Wrexham vs Wigan Athletic | League One Preview
Wigan Athletic travel to the STōK Cae Ras to face high-flying Wrexham AFC in our final game of 2024.
Part One | An overview of our opponents. 🔎
Part Two | “Who to Watch” players. 👓
Part Three | What can we expect from this game? 🏟️
For the final time this calendar year, Wigan Athletic will step out onto the field in a League One fixture.
Our opponents for this Sunday’s game have generated worldwide attention, especially in America, since their takeover in February 2021, when Hollywood actors and producers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney invested heavily in the club.
Three seasons of the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary shows the Welsh side’s excellent rise from the National League, and they are now high-quality competitors in the football league’s third division.
Latics have faced plenty of difficult opponents already this season, and Wrexham will be no different of a challenge.
Let's see what we can expect from our final game of 2024! 👇
Wrexham AFC
Wrexham are the oldest football club in Wales, with their heritage dating back to 1864 when they were founded by members of the Wrexham Cricket Club who wanted a winter sport to play.
This 160-year history has seen the Red Dragons win eight league trophies, twenty-three Welsh Cups, one FA Trophy, and one EFL Trophy. They have been successful before and they are on a journey to more success now under their new backing. ⏳🏆
After spending their formative years playing in the local scene, Wrexham became a founding member of the second incarnation of the Combination League in the Summer of 1890.
The Red Dragons spent four seasons at this level, finishing 8th three times and 6th once, before enrolling in the Welsh Senior League which they won in both of their participating seasons.
Wrexham then rejoined the Combination League where they spent nine more seasons, winning the division in four of their final five participations. 🏆
In the Summer of 1905, Wrexham joined the Birmingham and District League and remained there until the Summer of 1921. Despite not achieving any league title success, they finished as high as third in their final two campaigns and added 6 more Welsh Cups to their tally - which then stood at 12 in total.
For the 1921/22 season, Wrexham were elected into the Football League Third Division North. They finished in lower-midtable positions in their first seven campaigns before securing third place in the 1928/29 season.
Sustained success was hard for Wrexham to achieve, as they then bounced from 3rd to 17th to 3rd to 10th to 2nd in the 1932/33 season. This was the highest they could achieve in their 37 years in the division before the football league restructured to remove regional formats.
Wrexham were placed into the Third Division for the 1958/59 season. However, an 18th-place finish in their debut campaign was followed by a 23rd-place finish to relegate them to the Fourth Division. This was the Welsh side’s first-ever relegation.
It did not take the Red Dragons long to bounce back, as a 16th-place debut campaign was followed by a 3rd-place finish to return to the Third Division for the 1962/63 season. 📈
A 9th-place finish gave the Welsh side hope, but this was unfortunately followed up with another 23rd-place finish to drop back down to the Fourth Division. 📉
Wrexham finished 14th in their first campaign back at this level, but bottom of the table a season later. In order to stay in the Football League, Wrexham had to apply for re-election and they were successful along with Bradford City, Lincoln City, and Rochdale.
The Red Dragons then spent the next four campaigns inside the top 10, rounding it off with a 2nd-place finish to gain promotion back to the Third Division.
Their return to the third tier was much more successful than their previous attempts, with a run of eight seasons ending in the Third Division title after winning 23 of their 46 games and losing just 8. 🏆
This was Wrexham’s first division title since the 1904/05 Combination League campaign. They also finished as Quarter Finalists in the FA Cup, and League Cup, and won their 21st Welsh Cup. 🏴
Unfortunately, the Second Division was not kind to Wrexham as a 15th-place finish - which remains the club’s highest-ever position in the Football League - was followed by two 16th-place finishes before they were relegated after ending the 1981/82 season in 21st.
Wrexham’s luck went from bad to worse, as they suffered another relegation a season later to drop into the Fourth Division, making it the only time in their history to have back-to-back relegations.
Two relegations almost became three, but a -15 goal difference compared to Halifax Town’s -34 kept Wrexham one place above the drop zone. The bottom four were all re-elected into the Football League, but this was still too close for comfort for the Welsh side.
Over the next five campaigns, Wrexham climbed to 7th place but suffered another decline in 1989 which saw them drop to 21st. At this time, only one team was relegated to the Conference League and their close call was avoided again.
The next season, Wrexham finished 24th in the Fourth Division and should have been relegated. However, they avoided the drop as the Football League planned to increase the number of competing teams and ruled that no relegation would occur this season. Close. Call. 😳
Following the creation of the Premier League in 1992, the Football League went through another restructuring with the fourth tier now known as the Third Division.
Wrexham achieved second place in the first season under the new name, winning promotion to the Second Division along with Barnet and the champions, Cardiff City 🥈
Nine seasons followed in the third tier, but Wrexham failed to break into the top six in any of their attempts. Eventually, a 23rd-place finish in the 2001/02 season dropped them back into the fourth tier.
At the start of the century, the football club faced plenty of financial and ownership problems. Despite this, Wrexham managed to return to the third division - now known as League One - in the 2002/03 season.
Their Chairman then allegedly tried to have the club evicted from their stadium, giving them a 12-month notice to leave in the Summer of 2004. In December 2004, the football club then entered administration with debts of over £2.5million which included a six-figure sum of unpaid taxes.
With so many off-field issues, Wrexham were relegated in the 2004/05 season after being hit with a 10-point deduction. They would have finished 19th without it. 💢
Despite their turmoil, the squad achieved the seemingly impossible to win the EFL Trophy in the same season, beating Notts County, Stockport County, Chester City, Hereford United, Oldham Athletic, and Southend United on their journey 🏆
In October 2005, the High Court ruled that their former Chairman had not acted in accordance with the law while operating in his position, and the administrators were then able to sign over the football club to a new consortium just five days before it was set to be wound up.
Unfortunately, the Welsh side then fell from 13th to 19th to 24th over the next three campaigns to end their 87-year spell as a Football League competitor.
Brian Little was the manager in charge of Wrexham for their debut campaign in the Blue Square Premier League but was dismissed in late September due to a poor start.
Dean Saunders was his replacement and he guided the club to 10th, 11th, and then 4th to reach the Conference Play-Off Semi-Finals. Luton Town were the opponent, with the Hatters reaching the final after a 5-1 aggregate victory.
At the start of the 2011/12 campaign, the club’s owners invited offers as they prepared to sell the club. Following several failed attempts, the Wrexham Supporter’s Club agreed in principle to take over, and Saunders departed for Doncaster Rovers after feeling in limbo throughout the situation.
Andy Morrell then took charge and guided Wrexham to second place at the end of the campaign. Luton Town were their opponent again for the Conference Play-Off Semi-Finals, with the Hatters progressing to the final with a 3-2 aggregate victory. 💔
“I am so proud of the lads, not just for the second half but for the whole season. They have given me every bit of energy that they have got left. When you are a manager, you cannot ask for any more than that."
Andy Morrell after Wrexham’s Play-Off Semi-Final loss
Despite back-to-back Play-Off disappointments, Wrexham returned for a third attempt in the 2012/13 season as they finished 5th to set up a Semi-Final against Kidderminster Harriers.
Wrexham also won the FA Trophy in this campaign after beating Rushall Olympic (5-0), Solihull Moors (3-2), Sutton United (5-0), Southport (3-1), Gainsborough Trinity (4-3 agg.), and Grimsby Town (1-1 | 4:1 pens) 🏆
The Red Dragons won both of the Semi-Final legs, securing a 5-2 aggregate victory, to set up a Wembley final against Newport County. Unfortunately, Newport won 2-0 to secure their return to the Football League. 😪
After three attempts at trying to secure a return to the Football League, Wrexham fell back down the table to become a midtable side for the next five campaigns.
A merry-go-round of managerial appointments occurred throughout this time after Andy Morrell’s departure in February 2014. However, the 2018/19 season saw Wrexham return to the Play-Offs despite three managers taking charge throughout the campaign.
Sam Ricketts began the season in charge but joined Shrewsbury in the December after an impressive start. Assistant manager and Wigan Athletic legend, Graham Barrow, then took over for 10 games before Bryan Hughes was appointed in the February.
The Conference League had undergone a reformat and rebrand since Wrexham were last in the Play-Offs, with the division now known as the National League where 2nd and 3rd place entered the knockout rounds at the Semi-Final stage while 4th to 7th competed in the Quarter-Finals.
4th-place Wrexham drew 7th-place Eastleigh in the first stage, with the Spitfires progressing after securing a 1-0 victory. Four Play-Off heartbreaks in nine seasons. 💔
Wrexham’s disappointment caused a hangover in the 2019/20 season, which was also ended early due to the pandemic. The Red Dragons had fallen to 20th place when the games were called off. This was the lowest position in the football pyramid in the club’s history.
Just a matter of months into the start of the 2020/21 campaign, the Wrexham Supporters Trust received an offer to buy from Hollywood acting duo, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, through their RR McReynolds Company LLC. 👀
In February 2021, the pair acquired the football club after receiving over 98% of the Supporters Trust member backing. 🤝
Wrexham ended the 20/21 campaign in 8th place, and over the summer Phil Parkinson was brought in as the new manager. Parky had been a manager at Colchester United, Hull City, Charlton Athletic, Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers, and Sunderland, and was now in charge of one of the most exciting projects in lower-league football history.
In the new ownership’s first full season together, Wrexham achieved a 2nd place finish to enter the Play-Off Semi-Finals. Grimsby Town were the opponent who came to the STōK Cae Ras, and after a 4-4 draw in the 90’, Grimsby scored a 119th-minute winner to advance to the Final.
Wrexham AFC and Play-Off campaigns clearly are not a match made in heaven. 😅
A season later, Parkinson took Wrexham to the National League title with 34 wins and 9 draws from 46 games and 111 points on the board. They scored a whopping 116 goals and conceded just 43 on their journey. No Play-Off campaign was needed this time.
The Red Dragons had now returned to the Football League just two full seasons after their takeover. You can watch their incredible journey on the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary which is on Disney+. 📺
What is better than one promotion? Two promotions.
That is exactly what Wrexham achieved last season after securing second place in League Two to join Crawley Town, Mansfield Town, and the champions Stockport County in the climb back to League One. 📈
To prepare the squad for third-tier action, Parkinson had a busy summer. He bid farewell to eight players, including; Rob Lainton (GK to ‘Free Agent’), Callum McFadzean (LB to ‘Free Agent’), Aaron Hayden (CB to Carlisle United), Ben Tozer (CB to Forest Green Rovers), Jordan Tunnicliffe (CB to Solihull Moors), Scott Butler (CB to AFC Marine), Owen Cushion (CM to Prescot Cables), and Luke Young (CM to Cheltenham Town) 👋
Twelve players joined the football club, including; Arthur Okonkwo (FK from Arsenal), Callum Burton (GK from Plymouth Argyle), Bradley Foster (GK from ‘Free Agent’), Sebastian Revan (LB from Aston Villa), Dan Scarr (CB from Plymouth Argyle), Lewis Brunt (CB from Leicester City), George Dobson (CM from Charlton Athletic), Ollie Rathbone (CM from Rotherham United), Matty James (CM from ‘Free Agent’), Josh Adam (CAM from ‘Free Agent’), and Jón Daði Böðvarsson (FWD from ‘Free Agent’) ✍️
Wrexham have enjoyed an excellent first half of the 2024/25 League One campaign, and come into this game 3rd in the table after 22 games. The newcomers have 45 points on the board already from 13 wins, 6 draws, and 3 losses.
The Red Dragons have netted 33 goals (7th highest in the division), conceded 15 (lowest in the division), and kept 12 clean sheets so far (most in the division) 🧤
At home, Wrexham top the form table with 10 wins and 2 draws in their first 12 games, scoring 25 of their 33 goals in front of the home fans and conceding just 7. Their 32 points at the STōK Cae Ras alone are more than every other club outside the top 7 have all season.
Wrexham AFC’s Last 5 League One Results
Wrexham 1 - 0 Barnsley
⚽️ Goal: O. Rathbone (90+2
Burton Albion 0 - 1 Wrexham
⚽️ Goal: E. Lee (65’)
Wrexham 2 - 2 Cambridge United
⚽️ Goals: J. McClean (27’), S. Fletcher (65’)
Bristol Rovers 1 - 1 Wrexham
⚽️ Goal: E. Lee (18’)
Wrexham 2 - 1 Blackpool
⚽️ Goals: P. Mullin (24’), S. Fletcher (88’ Pen.)
Phil Parkinson has built an excellent, hardworking, squad for this campaign. Here are my three standouts so far this season 👇
Ryan Barnett
👕 Number 27 | Right Wing Back | Age: 25
✍️ Joined on February 24th 2023 from Solihull Moors.
Before this season began, Ryan Barnett’s name was not one that I have been familiar with.
With just 8 League One appearances for Shrewsbury Town across the 2018/19 and 20/21 campaigns, along with stints in the National League with Telford United, Gloucester, and Solihull Moors, Barnett had not entered my radar of players to look into 🗺️
However, this season, Ryan Barnett’s name tops the assist charts after an excellent return to the third tier in his right wing-back role.
The 25-year-old Englishman plays a progressive role down the right side and has an excellent delivery from crosses, as well as the ability to play intricate balls on the ground through defences.
Barnett is third in the division for key passes (a pass that leads to a shot but not a goal) showing his influential he is in the way Wrexham attacks. He also has the most minutes to his name in the squad, with 16 ninety minutes across 21 appearances.
James McClean
👕 Number 7 | Left Wing Back | Age: 35
✍️ Joined on August 4th 2023 from Wigan Athletic.
This man needs no introduction, but I will give him one anyway. Wigan Athletic legend and former captain, James McClean, has taken to life well at Wrexham.
The Republic of Ireland's left wing-back now wears the armband for the Welsh side and his excellent contributions on and off the field last season are a big reason why we are playing Wrexham this Sunday.
McClean netted 3 goals and provided 10 assists - his career-best - in 37 appearances last season, and so far during this campaign he has 3 goals and 3 assists 🎯
Leadership and dedication are attributes that come naturally to McClean and his left-footed deliveries cannot be ignored either.
Three things are guaranteed in life. Death, taxes, and James McClean causing chaos down that left wing. We all know what to expect from him by now.
Ollie Palmer
👕 Number 9 | Centre Forward | Age: 32
✍️ Joined on January 24th 2022 from AFC Wimbledon.
EFL Veteran, Ollie Palmer, is now participating in his fourth season with the Welsh side and is closing in on 150 appearances.
After making the winter transfer window move from League One’s AFC Wimbledon to join the National League’s Wrexham side, he scored 15 goals in 21 appearances to help his new teammates achieve a 2nd place finish.
In the 2022/23 season, Palmer netted 16 goals in 45 league appearances, leading the team to the National League title 🏆
League Two is a division that Palmer knows well. Last season, he made 39 more appearances to take his tally to 288, scoring 7 goals and assisting 3 more.
The centre forward now plays a critical role in Phil Parkinson's style. He can score plenty of goals and is a successful target man who can hold up the ball and pass it to his teammates to create big chances.
Palmer is second in the division for aerial duels won, so Jason Kerr and Will Aimson must read Wrexham’s build-up play well to nullify his ability to play a key role.
As far as away days go, we can expect this game to be one of the toughest places Latics will visit all season.
Wrexham’s incredible home form has had the home supporters in wonderland and they show very few signs of that coming to an end any time soon.
Phil Parkinson does have a slight injury issue at the club lately though, with his number 1 and 2 goalkeepers, Arthur Okonkwo (broken wrist) and Callum Burton (torn thigh), both out injured. The third choice, Mark Howard, is currently in between the sticks, with the recent emergency signing, Bradley Foster, on the bench.
Top scorer, Elliot Lee (6 goals), is a doubt for the game with a minor hamstring issue, and second-highest scorer, Jack Marriott (5 goals), has been out since mid-October after suffering a broken leg in training. 🤕
Against Blackpool last time out, Wrexham set up in a 3-5-2 formation. They usually set up with a 3-5-1-1 formation when Elliot Lee is involved, so this recent change is not a major one and is expected to be implemented again on Sunday.
Wrexham are an excellent football side and will try to work the ball quickly along the ground with impressive one-touch interplays, but will also look to send the long ball for Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer to hold up and link the play.
Ryan Barnett (RWB) and James McClean (LWB) will try to get comfortable playing in a midfield 5 rather than being pinned back into a defensive 5, and this could force our wingers to drop back and defend. Their task is to remain high up the wings to make Wrexham question whether to take the risk of playing more advanced or not.
I expect Shaun Maloney to keep with a settled squad for the most part. However, Matt Smith may not be involved after being forced off the field after half an hour last time out. This could see Jensen Weir or Scott Smith come in as his replacement. 🔄
For Latics to come away with another point or three on the board, it is going to take a huge collective effort to stop Wrexham not only advancing down the wings but also gaining a strong foothold in the midfield.
With Wrexham’s excellent home form, I would be delighted to see Latics secure a point. Let’s hope we can steal all three and hand the Red Dragons their first loss in front of a home crowd this season.
👕 Starting XI Prediction: Sam Tickle, Toby Sibbick, Jason Kerr, Will Aimson, Steven Sessegnon, Baba Adeeko, Scott Smith, Jonny Smith, Thelo Aasgaard, Silko Thomas, Dale Taylor
⚽️ Score Prediction: Wrexham 1 - 1 Wigan Athletic
Up the Tics 🔵⚪️
🙌 Thank you for reading!
✍🏼 Charlie Keegan / Central Wigan
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