Wrexham will take on Southampton on the opening weekend of the Championship season in an emotional match for Ollie Palmer.
Thursday brought the reality of Wrexham’s third straight promotion.
Phil Parkinson has guided Wrexham to the Championship in rapid fashion, leaving fans glued to Thursday’s fixture release.
If promotion to the Championship hadn’t truly set in for some Wrexham fans, then it surely has now.
Wrexham are facing some huge clubs in the Championship this season, and the opening fixture really hammers that home.
Wrexham take on Southampton on the opening weekend, making the long trip down to the South Coast for a stern opening test.
Ollie Palmer on Southampton v Wrexham
Wrexham have opened the season with home games in each of the last three campaigns, but the Championship begins with a long journey.
This match will see promoted Wrexham take on relegated Southampton in a fascinating encounter.
The clash also means a lot to Wrexham striker Ollie Palmer, who has opened up on his connection to Southampton.
Palmer hails from Epsom and grew up supporting Wimbledon, but refused to support Milton Keynes Dons following the club’s relocation.
The striker has now posted on his Instagram story that his grandfather used to take him to watch Southampton games as a kid.
‘Grandad used to take me down St. Mary’s as a kid… & now this,’ said Palmer, alongside a love heart emoji.
Wrexham’s first Championship game after promotion being against Southampton will mean a lot to Palmer, and we would love to see him be involved.
Palmer has struggled for playing time in 2025, and some wonder if he could follow Paul Mullin out of the STōK Cae Ras.
Mullin joined Wigan Athletic earlier this week, and while there will be suitors out there for Palmer, you can be sure that this opening fixture will still mean so much to him, even if he leaves Wrexham in the coming weeks.
READ MORE: Ollie Palmer: Profile, Height, Transfer, Salary, Net Worth, Clothing
Phil Parkinson set for Southampton return
The game will see the Championship’s oldest manager take on its youngest.
Phil Parkinson is the Championship’s elder statesman at 57, and will lock horns with 32-year-old Saints boss Will Still.
Just as this game will be emotional for Palmer, the same goes for Parkinson.
Parkinson may have been born in Chorley and raised in the North East, but he came up in the Southampton youth ranks.
Parkinson didn’t quite make the grade with the Saints and moved on to Bury in 1988, but he will have fond memories of his early years on the South Coast.
Now heading back to Southampton as Wrexham boss, Parkinson would love to start the season with a big win against his first club.