For better or for worse, Wrexham have established themselves as a willing home for ageing footballers with a few litres of oil left in the tank.
When veteran frontman Steven Fletcher picked up an injury, Wrexham offered a contract to 32-year-old Jon Dadi Bodvarsson.
James McLean remains one of the first names on Phil Parkinson’s team sheet.
The well-travelled Jack Marriott, meanwhile, jumped at the chance to join the EFL’s most upwardly-mobile club after spending the previous few seasons bouncing around the divisions.
So when Matty James found himself on the lookout for employment a full six months after Bristol City confirmed that they would be releasing the experienced midfielder upon the end of his contract, Wrexham’s injury issues in midfield opened the door for the 33-year-old to put pen to paper alongside Bodvarsson at the Racecourse Ground.
Wrexham ace Matty James expresses ‘shock’ over lack of offers
Parkinson claims there was initially plenty of interest in James. That dried up, however, the longer the former Leicester City playmaker spent out of the game.
And, by his own admission, one-time England youth star James did not expect to find himself on the free-agent list for quite so long. Especially after playing 32 second-tier games during what proved to be his final season at Bristol City.
“It was a bit of a shock in the summer with how many games I played last year to not getting the club that I wanted,” James tells The Leader. “Or even an offer from Bristol City in the first place!”
“I think a lot of it is due to age unfortunately, but there is not a lot I can do about that. The people running these clubs, it is their money and it is their club but I kept working hard.”
James, like Bodvarsson, joined Wrexham on a short-term deal until the January transfer window. Brought in due to his ability to play what Parkinson calls a ‘specialised’ number six role, James made his League One debut off the bench in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at promotion rivals Stockport County.
But after getting 90 minutes under his belt against Port Vale in the cup – and having benefitted from the charity of former employers Leicester over the summer – James will be hoping that he can impact proceedings enough to earn a longer stay in Wales.
Former Leicester ace James keen to earn longer Wrexham stay
“Leicester allowed me to train with them [after Bristol City let me go] so I am very thankful to them for allowing me to do pre-season with them,” James adds.
“Now, the aim is to give everything I possibly can to Wrexham from now until January and see what happens.
“I am going to do that every single day. Give my all every time I get on the pitch, give 100 per cent, and we will see where that takes us come January.”
James may have lost a yard of two of pace after entering his 30s but his vision and technical qualities remain as sharp as ever. Parkinson highlighted the Man United academy graduate’s ability to dictate the play from deep after his first 90 minute outing of the campaign against Port Vale.
“Matty James…” Parkinson told reporters. “Great control in the middle of the pitch.”