Club History
Full name: Wrexham Association Football Club
Nickname(s): The Reds, The Red Dragons, The Robins, The Town (Y Dreigiau)
Short name: Wrexham AFC, Wrexham
Founded: 1864; 161 years ago
Ground: Racecourse Ground (STōK Cae Ras)
Capacity: ~12,600–13,341
Owner: Wrexham Holdings LLC (Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney)
Manager: Phil Parkinson
League: EFL Championship (second tier of English football)
2023‑24: League Two, 2nd of 24 (promoted)
Wrexham Association Football Club, founded in 1864, is the oldest professional football club in Wales and one of the oldest in the world. Based in the town of Wrexham, the club has played at the Racecourse Ground since 1872, making it the world’s oldest international football stadium still in use. Wrexham’s early years were marked by involvement in regional competitions, and the club became a founding member of the Welsh Cup in 1877, winning it for the first time in 1878.
In 1921, Wrexham joined the English Football League’s newly created Third Division North, beginning a long association with the English football pyramid. Over the decades, the club has experienced both successes and struggles, moving between the lower divisions. Despite these fluctuations, Wrexham has cultivated a strong local fanbase and a reputation as a historic club with deep community roots.
The club’s most notable achievements include multiple Welsh Cup victories and a memorable run to the quarterfinals of the 1977–78 European Cup Winners’ Cup, where they defeated teams like FC Zurich before being eliminated by Anderlecht. Wrexham has also reached the latter stages of the FA Cup several times, famously defeating top-flight sides, earning a reputation as giant-killers.
Financial difficulties in the early 2000s threatened the club’s existence, but a passionate supporters’ group helped stabilize operations. In 2020, Wrexham gained international attention when Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney acquired the club, investing in infrastructure and global marketing while maintaining its historic identity. This ownership has revitalized Wrexham, attracting a global fanbase and new sponsorship opportunities.
In the 2022–23 season, Wrexham won the National League and earned promotion to the English Football League, marking a return to the professional tiers after 15 years. The club continues to balance its historic traditions with modern ambitions, aiming to climb the English football ladder while remaining a symbol of Welsh football heritage.