Wrexham Association Football Club is a professional association football club based in Wrexham, Wales. The club competes in EFL League One, the third tier of the English football league system since 2024–25, following two successive promotions from the National League.
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 (level 3)
- Champions: 1977–78
- Runners-up: 1932–33
- Fourth Division / Third Division / League Two (level 4)
- Runners-up: 1969–70, 1992–93, 2023–24
- Promoted: 1961–62, 2002–03
- National League (level 5)
- Champions: 2022–23
- 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 – 34,445 v Manchester United, FA Cup 4th round, 26 January 1957
- 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 – £300,000 for Ollie Palmer, AFC Wimbledon, 2022
Annual awards
League awards
PFA Team of the Year
The following Wrexham players have been included in the PFA Team of the Year
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:
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:
Wrexham Player of the Year
The following players have been named Wrexham A.F.C. Player of the Year.
Young Player of the Year
The following players have been named Wrexham A.F.C. Young Player of the Year.
Steve Edwards Goal of the Season award
The following players have won the Steve Edwards Goal of the Season award.
Top scorers
Goal counts are formatted with the league total first, and the total for all competitions in parentheses.
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.
International caps
The following players earned international caps whilst playing for Wrexham:
Cap counts are formatted with caps earned whilst at Wrexham first, with total career caps in parenthesis.
European record
European Cup Winners' Cup:
Notes
See also
- Welcome to Wrexham#Accolades
References
