Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has urged his players to realize what a great opportunity it is for them to go back to America this summer without forgetting that they still have work to do in preparation for the new Championship season.
This will not be the first time that the Reds will travel overseas to face some of the big sides in a pre-season tour. In the next couple of days the team will once again travel to America to play Premier League clubs Leeds United, Liverpool and Sunderland.
But while the club’s popularity continues to grow internationally, Parkinson did not want his players to forget about the job that they need to do.
“It’s a real privilege for us to be invited back there and attract the games and to be invited to play three Premier League clubs.
“It’s very special to be part of a Wrexham squad travelling across the Atlantic and I want the lads to appreciate that.”
The three fixtures will certainly be tough tests for Parkinson ahead of the next season in the Championship.
The Wrexham manager believes that despite the quality of the teams that they will play against and the attention that Wrexham draws, the emphasis would definitely be on training and performances.
Wrexham will start their tour with a match against Leeds at Tampa on 26 July and then play against Liverpool at New York on 30 July and Sunderland at Philadelphia on 2 August.
“The lads know when we’re out there, there’s a real focus on what we’ve got to do on the training pitch and the games.”
Wrexham will travel without Ryan Hardie after the forward suffered a thigh strain, while Ryan Longman is expected to return to full training during the tour.
Elliot Lee will also make the journey and could be available to feature from the second match of the trip.
The USA has become a regular pre-season venue for Wrexham ever since Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac took ownership stakes in the club. Wrexham have visited America twice, in both 2023 and 2024, before venturing to Australia and New Zealand in 2025.
But this year’s pre-season itinerary is more evidence of just how much progress Wrexham have made. But Parkinson’s message is crystal clear. His players must enjoy themselves, but make sure every practice and game is preparation for what is to come.
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