Introduction: The Unique Story of Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C. is the third oldest professional football club in the world. However, since its founding, Wrexham has spent a long time in the lower divisions of English football, facing many ups and downs over the years. It was only in 2020, when Hollywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds bought the club, that Wrexham began to turn things around and started their journey toward promotion.
Wrexham’s Rise to the League
Unforgettable Struggles
Wrexham A.F.C. went through a long period of struggles. In the 2007-2008 season, people expected Wrexham to be promoted. However, after changing coaches, signing 11 new players, and suffering seven consecutive losses, Wrexham faced its biggest setback – relegation to the National League, ending its 87-year history in the professional league system.
Struggles in the National League
After moving to the National League, Wrexham’s players did not give up on the team. In the first few years, they tried many times to get promoted through the playoffs, but each time they failed. In the 2011-2012 season, they performed strongly, even setting a National League points record with 98 points. However, they were defeated by Luton in the playoff semifinals. In 2013, they got another chance, but after losing to Newport County in the final, they missed promotion again.
After that, Wrexham faced even bigger challenges. The club went into a financial crisis, the team became less competitive, and their performance dropped. It seemed like there was no hope for promotion anymore.
A Turning Point in 2020
In 2020, Wrexham finally saw a turning point.
Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, out of personal interest, decided to buy a struggling club and invest in it, challenging themselves to see if they could help the team get out of its troubles. In the end, they chose Wrexham.
It turned out that Reynolds and McElhenney’s challenge was a success. After the takeover, Wrexham experienced a huge transformation.
First, Reynolds and McElhenney provided financial support to the club, improving its competitiveness. Then, they filmed a documentary about Wrexham called Welcome to Wrexham. This was a first for a fifth-tier team. The documentary greatly increased Wrexham’s visibility and earned them a new global fanbase.
During this time, players like Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer joined the club and became key figures, laying a strong foundation for Wrexham’s journey to promotion.
An Unstoppable Journey to Promotion
In 2022, Wrexham A.F.C. entered the National League again, but this time their situation had changed.
In this National League season, Wrexham not only set a record with 111 points, the highest in National League history, but also won the championship and directly earned promotion to English League Two. Wrexham’s promotion became a hot topic.
The 2023-2024 season marked their return to League Two after 15 years, since they left in 2008. They finished second with 88 points and earned promotion to English League One. This was an amazing achievement, as the club had been promoted two levels in such a short time.
Wrexham now has a spot in English League One. Based on their current ranking and points, they are performing well and even have a chance to reach the Premier League. So far, they have played 16 matches in League One, winning 9, drawing 4, and losing 3. With 31 points, they are in second place, just 4 points behind the leaders.
Can Wrexham be promoted to the Premier League?
Yes, I think it’s very possible.
Wrexham A.F.C. is currently on a strong run. They are in second place with 31 points, and more than half of their 16 games have been wins.
Some people might think that Stockport County and Birmingham City, in third and fourth place, are only 1 point behind Wrexham and could take their spot. However, according to the rules of League One, teams ranked 3rd to 6th can compete in the playoffs for a promotion spot. This means that even if Wrexham drops from second place, they still have a chance to reach the Premier League through the playoffs.
Moreover, since being bought by Reynolds and McElhenney, Wrexham‘s overall strength has improved, and they have already achieved back-to-back promotions. I believe their third promotion could come by next May.
