Wrexham’s rapid rise through the Football League may feel like a blur at times, making it easy to forget who’s been part of the ride and how long they’ve been there.
Just four years ago, Wrexham were deep in their National League exile, but now, they’re a fully-fledged Championship side.
Thanks to Phil Parkinson’s adept management and the financial backing of Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds, the Red Dragons have climbed the footballing ladder very quickly.
While the club has sacrificed many players along the way through their back-to-back-to-back promotions, there are a handful who have been around for the entirety of that journey.
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Eight Wrexham players have stuck around since National League days
As Wrexham prepared to take on Southampton on Saturday afternoon, TNT Sports commentator Adam Summerton took to Twitter/X to address an interesting fact about the Wrexham squad.
He wrote: “Just heard it said Wrexham still have eight players in the squad who were with them in the National League as they start life in the Championship, and of course the same manager. Brilliant that – particularly pleased for Max Cleworth – must mean a lot to him as a local boy.”
Max Cleworth is, of course, still very much a star man, and came through the Wrexham academy. Meanwhile, Ollie Palmer is arguably the biggest name among those eight who have been around since the National League campaigns.
As for the other six, Eoghan O’Connell joined in January of the promotion-winning season, Andy Cannon joined a few days before him, Ryan Barnett arrived in February 2023, and Tom O’Connor has been around since January 2022.
Elliot Lee rounds out the remaining players from that era of Wrexham’s recent history, having signed for the Red Dragons in July 2022. Indeed, he was an integral figure in that promotion and the subsequent success in League Two, but Lee’s days at Wrexham may be numbered, and he might not be the only one.
Time is running out for many in the Wrexham squad
Year after year, we’ve seen Parkinson and the Wrexham hierarchy make very difficult but necessary decisions to cut ties with players that are simply not at the required level as the club evolves.
This summer, the heartbreaking departure of Paul Mullin sent shockwaves through the Wrexham fanbase, but there’s no denying that it was a transfer that simply had to happen.
As things stand, the only way Wrexham could lose Cleworth is if he performs so well this season that bigger clubs take a look at him.
However, Cannon may well be surplus to requirements, while Ollie Palmer looks destined to leave this summer.
O’Connell and O’Connor still have a role to play in defence, though they may have slipped down the pecking order since Conor Coady’s arrival. Meanwhile, Ryan Barnett started the opener against Southampton, and will be a decent squad player this season.