With Melbourne Victory set to take on Welsh-based club Wrexham AFC at Marvel Stadium on July 11, let’s take a deep dive and explore the deep-rooted history of the Red Dragons.
Beyond the highly-regarded documentary series, famous actor co-owners, and three consecutive promotions up the English football pyramid have brought the club to the global domain, Wrexham’s story certainly cannot be looked past.
Recognised as the world’s third oldest professional Football club and playing their home fixtures at the Racecourse Ground, the oldest international football stadium still in use, Wrexham AFC started from humble beginnings.
Founded in 1864 by members of Wrexham Cricket Club after a meeting at the Turf Hotel, a pub that is still attached to the existing Racecourse Ground, the members were simply looking to play a sport during the winter months.
Wrexham became extremely successful, becoming the most successful club in the Welsh Cup with 23 titles and earning the reputation as ‘giant killers’ in the English cup competitions, including triumphs in the FA and League Cup against opponents such as Arsenal, Newcastle United and West Ham United.
Along with their feats in cup competitions, Wrexham spent an impressive 87 consecutive years in the English Football League, at their pinnacle in the late 1970s following promotion to the Second Division.
However, the turn of the century saw the club in financial turmoil, entering administration and eventually falling into the non-league after relegation from League Two in 2008.
Despite struggles both on and off the field, including a fight to remain at the Racecourse Ground, supporters stuck together valiantly and eventually took ownership of the club under the Wrexham Supporters Trust in 2011.
While supporters valiantly kept Wrexham afloat during uncertain times, including the COVID-19 pandemic, well-renowned actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds successfully took ownership of the club in February 2021.
The new co-owners helped transform Wrexham, recording the journey in the Welcome to Wrexham documentary series that displays the time, dedication and money invested into the club.
Hiring coach Phil Parkinson and making the notable recruit of striker Paul Mullin, Wrexham narrowly missed promotion after finishing second in the league and suffering defeat in the playoffs in 2021/22.
Building on a strong campaign, the following season saw the Red Dragons successfully secure promotion into League Two after a record-breaking season in the National League, lifting their first league title in 45 years.
Returning to the Football League, what was to come shocked many.
Wrexham went on to secure not just back-to-back promotions in 2023/24 after finishing second in League Two, but have now since become the first team in English football history to achieve three consecutive promotions.
Finishing second again in 2024/25, but this time in League One, Wrexham confirmed their place back in England’s second division after relegation in 1982.
With ambitions and aspirations to reach the English Premier League, the remarkable rise of Wrexham has proven that the sky is the limit.
Heading ‘Down Under’ to test themselves against some of the A-League Men’s finest, Melbourne Victory will face off with Wrexham AFC at Marvel Stadium on Friday, July 11.
Tickets are available via Ticketek.
