Wrexham Players Embrace Journey Toward Premier League Ambitions
Even before Hollywood figures Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took ownership of the club, Wrexham had a reputation for dramatic narratives. The team has experienced the exhilarating highs of climbing to the second tier in 1978, alongside profound lows, such as their exit from the Football League three decades later when they faced administration. The loyal supporters of Wrexham have witnessed nearly every twist and turn possible.
As manager Phil Parkinson’s squad aims to reignite their quest for a spot in the Premier League, players have been encouraged to buckle up and appreciate the journey. Defender Joe Worrall stated, “You’ve just got to be so steady, not too high, not too low… get on the roller coaster and enjoy it.”
Worrall, 29, knows what it takes to ascend to the top tier, having secured promotions with Nottingham Forest in 2022 and Burnley in 2025. Since the noteworthy takeover in 2021, Wrexham has surged from the National League to the Championship, achieving three promotions in the process.
When discussing the final step toward the Premier League, Worrall believes Wrexham possesses the essential “golden triangle,” or what he refers to as the “Three Amigos,” necessary to reach this goal. He elaborated on the three crucial components for stepping up to the top tier: a cohesive dressing room, top-quality players, and a clear identity in playing style, stating, “I think Wrexham are close to those three.”
Despite only recently transferring from Burnley, Worrall quickly recognized the extent of Wrexham’s recent growth. Currently ranked 17th after 12 matches this season, the team previously achieved a club-record finish of seventh in the second tier.
Worrall emphasized that Wrexham’s achievements are not just based on the resources available, explaining that the club’s recent success stems from building a strong identity and having a strategic approach. “The club’s got an identity now and that’s almost, ‘win every game, get promoted’; it’s worked for the last three seasons,” Worrall noted.
He acknowledged the ambition within Wrexham, recognizing the past success as evidence of effective leadership and direction. With key players like Paul Mullin, Elliot Lee, Ben Tozer, Steven Fletcher, and Ollie Palmer playing integral roles in the team’s resurgence, the club has gained increased global attention, smashed transfer records, and improved revenues.
As Wrexham aims to return to winning form and position themselves as serious promotion contenders once again, Worrall remarked on the journey taken to get to this point. “You have to remember that the club was way down for years, so it’s been an absolute mission to get here. It’s not just been as simple as throwing loads of money at it.”
He further highlighted the necessity of continual progress, stressing the importance of maintaining high expectations and striving for improvement rather than settling for past achievements. “With the new training ground, new players that come in the summer, and it’ll be the same in January, it’ll be the same next summer. We need to keep building and not just be satisfied with missing out on the play-offs last year,” he added.
