Matty James proves Wrexham’s faith in overlooked players creates lasting value

Matty James spent five months without a club after Bristol City released him in May 2024. Wrexham offered him a short-term deal in October when others wouldn’t. Now he’s a Championship regular at 34, playing for a side sitting 10th in the table, and his testimony about what the club means to him reveals why backing overlooked players works both ways.

James made 115 appearances for Bristol City across three seasons before his contract expired. He captained the side on multiple occasions and considered himself an influential figure.

When the Robins released him, he felt disappointed that his commitment wasn’t rewarded. The months that followed tested him mentally as he trained with Leicester City to stay fit while clubs passed on signing him.

Wrexham signed James on a short-term deal when he had been out of the game for five months. Phil Parkinson backed him when doubts lingered about whether a 33-year-old midfielder could still perform at Championship level.

James responded by making 33 appearances as Wrexham earned automatic promotion from League One. In December, the club extended his contract through June 2026, confirming their long-term faith in him.

The physical vindication others doubted

James has made 13 Championship appearances this season, logging 799 minutes in midfield. At 34, he plays with the consistency that Bristol City once relied on and other clubs questioned.

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He believes age has become an advantage rather than a limitation. “Physically, I feel amazing,” James said. “I feel like when you get to the age that I am now, you do believe that, because the way I feel is possibly better than what I felt in my early twenties at times.”

His internal drive to prove doubters wrong fuels every appearance. When clubs declined to sign him last summer, they made assumptions about age and durability.

Wrexham saw a midfielder with Championship experience who could anchor their rise through League One and stabilise them in the second tier. Both assessments have been validated by his consistent availability and output.

Why gratitude makes him irreplaceable now

James says Wrexham means everything to him because the club gave him the chance to keep playing in front of his children.

“I wanted to continue playing so that my boys could hopefully remember it,” he explained. “That was always a drive for me.”

He has two boys who now watch him compete in the Championship, and a daughter who is two and a half. That personal stake translates into commitment that can’t be bought or manufactured through transfers alone.

“It gave me the opportunity to continue doing what I’m doing,” James said. “There was a point in time where I didn’t think that was going to happen.”

He wants to repay the club for as long as he has left at this level. That gratitude shapes how he approaches training, matches, and his role in the squad.

Wrexham didn’t just sign a Championship-experienced midfielder in October 2024. They gained a player whose motivation extends beyond wages or glory, someone determined to justify the faith placed in him when his career appeared finished.

Wrexham currently sit 10th in the Championship with James anchoring midfield. His journey from unemployment to regular starter proves the club’s model works.

Backing overlooked players creates value that goes beyond tactics or statistics. It builds loyalty, motivation, and the kind of commitment that defines sustainable progress through English football’s divisions.

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