chris Wilder’s men are well-known for being potent at set-plays, admitting: “They work at them, we knew that and you can make the players aware of (blocking) but you need help from the officials.

“It’s clear and right in front of him. The referee apologised at half-time; someone must have told him because he said sorry he didn’t see it.

“But he needs help from the linesman and fourth official because we all saw it.

“In the Premier League with VAR you don’t get away with it, but unfortunately it was a key moment for us.

“Goals change games and we gave them a huge lift and we can do better in certain moments.

"It’s a good work out for us, we never like getting beat in any game, but we will take the lessons from it.”

Image source, Rex Features

Striker Sam Vokes says his Wycombe Wanderers side were taken aback by the atmosphere at Wrexham in Saturday's opening League One game, and believes it will play a crucial role for Phil Parkinson's team this season.

Wrexham scored twice in the opening half hour at the Racecourse in their first match in English football's third tier since 2005, going on to win 3-2.

"It was bouncing and for an away team it's going to be a tough place to go this year," said Vokes on BBC Wales Sport's Feast of Football podcast.

"They've got that extra stand at the end [behind the goal] that was full.

"I don't want to say just the atmosphere will get them through because they're a good team obviously, but I think that that can sometimes give you an extra 10 points during a season.

"It put us on the back foot. I'm not going to lie, the first 10-15 minutes we were probably taken aback by it.

"We were expecting it, but probably taken aback a little bit. Before we really got going in the game we were 2-0 down, and it was an uphill struggle."

Richard Kone halved the deficit in the second half as the visitors improved, but Steven Fletcher restored the two-goal lead in the final 10 minutes.

Former Wales forward Vokes gave Wycombe hope with a header three minutes after coming on as an 84th-minute substitute, but Wrexham held on for victory.

"I think there'll be up and around it," added Vokes of Wrexham's promotion hopes this season.

"The quality they've had to get through the divisions so far has been League One quality, and I see they've added a bit of quality.

"I think they'll be in and around it definitely. It depends how they deal with a few setbacks, I suppose, but their squad is huge.

"They had lads that we saw that weren't even involved at the weekend, so that will help them out this season definitely."

Image source, Getty Images

Club-record signing Ollie Rathbone could be handed a Wrexham debut in Tuesday’s EFL Cup first-round tie at Sheffield United.

Midfielder Rathbone joined the Dragons from Rotherham United last Friday.

The fee was undisclosed, but Wrexham said it was bigger than the previous record sum paid out by the north Wales club, for Ollie Palmer in 2022.

The fee for Palmer was also undisclosed, but is understood to have been in the region of £300,000.

Rathbone signed too late to be involved in last Saturday’s League One victory over Wycombe, but is in contention for the trip to Bramall Lane.

“We are delighted with Ollie Rathbone - he is energetic but he has real craft as well,” said Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson.

“We will get him ready for Tuesday night if he is selected.”

Wrexham go to Yorkshire in buoyant mood after the rousing Wycombe triumph.

United will begin as favourites, though Wrexham proved they could compete with the Blades in two memorable FA Cup ties against in 2023 – and Parkinson’s side have won two promotions since then.

“It’s a great game to look forward to,” he added.

“There’s nothing better than going into the first round of the cup with a first league win behind you. We are really looking forward to it.”

Image source, Getty Images

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.

Image source, Getty Images

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.