Wrexham are just over a month away from another league season and Phil Parkinson will be looking for another memorable campaign.
This time three years ago, Wrexham fans were gearing up for another National League season after tasting more play-off heartbreak.
Defeat to Grimsby Town in the National League play-offs was not the Hollywood ending Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds wanted from their first season at Wrexham.
Ever since that day, Wrexham have been on an incredible rise through the leagues, achieving three straight promotions.
Wrexham will now face Southampton on the opening weekend of the Championship season, which is something few could have expected when McElhenney and Reynolds completed their takeover.
Each promotion has been an incredible moment, but most will tell you that nothing can quite match the first.
Elliot Lee on Wrexham
Wrexham beat Boreham Wood at home to secure promotion from the National League in 2023, sparking wild scenes of celebration at the STōK Cae Ras.
Winning a second straight promotion was an incredible achievement and reaching the Championship may have been beyond the wildest dreams of some supporters.
The sheer delight of finally winning promotion out of the National League after so many years will live long in the memory, though, and Elliot Lee has reflected on that night.
Speaking on Wrexham’s official YouTube channel, Lee noted that he will never forget winning the National League title.
Lee saw just how much that night meant to Wrexham fans and he still remembers seeing supporters in tears from the bus parade.
Lee feels that the joy from that promotion ‘goes beyond football’, while praising the ‘incredible journey’ he and Wrexham have been on in recent years.
The Wrexham ace added that the tight-knit atmosphere in the dressing room is why Wrexham have achieved so much, even if people from the outside don’t see it.
“I absolutely love it here,” said Lee. “The people every day coming to work with, it’s just a big family here, and the togetherness is something that people from the outside might not see, but for me, it’s the reason we’ve achieved what we have.
“The final whistle when we won the National League was a feeling I’ll never forget. Just pure relief. That was my first year and I could tell what it meant to people and to have achieved that was really special. The bus parade afterwards, I always remember seeing the genuine tears of joy and genuine smiles that we brought to people’s faces. Just seeing what it means, it goes beyond football, it means so much to people, it goes beyond football what we achieved and then to have carried it on the next season and achieve promotion again, and then to do it again this season.
“You know you’re part of history now, yeah it’s unbelievable. There’s so many memories along the way that have meant so much to me and that’ll live with me forever. It’s been an incredible journey and one that I hope will continue for a few more years,” he added.
Elliot Lee looking to finally make Championship impact
Lee has truly fallen in love with Wrexham since his 2022 move and that feeling doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.
The 30-year-old has endured a frustrating 2025, though, as he was in and out of the team as Wrexham won promotion from League One.
Lee was involved in a road traffic accident in February, so Wrexham fans can certainly understand him not being at his usual brilliant best on a consistent basis.
Pre-season offers Lee a chance to get back on track, and he will be desperate to finally make a big impact in the Championship.
Lee joined Barnsley in the Championship in 2016 but managed just six appearances before dropping down to League Two with Luton Town.
The Hatters achieved back-to-back promotions with Lee scoring 22 goals in two seasons, but Championship action eluded him.
Lee played just 23 games at Championship level with Luton and was loaned out to Oxford United and Charlton Athletic in League One.
Lee would love Championship success, but achieving it with Wrexham would mean so much more after his dream run over the last three years.
The former West Ham youngster has experienced promotion in each of his three seasons at Wrexham and while a fourth may seem unlikely, you just can’t count this Wrexham squad out.