Season Preview: Wrexham

Wrexham

A brief history:

Wrexham AFC are perhaps the most famous of the 24 National League clubs – they are certainly the oldest at 153 years of age. Predominantly a club of the third and fourth tiers, the Dragons have won 23 Welsh Cups, a competition that enabled them to play in the Cup Winners Cup on numerous occasions – they reached the quarter-finals in 1975-76. The 1990’s were spent in the second tier before financial problems took hold, the clubs eventually relegated to the Conference National in 2008. Enjoyed three play-off finishes in the early years of the current decade but has since languished in mid-table.

Last season: – 13th

An awfully bland campaign for the Dragons whose 47 goals was only worsened by bottom club North Ferriby United. On top of that they led only 6 times at the half-time whistle and won just 5 away matches. Too many draws spoiled their early campaign before Dean Keates arrived, completely overhauled the playing staff and guided the side to 7 wins in 11 before steam ran out.

How did their last meeting with Solihull Moors go?

Wrexham were a bit of a sore point for the Moors last term. Our first defeat of the season came at the hands of the Dragons thanks to a 93rd minute winner from captain Paul Rutherford while a debatable penalty gave them a 1-0 victory in February as Jack Byrne was sent off.

Who’s the boss? – Dean Keates

At 5’5, Dean Keates is hardly a manager who size and frame would have a player quaking in his boots. Yet Keates’ will to succeed was immediately evident as he overhauled an underachieving squad to get them through the 2016/17 campaign. Started out at Walsall as a player before becoming something of a journeyman, a 5 year-spell at Wrexham aside. The 39 year-old took caretaker charge when Gary Mills was sacked last season before being given the job on an 18-month contract.

How has the summer gone?

Dean Keates’ ambition to take Wrexham back into the Football League has resulted in him building a second squad of players in less than a year. Russell Penn, Hamza Bencherif, Shwan Jalal, Rob Evans, Martin Riley, Jordan White and Izale McLeod have been amongst the departures while Curtis Tilt got a move to Blackpool for his endeavours. Starting from the back, Christian Dibble adds competition for Chris Dunn in net, Manny Smith returns from Gateshead to join new boys James Jennings, Shaun Pearson, James Hurst and Kevin Roberts. In midfield, Jack Mackreth and Marcus Kelly may flank Akil Wright and Sam Wedgbury with Ntumba Massanka, Scott Boden and Chris Holroyd new in attack. Effectively a whole new starting XI and then some joining the club.

Key Players

Shaun Pearson

Shaun Pearson and Manny Smith – that is a mean central defensive pairing. While most know all about Smith at Wrexham, Pearson joins from Grimsby Town where has had spent 6 years before this summer, eventually helping the club achieve promotion back to the Football League. Keates has been sufficiently impressed by his new signing, giving him the captain’s armband.

Sam Wedgbury

The West-Midland-born star has carved out a decent career as a ball-winning midfielder. Wedgbury joins Wrexham on the back of a three-year spell with Forest Green in which he returned from a long-standing injury to play 13 games as the club won promotion via the play-off final, even making an appearance at Wembley from the bench.

Chris Holroyd

Since breaking through at Cambridge United, Chris Holroyd has bounced from club to club without ever making a major impression, his most prolific spells coming on loan at Stevenage then Macclesfield Town. He hit double figures for the first time since 2009/10 last season, something Wrexham hope will continue this campaign.

Where will Wrexham finish?

A squad with tactical limitations and lacking obvious match-winners. I suspect a difficult period during the season will see a couple of necessary additions made. Mid-table