History of Wrexham A.F.C. in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 5, 2025

Wrexham A.F.C., established in 1864, holds the distinction of being the oldest football club in Wales and the third-oldest professional club globally. The team is based in Wrexham, Wales. After achieving back-to-back-to-back promotions they will compete in the EFL Championship from the 2025-2026 season, having previously played in EFL League One, the third tier of the English football league system.

1905: Entry into Birmingham & District League

In 1905, Wrexham joined the Birmingham & District League, remaining there until becoming an inaugural member of the Football League's Third Division North in 1921.

1908: Reached FA Cup First Round

In the 1908-09 season Wrexham reached the first round proper of the FA Cup before losing a replay 1-2 to Exeter City.

1909: Welsh Cup Win

In 1909, Wrexham won the Welsh Cup.

1910: Welsh Cup Win

In 1910, Wrexham won the Welsh Cup.

1912: Start of Managerial History

In 1912, Wrexham AFC began tracking its managerial history.

1913: Welsh Cup Win

In 1913, Wrexham won the Welsh Cup.

1914: Welsh Cup Win

In 1914, Wrexham won the Welsh Cup.

1920: Welsh Cup Win

In 1920, Wrexham won the Welsh Cup.

1921: Inaugural Member of Football League's Third Division North

In 1921, Wrexham became a founding member of the Football League's Third Division North.

1921: Elected to Third Division North of the Football League

In 1921, Wrexham was elected to the newly formed Third Division North of the Football League.

January 1922: First Wrexham Player Sent Off in Football League Game

In January 1922, Brian Simpson became the first Wrexham player to be sent off in a Football League game, against Southport.

1926: FA Cup Run

In 1926, Wrexham got past the first round of the FA Cup only to be knocked out by Rhyl.

1928: FA Cup Fourth Round

In 1928, Wrexham reached the fourth round of the FA Cup before losing to Birmingham City.

1929: Albert Mays Record Goals

In 1929, Albert Mays scored a record 32 league goals, helping Wrexham to third position. Tommy Bamford also made his first appearance for the club.

1932: Best Third Division North Season

In 1932, Wrexham enjoyed their best-ever Third Division North season, finishing runners-up to Hull City.

1934: "1934" Embroidered on Kits

Starting with the kits for the 2021–22 seasons, the back neck of the shirt has the number "1934" embroidered in, in remembrance of the Gresford disaster.

1939: First Appearance in Red and White Strip

In 1939, Wrexham first appeared in their now-familiar red and white strip.

1949: First Tour Abroad

In the summer of 1949, Wrexham made its first-ever tour abroad when it played three games against the British army in Germany.

1956: FA Cup Fourth Round and Welsh Cup Win

In 1956, Wrexham reached the fourth round of the FA Cup playing Manchester United's Busby Babes and later won the Welsh Cup for the first time in 26 years.

1957: Record Attendance at the Racecourse Ground

In 1957, a record attendance of 34,445 spectators was set at the Racecourse Ground during a match between Wrexham and Manchester United.

1958: Placement in Re-organized Third Division

In 1958, Wrexham was placed in the re-organized Third Division.

1960: Relegation to Fourth Division

In 1960, Wrexham was relegated to the newly created Fourth Division.

1961: Promotion from Fourth Division

In 1961, Wrexham was promoted out of the Fourth Division.

1966: Finished Rock-Bottom

In 1966, Wrexham finished rock-bottom at 92nd in the Football League after an extremely disappointing season.

1968: John Neal Appointed Manager

In 1968, John Neal was appointed manager of Wrexham, succeeding Alvan Williams.

1969: 9th-Place Finish

In 1969, John Neal guided Wrexham to a 9th-place finish.

1969: Another Promotion Followed

In 1969, Wrexham achieved another promotion.

1970: Second Football League Promotion

In 1970, John Neal led Wrexham to their second Football League promotion to the Third Division.

September 1972: Inaugural European Match

On September 13, 1972, Wrexham played their inaugural match in Europe against Swiss side FC Zurich in Switzerland, the game finishing 1–1.

1972: First European Tie Against FC Zürich

In 1972, Wrexham played their first European tie against FC Zürich of Switzerland.

1972: Completion of the New Yale Stand

In 1972, the new Yale stand was completed, with a capacity of up to 5,500.

1973: Badge Change

In 1973, Wrexham changed their badge from the Maelor crest to a new badge that resembled the Welsh roots of the club, which is still the badge for today's team.

1975: Shocking the Football World

1975–76 saw John Neal's starlets captained by Eddie May, again shocking the football world by reaching the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup after another sparkling cup run and defeats of several higher quality opponents.

1976: European Cup Winners' Cup Run

In 1976, Wrexham reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup, losing to eventual winners Anderlecht.

1977: Arfon Griffiths Took Over

In 1977, Arfon Griffiths took over as player-manager for the 1977–78 season.

1977: Winning the Third Division Title

In 1977, Wrexham won the Third Division title, reaching the Second Division for the first time.

1978: Promotion to the Second Division

In 1978, Wrexham finally clinched promotion to the second division when they beat Rotherham United 7–1 at a packed Racecourse and went on to win the Third Division Championship that year.

1981: Mel Sutton Takes Over

Following Arfon Griffiths' resignation from the manager's position in 1981, his assistant Mel Sutton was put in charge.

1982: Bobby Roberts Appointed Manager

In the summer of 1982, Bobby Roberts was appointed the club's new manager.

1983: Back in the Fourth Tier

By 1983, Wrexham experienced two successive relegations, placing them back in the fourth tier.

1984: Wrexham Qualifies on Away Goals in European Competition

In 1984, Wrexham faced FC Porto in European competition. They won the home leg 1–0, but Porto led 3–0 after 38 minutes in the second leg. Wrexham fought back, finishing the game 4–3, tying 4–4 on aggregate, and advanced on away goals. They were then drawn against AS Roma but lost 3–0 on aggregate. Wrexham's league performance that year was poor, and they were at the bottom of the Football League when Bobby Roberts was removed from his managerial position.

1984: Victory Over FC Porto

In 1984, Wrexham secured a 1–0 victory over FC Porto in the European Cup Winners' Cup.

May 1985: Legislation on Ground Safety Following Bradford City Stadium Fire

In May 1985, following the Bradford City stadium fire, new legislation on ground safety was introduced. This led to the closure of the Mold Road stand at the Racecourse Ground because it did not meet the safety standards.

1986: Wrexham Returns to European Football

In 1986, Wrexham returned to European football, defeating FC Zurrieq 7–0 on aggregate in the first round. However, they were eliminated in the second round against Real Zaragoza on away goals after a 2–2 aggregate draw.

1988: Reserve Team in Welsh Football Leagues

In 1988, Wrexham's reserve team began playing in the Welsh football leagues.

1989: Wrexham Reaches Fourth Division Play-Offs

In 1989, led by Dixie McNeil, Wrexham reached the Fourth Division play-offs after finishing seventh in the league. They defeated Scunthorpe United 5–1 on aggregate in the semi-final but lost 2–1 to Leyton Orient in the final. After a poor start to the next season, Dixie McNeil resigned.

1990: Wrexham Avoids Relegation and Exits European Cup Winners' Cup

In 1990, it was announced that there would be no relegation to the Conference Premier. That season Wrexham finished in ninety-second place. Wrexham were knocked out of the European Cup Winners' Cup in the second round by Manchester United 5–0 on aggregate.

1991: Wrexham Beats Arsenal in FA Cup

In 1991, Wrexham, facing financial struggles and poor league performance, beat the previous season's First Division champions Arsenal 2–1 in the FA Cup, thanks to a Mickey Thomas free kick and a Steve Watkin goal. However, they lost in the next round to West Ham United 1–0 in a replay.

1992: Upset Victory Over Arsenal

In 1992, Wrexham achieved an upset victory over the reigning English Champions Arsenal in the FA Cup.

1992: Wrexham Continues to Struggle Financially and on the Field

In 1992, Wrexham faced financial difficulties and struggled both in the League Cup and the league. They relied on the FA Cup for success. They defeated Telford United and Winsford United, and faced Arsenal in a memorable match.

1992: No Promotion Until 1992-93

Wrexham experienced no further promotion until 1992-93

April 1993: Wrexham Achieves Promotion on April 27th

On April 27, 1993, Wrexham secured promotion to the next tier of English football with a 2–0 victory over Northampton Town.

1994: Wrexham Achieves Success in FA Cup

In 1994, Wrexham had a successful FA Cup run, beating Stockport County and Rotherham United before defeating Premier League side Ipswich Town 2–1. In the next round, they lost 5–2 to Manchester United at Old Trafford despite taking the lead.

1994: Featured in "Twenty Two Foreigners in Funny Shorts"

In 1994, Wrexham played a significant role in the book "Twenty Two Foreigners in Funny Shorts" by Peter Davies, which chronicled their promotion efforts.

1995: Wrexham Enters European Action

In 1995, Wrexham participated in European competition, facing Petrolul Ploiești. The home leg ended in a 0–0 draw, but Wrexham lost the away leg 1–0 and was knocked out of the tournament.

1995: Last European Game

In 1995, Wrexham played their last European game in Romania against Petrolul Ploiești.

1995: Reserve Team Ends Play in Welsh Football Leagues

In 1995, Wrexham's reserve team ended its participation in the Welsh football leagues.

1996: Wrexham Beats West Ham United in FA Cup

In 1996, Wrexham had a strong FA Cup run, beating West Ham United 1–0 in a replay at Upton Park after a 1–1 draw at home. Kevin Russell scored the winning goal. They reached the quarter-finals but narrowly lost to Chesterfield 1–0.

June 1997: Official Opening of Colliers Park

In June 1997, Colliers Park, Wrexham's new £750,000 training ground outside Gresford, officially opened. It is considered one of the best training grounds outside of the top flight and has been used by teams like Barcelona.

1999: Wrexham Beats Middlesbrough in FA Cup

In the 1999-2000 season, Wrexham beat top-flight team Middlesbrough 2-1 in the FA Cup. Robin Gibson and Darren Ferguson scored the goals in the second half.

2000: Wrexham Beats Middlesbrough in FA Cup

In the 2000 season, Wrexham beat top-flight team Middlesbrough 2-1 in the FA Cup. Robin Gibson and Darren Ferguson scored the goals in the second half.

May 2001: Wrexham Wins the FAW Premier Cup in May

In May 2001, Wrexham won the FAW Premier Cup.

2001: Introduction of Wrex the Dragon and "The Dragons" Nickname

In 2001, Wrexham introduced Wrex the Dragon as the official team mascot and adopted the nickname "The Dragons" to enhance the club's Welsh identity and boost sponsorship.

2002: Relegation and Immediate Promotion

In 2002, Wrexham was relegated but gained immediate promotion in 2002–03.

2003: Hooligans Jailed After Tranmere v Wrexham Match

In 2003, 32 hooligans were jailed after a Tranmere v Wrexham match at Prenton Park.

December 2004: Administration

In December 2004, Wrexham faced worsening financial problems that resulted in administration.

December 2004: Club Placed in Financial Administration

On December 3, 2004, Wrexham was placed in financial administration by the High Court in Manchester with £2,600,000 debt. The club received a ten-point deduction, leading to relegation from League One.

2004: Wrexham Wins the Football League Trophy

During the 2004–05 season, Wrexham won the Football League Trophy by defeating Southend United 2–0 after extra time at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. The goals were scored by Juan Ugarte and Darren Ferguson.

2004: Club Issues and FIFA Football Inclusion

In 2004, Wrexham faced off-pitch issues, including chairman Alex Hamilton's attempt to evict the club from the stadium. The club was included in FIFA Football 2004 and remained playable until FIFA 08. Hamilton gave the club a year's notice to leave the ground that summer.

May 2005: Wrexham Relegated after Loss to Brentford

On May 3, 2005, Wrexham's hopes of avoiding relegation ended with a 2–1 home loss to Brentford. The 10-point deduction proved decisive, as the club finished with 43 points, condemning them to relegation.

October 2005: High Court Rules Against Hamilton's Company

In October 2005, Birmingham High Court ruled that Alex Hamilton's company CrucialMove had improperly acquired the freehold of the ground.

2005: Football League Trophy Win

In 2005, Wrexham won the Football League Trophy at the Millennium Stadium.

March 2006: Appeal Court Rules Stadium Stays with Administrators

On March 14, 2006, the Appeal Court in London ruled that the stadium must remain in the hands of the club's administrators.

April 2006: Agreement Reached for Takeover

On April 30, 2006, the administrators reached an agreement with Neville Dickens for him to take over control of the club, subject to shareholder and creditor agreement. This was achieved on May 30.

2006: Wrexham Starts Well but Struggles

The 2006–07 season started well for Wrexham, as they went 8 games unbeaten. However, the club would then struggle with Denis Smith eventually being sacked in January 2007.

January 2007: Denis Smith Sacked

In January 2007, Denis Smith was sacked as Wrexham manager after a poor run of results, with the club in the bottom half of the division. He was replaced by coach Brian Carey.

May 2007: Wrexham Avoids Relegation

On May 5, 2007, Wrexham secured their league status with a 3–1 victory over Boston United, ensuring they stayed in the Football League and relegating their opponents.

November 2007: Brian Little Named New Manager

In November 2007, Brian Little was named as Wrexham's new manager, replacing Brian Carey, after a poor start to the 2007-08 season that left the club in 24th place.

2008: Dropped Out of the Football League

In 2008, Wrexham dropped out of the Football League.

2008: Wrexham Starts Well but Struggles

The 2008–09 season started well for Wrexham, with a 5–0 home victory against Stevenage Borough. However a run of poor results followed, with Wrexham being left in the mid-table battle.

2009: Wrexham F.C. Uganda Established

In 2009, Wrexham F.C. Uganda, a namesake club, was established in Uganda by Welsh charity Teams4U.

2009: Brian Little Leaves Wrexham

In 2009, following a 3–0 home defeat against Rushden and Diamonds and fan calls for his dismissal, Brian Little left Wrexham by mutual consent. Little was replaced by Dean Saunders.

2010: Ground Share with Celtic Crusaders Begins

In 2010, Wrexham entered into a ground share at the Racecourse Ground with Celtic Crusaders rugby league club.

March 2011: Ownership Bids

In March 2011, the ownership of the club became subject to two bids: one from Wrexham Supporters' Trust and another from local businesswoman Stephanie Booth.

April 2011: Sponsorship Deal with Greene King Brewery

In April 2011, Wrexham signed a two-year sponsorship deal with Greene King brewery.

April 2011: Club Served with Winding-Up Order

In April 2011, Wrexham was served with a winding-up order from HMRC, with an unpaid tax bill of just under £200,000.

August 2011: Stadium Purchased by Wrexham University

In August 2011, Wrexham University purchased The Racecourse Ground and the club training facilities in Gresford, adding their name to the stadium for it to become The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium.

August 2011: Fan Rally to Save Club

In August 2011, Wrexham were faced with being expelled from the Football Conference, fans rallied and raised £127,000 in one day to help pay a bond, so they could secure football for the forthcoming season.

December 2011: Fan Ownership Ratified

Fan ownership of Wrexham was finally ratified on 12 December 2011, with the Wrexham Supporters' Trust (WST) taking over the day-to-day running of the club.

2011: Glyndwr University Buys Colliers Park

In 2011, Glyndwr University purchased Colliers Park as part of their acquisition of the Racecourse Ground assets.

2011: Welsh Cup Invitation

In 2011, Wrexham was invited back into the Welsh Cup after 16 years, entering at the third round stage.

2012: Fan Base

As of 2012, Wrexham has been able to attract gates of 11,000+ for big games at the Racecourse. Famous Wrexham fans include Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, former Royal butler Paul Burrell, actor and television presenter Tim Vincent, actor Llŷr Ifans, actor and comedian Ted Robbins, Sweet guitarist Andy Scott, Lloyd Roberts of rock band Neck Deep, 2012 Olympian weightlifter Gareth Evans, Sky Sports reporter Bryn Law, Rugby World Cup referee Nigel Owens and former footballers Neil Roberts, Robbie Savage and Mark Hughes.

June 2013: Name Change Vote

In June 2013, members of Wrexham Supporters Trust voted to change the club's name back to Wrexham AFC, and the name was subsequently changed.

2013: FA Trophy Final Coaches

For the 2013 FA Trophy final coaches of Wrexham fans came from many North Wales towns including; Bala, Bangor, Caernarfon, Colwyn Bay, Denbigh, Flint, Llandudno, Prestatyn, Rhyl and Ruthin.

2013: Trouble at Friendly Match

In 2013 trouble was again evident when Tranmere and Wrexham clubs met in a friendly at the Racecourse Ground.

2013: Ian Rush Quote on Cross-Border Derby

In 2013, former Wales and Liverpool striker Ian Rush, who played for both clubs, said that the cross-border derby between Chester and Wrexham is "as intense as they come" and "It is like Wales v England really, it is incredible".

2013: Season Finish

Wrexham finished the 2013-14 season in 17th place.

February 2014: Andy Morrell Steps Down

In February 2014, Andy Morrell stepped down as manager of Wrexham A.F.C.. Billy Barr was appointed as interim manager before being replaced a few weeks later by Kevin Wilkin.

2014: 150th Anniversary Kit

In 2014–15, to celebrate the club's 150th anniversary, Wrexham wore a red and black hooped Nike home shirt as this was the club's first ever recorded home shirt.

May 2015: WST Membership

As of May 2015 the WST had 4,129 adult members and joint-owners of the club.

2016: Supporters Trust Secures Lease

In 2016, Wrexham Supporters Trust secured a 99-year lease on the ground, and the name reverted to the Racecourse Ground.

2016: Return to Stansty Park

In 2016, Wrexham moved their training to Stansty Park, the home of Lex Glyndwr, due to financial reasons, while still using Colliers Park for youth and reserve games.

2016: Ground Share with Celtic Crusaders Ends

In 2016, Wrexham's ground share at the Racecourse Ground with Celtic Crusaders rugby league club, comes to an end.

2016: Kit Supplier

Macron have been the kit supplier of Wrexham AFC since 2016.

2017: Move to 9 Acre Field

In 2017, Wrexham announced their move to a new training ground at 9 Acre field, located near the city center, for the beginning of the 2017-18 season, while also using Stansty Park.

2017: Pre-season Training Camp in Portugal

In pre-season 2017, Macron helped arrange a pre-season training camp for the first team in Portugal where over 600 supporters traveled over to support the team in a 2–1 win over Louletano.

February 2018: Colliers Park Transformed into National Development Centre

In February 2018, Wrexham's former training ground, Colliers Park, was transformed into a National Development Centre after a £4 million investment by the Football Association of Wales.

March 2018: Cross-border derby win

In March 2018, Wrexham won 2–0 against Chester at the Racecourse Ground in the cross-border derby.

2018: Play-off Quarter-Final Loss

In the 2018–19 season, Wrexham finished in 4th place but lost the play-off quarter-final to Eastleigh.

2019: Lowest Position in Club History

In the 2019–20 season, Wrexham finished 19th on points per game after the season was ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was the lowest position in the club's 150-year history.

November 2020: Club Takeover by RR McReynolds Company LLC

In November 2020, American actor Rob McElhenney and Canadian-American actor Ryan Reynolds, through their RR McReynolds Company LLC, bought Wrexham A.F.C..

2020: Club Purchase by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds

In 2020, the purchase of Wrexham A.F.C. by American actor Rob McElhenney and Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, along with publicity from the docuseries Welcome to Wrexham, significantly impacted the club's visibility and global fanbase.

February 2021: Takeover Completion & FIFA 22 Inclusion

In February 2021, the takeover deal of Wrexham A.F.C. was completed by RR McReynolds Company LLC. Wrexham was also included in FIFA 22 as part of the "Rest of World" section, becoming the first non-league team to be featured in the series.

2021: Season Finish

During the 2021–22 season, under manager Phil Parkinson, Wrexham finished second and lost the play-off semi-final 5–4 to Grimsby Town after extra time.

2021: Battling for the National League Title

In 2021, Wrexham battled Stockport County for the National League title, ultimately missing out despite a strong late-season performance.

2021: Continued Use of Stansty Park

In 2021, Wrexham still used Stansty Park for training purposes.

2021: "1934" Embroidered on Kits

Starting with the kits for the 2021–22 seasons, the back neck of the shirt has the number "1934" embroidered in, in remembrance of the Gresford disaster.

June 2022: Wrexham AFC Purchases Racecourse Ground

In June 2022, Wrexham AFC purchased the Racecourse Ground freehold from Wrexham University and are planning renovations to the stadium.

August 2022: Participation in the Central League

In August 2022, Wrexham announced that they would participate in the upcoming 2022–23 Central League season.

August 2022: Welcome to Wrexham Docuseries Debut

On August 24, 2022, the docuseries "Welcome to Wrexham," produced by Boardwalk Pictures for FX, debuted on FX and Hulu in the United States, followed by a release on Disney+ in the United Kingdom and Ireland the next day.

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2022: FA Trophy Final Loss

During the 2021–22 season, Wrexham reached the 2022 FA Trophy final which they lost 1–0 to Bromley.

2022: FA Cup Fourth Round and ESPN game

During the 2022-23 season, the team progressed to the fourth round in the 2022–23 FA Cup, being the only National League team to do so. The first game against Sheffield United, which ended in a 3–3 draw, was ESPN's most followed football game across its digital platforms.

2022: FA Trophy and League Wins Against Stockport

In 2022, Wrexham beat Stockport at home twice in both the FA Trophy and League.

2022: Promotion as Champions of the National League

In 2022, Wrexham was promoted as champions of the 2022–23 National League to EFL League Two.

May 2023: Training Kit Sponsorship by Betty Buzz

In May 2023, the team's training kit was announced to be sponsored by Betty Buzz, a beverage company owned by Blake Lively, for the 2023–24 season.

June 2023: Income Increase

Wrexham's income increased to over £10 million in the year ending in June 2023.

2023: Second Successive Promotion

During the 2023–24 season, Wrexham secured a second successive promotion, taking the club to EFL League One.

2023: National League Title Win and Promotion

In 2023, Wrexham won the National League title and promotion back to the EFL after a season-long battle with Notts County, highlighted by a crucial 3-2 win on Easter Monday, including a penalty save by Ben Foster.

2023: Financial Statement for 2023/24 Season

The club's financial statements for the 2023/24 season revealed in March 2025 that the loans from Reynolds and McElhenney, grown to £15m, had been fully repaid and that the turnover of £26.7m set a record for a League Two side.

April 2024: Club Necaxa Investment in Wrexham

In April 2024, Club Necaxa's backers purchased 5% of Wrexham AFC and both owners, in turn, purchased a minority stake in Necaxa.

April 2024: Second Consecutive Promotion

On April 13, 2024, Wrexham secured their second consecutive promotion to EFL League One.

August 2024: Joined European Club Association

The football club joined the European Club Association in August 2024.

October 2024: New Minority Investor

In October 2024, the Allyn family of Skaneateles, New York was announced as a new minority investor in the club, reportedly taking a near-15% stake.

2024: Another Promotion to League One

In 2024, Wrexham secured another promotion, finishing second behind Stockport, despite beating them 2-1 at home on the final day of the season, ensuring their place in League One for the 2024-25 season.

2024: Rivalry with Birmingham City

In 2024, after being promoted to League One for the 2024–25 season, Wrexham formed a rivalry with Birmingham City, dubbed the "Hollywood Derby" due to the celebrity ownership of both clubs.