Wrexham Wreapped 2025
Wrexham completed a historic 2025 that delivered a third successive promotion and saw the club successfully establish themselves in the Championship for the first time in 43 years.
Phil Parkinson’s side finished runners-up to Birmingham City in League One to secure a return to the second tier. The Reds have adapted well to life at a higher level and end the calendar year sitting 11th in the table, just four points away from the play-off positions.
It marks another chapter in the remarkable rise under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who completed their takeover at The Racecourse in February 2021. Wrexham have climbed from the National League to a division just one level below the Premier League in that time.
League One promotion secured in style
The push for automatic promotion gathered momentum through the early months of 2025. Key victories at Crawley, Northampton and Wycombe kept Parkinson’s men in contention for a top-two finish.
Captain James McClean and Ollie Rathbone struck in a crucial 2-1 win at Blackpool that moved the Reds back into second spot. When promotion rivals Wycombe lost their penultimate fixture, Wrexham knew victory over Charlton at The Racecourse would seal promotion.
Player of the season Rathbone scored twice and Sam Smith added another in a 3-0 triumph that secured Championship football with a game to spare. The campaign concluded with a 2-0 win at Lincoln, extending the unbeaten run to 10 matches.
Championship adaptation shows promise
The step up to the second tier brought a significant squad overhaul over the summer. Wrexham suffered defeats in their opening two fixtures against Southampton and West Brom before finding their feet.
The first win arrived with a 2-0 victory at Millwall in late August, with Kieffer Moore and Lewis O’Brien on target. September brought a memorable 3-2 success at Norwich, while Moore’s hat-trick ended leaders Coventry’s unbeaten start on Halloween.
Nathan Broadhead netted in a 2-0 win over high-flying Bristol City in November. The Reds showed resilience throughout the opening half of the season despite a slow start.
Boxing Day comeback highlights December surge
December proved challenging with defeats to Hull and Swansea leaving Wrexham five games without a victory. That run ended in spectacular fashion on Boxing Day with a remarkable 5-3 comeback win over Sheffield United at The Racecourse.
Trailing 3-1, goals from Moore (2), Ryan Longman and Josh Windass, plus an own goal, secured an unforgettable triumph. The year concluded with a 2-1 victory over Preston courtesy of Broadhead and Rathbone, lifting the Reds to mid-table.
Strong foundation heading into 2026
Wrexham’s position of 11th with four points separating them from the play-off places represents a solid first half to their maiden Championship campaign. Parkinson has successfully guided the club through another step up in level.
The squad has demonstrated they can compete at this standard. With just under half of the season remaining and the division tight and unpredictable, supporters can look ahead to 2026 with genuine optimism.
The 2025 calendar year delivered promotion, memorable victories and proof that Wrexham belong in the Championship. The journey that began in the National League shows no sign of slowing down as the Reds continue their remarkable ascent through English football.
About The Author
