Wrexham Association Football Club is a professional association football club based in Wrexham, Wales. The club competes in EFL Championship, the second tier of the English football league system since 2025–26, following three successive promotions from the National League. This is the first time this has ever been done in English Football history.
The club was founded in 1864, making it the oldest club in Wales and the third-oldest professional team in the world. In 1890, it joined The Combination league, before spells in the Welsh Senior League and Birmingham & District League. They remained in this division before being elected to the Football League in 1921. Wrexham would spend the next 37 years in the Third Division North until they were placed in the Third Division as part of the League re-structuring in 1958. Wrexham would subsequently fluctuate between the Third and Fourth Divisions before earning promotion to the Second Division as champions in 1978. By 1983, Wrexham had experienced two consecutive relegations to leave them back in the Fourth Division once again. In the early 21st century, Wrexham would experience severe financial issues and despite a triumph in the Football League Trophy in 2004–05, they would be relegated from the Football League for the first time in 2008. After five unsuccessful play-off attempts, Wrexham would finally win the National League in 2023 after a 15-year exile in non-League.
Wrexham have won the Welsh Cup a record 23 times, the Football League Trophy in 2005, and the FA Trophy in 2013. They have gained one promotion from the third tier, six promotions from the fourth tier, and one promotion from the fifth tier. Wrexham's record league appearance maker is Arfon Griffiths with 592 appearances, whilst their top goalscorer is Tommy Bamford with 175 league goals. Their highest recorded attendance is 34,445 for an FA Cup tie with Manchester United in 1957.
Honours and achievements Wrexham AFC's honours include:
League Third Division North / Third Division / League One (level 3) Champions: 1977–78 Runners-up: 1932–33, 2024–25
Fourth Division / Third Division / League Two (level 4) Runners-up: 1969–70, 1992–93, 2023–24 Promoted: 1961–62, 2002–03
Conference Premier / National League (level 5) Champions: 2022–23 Runners-up: 2011–12, 2021–22
The Combination Champions: 1900–01, 1901–02, 1902–03, 1904–05 Runners-up: 1899–1900
Welsh Senior League Champions: 1894–95, 1895–96
Cup Football League Trophy Winners: 2004–05
FA Trophy Winners: 2012–13 Runners-up: 2014–15, 2021–22
Football League Cup (North) Winners: 1943–44
Welsh Cup Winners (23): 1877–78, 1882–83, 1892–93, 1896–97, 1902–03, 1904–05, 1908–09, 1909–10, 1910–11, 1913–14, 1914–15, 1920–21, 1923–24, 1924–25, 1930–31, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1959–60, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1977–78, 1985–86, 1994–95 (Record) Runners-up (22): 1878–79, 1889–90, 1890–91, 1894–95, 1985–96, 1897–98, 1898–99, 1901–02, 1919–20, 1931–32, 1932–33, 1949–50, 1961–62, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1970–71, 1978–79, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1990–91
FAW Premier Cup Winners (5): 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04 (Record) Runners-up: 1998–99, 2004–05, 2005–06
Supporters Direct Cup Winners: 2015–16 (Shared) Runners-up: 2011–12, 2014–15
Debenhams Cup Runners-up: 1977–78
Player records Most goals in a season in all competitions: Tommy Bamford – 51 (1933–34) Most League goals in a season: Tommy Bamford – 44 (1933–34, Third Division North) Most league goals in total: Tommy Bamford – 175 Most hat tricks: Tommy Bamford – 16 Most goals scored in a single game by one player: Andy Morrell – 7 (against Merthyr Tydfil, 16 February 2000) Most league appearances: 592 – Arfon Griffiths (1959–61, 1962–79) Most capped player: 89 – Dennis Lawrence, Trinidad & Tobago Most caps while at Wrexham: 49 – Dennis Lawrence, Trinidad & Tobago Oldest player: Bobby Roberts – 43 years, 88 days (against Worcester City, 29 October 1983) Youngest player: Ken Roberts – 15 years, 158 days (against Bradford PA, 1 September 1951)
Team records Attendance – 42,402 v Liverpool F.C., Yankee Stadium, 30 July 2026 League attendance – 29,261 v Chester City, Division Three, 26 December 1936 Average attendance – 11,651, 1977–78 Highest league win – 10–1 v Hartlepools United, 3 March 1962 Worst league defeat – 9–0 v Brentford, Division Three, 15 October 1963 Biggest cup win – 6–0 v Charlton Athletic, FA Cup 3rd round, 5 January 1980 Most games won in a row – 10, 5 April 2003 – 8 May 2003, 2002–03 Most league wins in a season – 34, 2022–23 Most goals in a season – 115, 2022–23 Longest unbeaten run – 28, October 2022 – 7 April 2023, 2022–23 Most consecutive league clean sheets – 7, 9 October – 26 November, 2011–12 Most clean sheets in a season – 26, 1973–74 and 2018–19 Highest transfer received – £800,000 for Bryan Hughes, Birmingham City, 1997 Highest transfer fee paid – £10,000,000 for Nathan Broadhead, Ipswich Town F.C., Summer 2025
Annual awards League awards PFA Team of the Year The following Wrexham players have been included in the PFA Team of the Year
SeasonDivisionPlayer(s)1974–75Third Division Arfon Griffiths1976–77Third Division Arfon Griffiths, Billy Ashcroft1977–78Third Division Dai Davies, Mickey Thomas, Bobby Shinton, Dixie McNeil1988–89Fourth Division Joey Jones, Kevin Russell1991–92Fourth Division Phil Hardy1992–93Division Three Gareth Owen1994–95Division Two Gary Bennett1995–96 Division Two Karl Connolly, Bryan Hughes2002–03Division Three Carlos Edwards, Andy Morrell2003–04Division Two Carlos Edwards2005–06League Two Mark Jones2023–24League Two Elliot Lee, Paul Mullin
EFL Team of the Year
The following players have been included in the English Football League Team of the Year at the EFL Awards whilst playing for Wrexham: SeasonDivisionPlayer(s)2023–24League Two Arthur Okonkwo, Elliot Lee2024–25League One Max Cleworth, Ryan Barnett2025–26Championship Callum Doyle
National League Team of the Year The following players have been included in the Conference Premier or National League Team of the Year whilst playing for Wrexham: SeasonDivisionPlayer(s)2011–12Conference Premier Mark Creighton, Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Lee Fowler2012–13Conference Premier Jay Harris, Dean Keates2017–18National League Shaun Pearson, Manny Smith2018–19National League Shaun Pearson2021–22National League Aaron Hayden, Jordan Davies, Paul Mullin2022–23National League Ben Tozer, Elliot Lee, Paul Mullin
Wrexham Player of the Year
The following players have been named Wrexham A.F.C. Player of the Year.
1975–76 Brian Lloyd 1976–77 Graham Whittle 1977–78 Gareth Davies 1978–79 John Roberts 1979–80 Dixie McNeil 1980–81 Steve Fox 1981–82 Eddie Niedzwiecki 1982–83 Robbie Savage 1983–84 David Gregory 1984–85 Jack Keay 1985–86 Mike Williams 1986–87 Mike Williams 1987–88 Kevin Russell 1988–89 Kevin Russell 1989–90 Nigel Beaumont 1990–91 Mark Morris 1991–92 Andy Thackeray 1992–93 Tony Humes 1993–94 Gary Bennett 1994–95 Gary Bennett 1995–96 Waynne Phillips 1996–97 Andy Marriott 1997–98 Brian Carey 1998–99 Dean Spink 1999–2000 Darren Ferguson 2000–01 Mark McGregor 2001–02 Jim Whitley 2002–03 Andy Morrell 2003–04 Dennis Lawrence 2004–05 Andy Holt 2005–06 Danny Williams 2006–07 Steve Evans 2007–08 Neil Roberts 2008–09 Marc Williams 2009–10 Andy Fleming 2010–11 Jay Harris 2011–12 Neil Ashton 2012–13 Danny Wright 2013–14 Mark Carrington 2014–15 Manny Smith 2015–16 Connor Jennings 2016–17 Martin Riley 2017–18 Shaun Pearson 2018–19 Rob Lainton 2019–20 Luke Young 2020–21 Luke Young 2021–22 Paul Mullin 2022–23 Paul Mullin 2023–24 Paul Mullin 2024–25 Oliver Rathbone 2025–26 Josh Windass
Young Player of the Year The following players have been named Wrexham A.F.C. Young Player of the Year.
1983–84 Shaun Cunnington 1984–85 Andy Edwards 1985–86 Shaun Cunnington 1986–87 Roger Preece 1987–88 Darren Wright 1988–89 Darren Wright 1989–90 Gareth Owen 1990–91 Gareth Owen 1991–92 Phil Hardy 1992–93 Jonathan Cross 1993–94 Dave Brammer 1994–95 Bryan Hughes 1995–96 Mark McGregor 1996–97 Mark McGregor 1997–98 Neil Roberts 1998–99 Robin Gibson 1999–2000 Robin Gibson 2000–01 Lee Roche 2001–02 Shaun Pejic 2002–03 Craig Morgan 2003–04 Craig Morgan 2004–05 Mark Jones 2005–06 Mark Jones 2006–07 Matt Done 2007–08 Neil Taylor 2008–09 Marc Williams 2009–10 Chris Maxwell 2010–11 Chris Maxwell 2011–12 Mathias Pogba 2012–13 Nicky Rushton 2013–14 Andy Coughlin 2014–15 Rob Evans 2015–16 Rob Evans 2016–17 Leo Smith 2017–18 N/A 2018–19 N/A 2019–20 N/A 2020–21 Jordan Davies 2021–22 Max Cleworth 2022–23 Sam Dalby 2023–24 Max Cleworth 2024–25 Max Cleworth 2025–26 Callum Doyle
Steve Edwards Goal of the Season award The following players have won the Steve Edwards Goal of the Season award.
2012–13 Jay Harris v Barrow 2013–14 Andy Morrell v Forest Green Rovers 2014–15 Mark Carrington v Stoke City 2015–16 Dominic Vose v Gateshead 2016–17 Ntumba Massanka v Guiseley 2017–18 Chris Holroyd v Tranmere Rovers 2018–19 Luke Young v Dagenham & Redbridge 2019–20 Luke Young v Bromley 2020–21 Jordan Davies v Halifax Town 2021–22 Paul Mullin v Stockport County 2022–23 N/A 2023–24 Ryan Barnett v Forest Green Rovers 2024–25 Paul Mullin v Blackpool 2025–26 Oliver Rathbone v Queens Park Rangers
Top scorers Goal counts are formatted with the league total first, and the total for all competitions in parentheses.
1946–47 Jack Boothway 17 (25) 1947–48 Billy Tunnicliffe 19 (23) 1948–49 Jack Boothway 16 (17) 1949–50 Billy Tunnicliffe 7 (13) 1950–51 Frank Fidler 13 (15) 1951–52 Billy Tunnicliffe 13 (16) 1952–53 Tommy Bannan 17 (21) 1953–54 Tommy Bannan 14 (18) 1954–55 Tommy Bannan 16 (19) 1955–56 Elfed Evans 13 (16) 1956–57 Ron Hewitt 22 (28) 1957–58 Barry Smith 10 (15) 1958–59 Tommy Bannan 15 (17) 1959–60 Don Weston 13 (16) 1960–61 Mike Metcalf 16 (22) 1961–62 Mike Metcalf 17 (20) 1962–63 Ron Barnes 12 (15) 1963–64 Ernie Phythian 20 (21) 1964–65 Martyn King 13 (18) 1965–66 Keith Webber 16 (18) 1966–67 Sammy McMillan 18 (21) 1967–68 Ray Smith 18 (19) 1968–69 Ray Smith 15 (19) 1969–70 Albert Kinsey 26 (28) 1970–71 Albert Kinsey 16 (17) 1971–72 Albert Kinsey 8 (13) 1972–73 Billy Ashcroft 14 (15) 1973–74 David Smallman 10 (16) 1974–75 David Smallman 17 (20) 1975–76 Billy Ashcroft 14 (19) 1976–77 Graham Whittle 28 (35) 1977–78 Dixie McNeil 13 (25) 1978–79 John Lyons 10 (15) 1979–80 Dixie McNeil 14 (21) 1980–81 Dixie McNeil 13 (20) 1981–82 Ian Edwards 11 (15) 1982–83 Steve Buxton & Robbie Savage 10 (13) 1983–84 David Gregory 19 (24) 1984–85 Jim Steel 14 (15) 1985–86 Steve Charles 21 (24) 1986–87 Jim Steel 17 (22) 1987–88 Kevin Russell 21 (25) 1988–89 Kevin Russell 22 (27) 1989–90 Gary Worthington 12 (16) 1990–91 Chris Armstrong 10 (15) 1991–92 Steve Watkin 13 (19) 1992–93 Gary Bennett 16 (23) 1993–94 Gary Bennett 32 (39) 1994–95 Gary Bennett 29 (47) 1995–96 Karl Connolly 18 (21) 1996–97 Karl Connolly 14 (15) 1997–98 Karl Connolly 7 (14) 1998–99 Karl Connolly 11 (23) 1999–2000 Craig Faulconbridge 9 (11) 2000–01 Darren Ferguson 9 (10) 2001–02 Craig Faulconbridge 13 (14) 2002–03 Andy Morrell 34 (35) 2003–04 Hector Sam 10 (12) 2004–05 Juan Ugarte 17 (23) 2005–06 Mark Jones 13 (15) 2006–07 Chris Llewellyn 9 (11) 2007–08 Michael Proctor 11 (11) 2008–09 Jefferson Louis 15 (15) 2009–10 Gareth Taylor 8 (8) 2010–11 Andy Mangan 15 (15) 2011–12 Jake Speight 21 (21) 2012–13 Danny Wright 15 (18) 2013–14 Johnny Hunt 11 (12) 2014–15 Louis Moult 16 (23) 2015–16 Connor Jennings 14 (14) 2016–17 John Rooney 11 (11) 2017–18 Chris Holroyd 13 (13) 2018–19 Shaun Pearson 6 (6) 2019–20 Bobby Grant 7 (8) 2020–21 Luke Young 12 (12) 2021–22 Paul Mullin 26 (32) 2022–23 Paul Mullin 38 (47) 2023–24 Paul Mullin 24 (26) 2024–25 Elliot Lee 8 (9) 2025–26 Josh Windass 16 (17)
Hall of fame The following are members of the Wrexham A.F.C. Hall of Fame. Entry is not restricted to players; anyone who has made a great contribution to the club in any capacity can be considered.
Billy Ashcroft Tommy Bamford Tommy Bannan Ken Barnes Gary Bennett