Wrexham will be a Championship club next season after securing promotion with a 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic.
The last few years have been a dream come true for Wrexham fans.
The days of languishing in the National League are long, long gone with supporters now able to get excited for Championship football.
Wrexham beat Charlton Athletic 3-0 on Saturday evening in one of the great days at the STōK Cae Ras.
Ollie Rathbone fired Wrexham in front before a Sam Smith brace completed the job, sending Wrexham to the Championship.
This was a mere pipe dream a few years ago, but Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds’ 2021 takeover is making those dreams come true.
- READ MORE: Steven Fletcher celebrates Wrexham promotion as contract decision looms, he’s ‘loved every minute’
Phil Parkinson hails Wrexham midfielder Matty James
Wrexham can begin preparing for life in the Championship with Phil Parkinson already thinking about summer recruitment.
Some players will be making their first ventures into the Championship, with Arthur Okonkwo, Max Cleworth, Lewis Brunt and Ryan Barnett among those yet to feature in the second tier.
Others have some experience at Championship level, with James McClean, Jay Rodriguez, Steven Fletcher and Dan Scarr featuring in the past.
Matty James also springs to mind, having turned out for the likes of Preston North End, Leicester City and Bristol City in the Championship.
Wrexham signed James on a free transfer in October, with the veteran midfielder adding depth to Parkinson’s options.
Leeds United had eyed a move for James, but it was Wrexham who got the deal done.
James is now one of the first names on Parkinson’s team sheet and produced a sumptuous assist for Smith’s brilliant volley to make it 2-0.
After Wycombe sneaked ahead of Wrexham with just three games to play, James was the one to keep the faith and maintain belief in the promotion push.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle, Parkinson heaped praise on the former Manchester United talent.
Parkinson suggested that James has truly ‘elite’ organisational skills in the middle of the pitch, bringing great control to Wrexham’s engine room.
Parkinson noted that some experienced players will have certain athletic or technical qualities, but players like James and Jay Rodriguez provide exceptional mentality and tactical understanding.
“Matty James in the midfield, his control and his organisation is elite. It is elite,” said Parkinson.
“It’s like… certain players who have played at the top, is it because they’re quick and they’re tricky, and they can play Hollywood passes all the time, or is it because of their mentality and their tactical understanding.
“Jay Rodriguez and Matty James just give us that, particularly today,” he added.
Parkinson tends to get it right with his experienced signings
Many rival fans have pointed out how Wrexham have signed a lot of experienced players in this incredible rise.
Parkinson loves to sign proven veterans, and you have to say that he has mostly got it right with those additions.
McClean has been a consistent performer and a brilliant captain, a player Wrexham fans can absolutely unite behind.
Fletcher continues to score goals off the bench and third-choice stopper Mark Howard proved that he can still be relied upon this season.
The jury may still be out on Rodriguez, but James has been a crucial cog in Wrexham’s midfield with his composed style of play.
James deserves huge praise for his performances having spent the early months of the season without a club, and we hope he can take these displays into the Championship.