Wrexham A.F.C. Women Explained

Wrexham Association Football Club Women (cy|Merched Clwb Pêl-droed Cymdeithas Wrecsam), formerly known as NEWI Wrexham Ladies and Wrexham Ladies F.C., is a Welsh semi-professional women's football club that competes in the Adran Premier, the first-tier of women's football in Wales.

Since 2009 and after their reformation in 2018, the club has been affiliated with Wrexham A.F.C., which competes in EFL League One, the third division of English football. As NEWI Wrexham Ladies, they helped found the North Wales Women's Football League in 2003 and as Wrexham Ladies F.C. the Welsh Premier Women's League in 2009.

History

2003–2018: NEWI Wrexham Ladies to Wrexham Ladies FC

In 2003, the NEWI Wrexham Ladies Football Club was formed, becoming part of the new North Wales Women's Football League. The initial squad drew players from the North East Wales Institute (NEWI) and the Yale College, Wrexham^[2] and played their home games next door to the Racecourse Ground.^[3]

In 2008, they reached the finals of the FAW Women's Cup for the first time. In 2009, they became part of Wrexham F.C.,^[4] helped to found the Welsh Premier Women's League as one of four teams in the Northern Division and adopted the new name Wrexham Ladies FC. In the 2011-12 season, they won the division but lost the Championship Final against Cardiff Met WFC. The Welsh Premier League went national during the 2012-13 season and the team finished in third place.^[5]

They finished 6th in both of the following campaigns.^[6] During the 2015-16 season, they had a difficult time maintaining a full roster and withdrew from the Premier League mid-season.

2018–2020: As Wrexham A.F.C. Women

In 2018, the club reformed as Wrexham A.F.C. Women, joining the North Wales Women's Football League to compete against teams across North Wales. Penycae F.C.’s Afoneitha Road was chosen for home matches and former Racecourse Community Foundation coach Luke Wynne became the manager.^[7] The League was split into 'Division One' and 'Division Two' in North Wales; Wrexham entered the bottom tier as a new club of 'Division Two'. In that season, Wrexham won the North Wales Women's Division Two league cup, beating Rhyl Development 3–2 in a cup final hosted at Bala Town's Maes Tegid but lost the League’s Supplementary Cup to Amlwch Town Ladies.^[8] They finished the season 4th in the league and gained promotion to Division One.

In the 2019/20 season, the COVID-19 pandemic cut the season short with Wrexham in 8th place after losing all league games. The Football Association of Wales decided to use points per game (PPG) calculation to work out the finishing positions for the teams in all leagues with no female teams being relegated.^[9]

2020–2023: New owners, promotion to Adran Premier

In November 2020, Canadian-American actor Ryan Reynolds and American actor Rob McElhenney, through their RR McReynolds Company LLC, bought Wrexham A.F.C.^{[10] [11]} Due to the Christmas 2020 second lockdown, the 2020/21 season was canceled with no games being played.^[12]

Before the start of the 2021/22 season, the FAW announced a restructure of Women's football in Wales, with a new Tier 2 league split into Adran North and Adran South with specific criteria needed to enter. The FAW opened up both tiers to all clubs to apply to join. Wrexham applied for the Tier 2 North and completed a successful first campaign as an inaugural member that new second tier, finishing runners-up to Llandudno Ladies F.C. after losing to the champions in a winner-takes-all game on the final day of the season at Maesdu Park.^[13]

On 9 February 2023, Wrexham announced they had applied for a Tier 1 license, and would become semi-professional if promoted to the Adran Premier for the 2023/24 season.^[14] They won the Adran North championship trophy on March 26 after winning all their league games and earned promotion after winning the playoff game 1-0 against Briton Ferry Llansawel, on April 16 in Latham Park.^[15]

2023– present: Adran Premier and turning semi-professional

On 27 June 2023, the club announced that ten players have signed semi-professional contracts, a first in club history,^[16] making them the first Adran Premier team to feature semi-professional players. Cardiff City F.C. did the same on 29 June and Swansea City Ladies F.C. on 16 August. At the start of 2024, they were third in the league with striker Rosie Hughes leading the league in scoring.^[17] They finished 3rd and reached the finals of the FAW Women's Cup for the second time. The club was granted its first UEFA license in March 2024.^[18] In June 2024, the team participated in the very first separate women's tournament of The Soccer Tournament where they failed to exit the group stage.^[19] In July 2024, the club made its first-ever tour abroad when it played three games in the USA through a sponsorship with Ally Financial,^[20] playing against SoCal FC (0-9), the U19 team of Tigres Femenil (1-6) and the academy team of Portland Thorns FC (0-7).^[21]

Stadium

They first played their home games at the North East Wales Institute, moved to Penycae F.C.’s Afoneitha Road after their reformation in 2018^[22] and later played their home games at the Brymbo Sports & Social Complex in Wrexhmam.

For the 2023–24 season, the team moved to The Rock in Rhosymedre after reaching a multi-year agreement with Cefn Druids A.F.C. to see the women’s section train and play their home games at The Rock Stadium.^[23] The capacity is 3,000 (500 seats).

Sponsorship

In May 2023, the team's training kit was announced to be sponsored by Betty Buzz, a beverage company owned by Blake Lively, for the 2023–24 season.^[24]

Kit manufacturers and sponsors

Period	Brand	Shirt Sponsor	Shirt Sponsor	Shirt Sponsor
2021–22	Macron[25]	TikTok[26]	Expedia	Aviation American Gin[27]
2022–23				Betty Buzz[28]
2023–present		United Airlines	VistaPrint[29]

Players

Squad

^[30]

Player records

• Most goals in a season in all competitions: 65 – Lowri Edwards (2011-12)^[31]
• Most league goals in total: 78 – Lowri Edwards^[32]
• Most league appearances: 82 – Lyndsey Rodger (2011-2015)^[33]
• Most appearances in total: 111 – Del Morgan (2011–ongoing)^[34]

Women's Player of the Season

• 2021-22 - Rosie Hughes^[35]
• 2022-23 - Rosie Hughes^[36]
• 2023-24 - Rosie Hughes^[37]

Women's Young Player of the Season

• 2021-22 - Amber Lightfoot^[35]
• 2022-23 - Amber Lightfoot^[36]
• 2023-24 - Lili Jones^[37]

Women's Players' Player of the Season

• 2021-22 - TJ Dickens^[35]
• 2022-23 - Erin Lovett^[36]
• 2023-24 - Phoebe Davies^[37]

Women's Top Goalscorer

• 2021-22 - Rosie Hughes^[35]
• 2022-23 - Rosie Hughes^[36]
• 2023-24 - Rosie Hughes^[37]

Seasons

Season	League
	Division	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts	Pos
as Wrexham Ladies FC
2009–10	Welsh Premier Women's League - Northern conference	6	0	1	5	7	17	1	4th
2010–11	Welsh Premier Women's League - Northern conference	8	3	2	3	11	10	11
2011–12	Welsh Premier Women's League	8	6	1	1	30	13	19
2012–13	Welsh Premier Women's League	20	13	2	5	67	27	41
2013–14	Welsh Premier Women's League	20	6	6	8	34	35	24	6th
2014–15	Welsh Premier Women's League	20	9	2	9	42	40	29	6th
2015–16	Welsh Premier Women's League	colspan=9
as Wrexham AFC Women
2018–19	North Wales Women's League, Div. 2	11	5	4	2	49	18	19	4th
2019–20	North Wales Women's League, Div. 1	7	0	0	7	4	31	0	8th[38]
2020–21	colspan=9
2021–22[39]	Adran North	14	11	0	3	77	28	33
2022–23[40]	Adran North	12	12	0	0	70	6	36
2023–24	Adran Premier	20	11	2	7	41	37	35
2024–25	Adran Premier	3	0	0	3	2	8	0

Team records

See main article: List of Wrexham A.F.C. records and statistics.

• Attendance – 10,379 v Portland Thorns FC Academy, Friendly, 26 July 2024^[41]
• League Attendance – 9,511 v Connah's Quay Nomads Women, Adran North, 26 March 2023^[42]
• Highest league win – 19-1 v Cybi, Welsh Premier Women's League, 11 September 2011^[43]
• Worst league defeat – 1–12 v Llanfair United, North Wales Women's League, Div. 1, 8 September 2019^[44]
• Highest league finish - 2nd, Welsh Premier Women's League, 2011–12 Welsh Premier Women's League^[45]
• Lowest league finish - 4th, North Wales Women's League, Div. 2, 2018–19
• Biggest cup win - 13–0 v Pwllheli, 2023–24 FAW Women's Cup, 15 October 2023^[46]
• Most league wins in a season 13, 2012–13 Welsh Premier Women's League^[47]
• Most goals in a season – 77, Adran North, 2021–22^[48]
• Most clean sheets in a season – 27, 2011–12 Welsh Premier Women's League^[49]

Club officials

^[50]

Women's Coaching Staff

Role	Name
First Team Manager	Steve Dale
First Team Assistant Manager	Josh Evans
Strength and Conditioning Coach	Zoe Clair
Performance Analyst	Connor Hindley
Goalkeeping Coach	David Williams
Sports Therapist	Lindsay Morris
Under 19's Manager	Gareth Owen
Under 19’s Assistant Manager	Gary Evans
Women's Football Operations	Gemma Owen

Honours

League

• Adran Premier
  • Runners-up (1): 2011–2012
• Genaro Adran North
  • Winners (1): 2022–23^[51]
  • Runners-up (1): 2021–22^[52]
• NWWFL Division Two
  • Promoted (1): 2018–19.^[53]

Cups

• FAW Women's Cup
  • Runners-up (2): 2008,^[54] 2024
• NWWFL Division Two League Cup
  • Winners (1): 2019^[55]
• NWWFL Supplementary Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 2019^[56]

Literature

• Champions 2022/23 – The Story Of A Record-Breaking Season, Wrexham A.F.C., 2023

Documents the campaigns of both teams.

See also

• Welcome to Wrexham First featured in S2.

External links

• • Official Twitter account

Notes and References

1. Web site: Wrexham resign from Welsh Premier Women's League. 14 January 2016 . Daily Post. 11 January 2023.
2. Web site: Wrexham resign from Welsh Premier Women's League. 14 January 2016 . Daily Post. 11 January 2023.
3. Web site: Women's Football in Wrexham. July 2024. 31 July 2024 . The Wrexham AFC Archive. en.
4. Web site: Wrexham resign from Welsh Premier Women's League. 14 January 2016 . Daily Post. 11 January 2023.
5. Web site: Women's Football in Wrexham. July 2024. 31 July 2024 . The Wrexham AFC Archive. en.
6. Web site: Jones . Dave . 2016-01-14 . Wrexham resign from Welsh Premier Women's League . 2023-04-30 . North Wales Live . en.
7. Web site: Home venue and new coach secured for newly-reformed Wrexham AFC Women's football team. 23 May 2018. 14 August 2024 . Dailypost. en.
8. Web site: Women's Football in Wrexham. July 2024. 31 July 2024 . The Wrexham AFC Archive. en.
9. Web site: FAW announce promotions and relegations of football teams. June 17, 2020. 31 July 2024 . Wales247. en.
10. News: DONE DEAL: Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney acquire Wrexham AFC . 16 November 2020 . 16 November 2020 . . 16 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201116140059/https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/31660/done-deal-ryan-reynolds-and-rob-mcelhenney-acquire-wrexham-afc/ . live .
11. News: Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney: Hollywood stars to take over Wrexham . 16 November 2020 . 16 November 2020 . . 16 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201116074550/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54956962 . live .
12. News: Welcome to Wrexham Women: A bright future ahead . 8 March 2024 . .
13. News: Best thing to happen in North Wales women's football for a long time – a review of the first Genero Adran North League season . 31 March 2022 . NWSport .
14. Web site: Wrexham AFC Women to become semi-professional. Wrexham A.F.C.. 11 February 2023.
15. Web site: REPORT | Wrexham AFC Women 1-0 Briton Ferry Llansawel. www.wrexhamafc.co.uk. en.
16. Web site: CONTRACT NEWS | Wrexham AFC Women stars sign first semi-pro contracts. www.wrexhamafc.co.uk.
17. Web site: Results . 2024-01-07 . www.adranleagues.cymru.
18. Web site: Wrexham AFC Women Awarded first UEFA License and FAW Tier 1 License renews for 2024/25 Season . 2024-05-11 . www.wrexham.com.
19. Web site: TST 2024 schedule, results: The Soccer Tournament full list of matches and highlights for 7v7 competition . 11 June 2024 . 2024-07-31 . Sportingnews.
20. Web site: Ally Financial Continues to Make Women's Sports Unmissable, Sponsors U.S. Tour for Wrexham AFC Women . 2024-07-21 . www.adranleagues.cymru.
21. Web site: Match Results Season 2024-25 . 2024-07-31 . Wrexham AFC Archive.
22. Web site: Women's Football in Wrexham . July 2024 . 31 July 2024 . The Wrexham AFC Archive . en.
23. Web site: 2023-05-24 . Wrexham AFC women to train and play at The Rock Stadium . 2024-07-28 . The Leader . en.
24. Web site: 2023-05-24 . Blake Lively's company named as Wrexham's training kit sponsor for next season . 2023-06-14 . The Leader . en.
25. Web site: Gijy . Jacob . 6 March 2022 . Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham Extend Major Partnership With Italian Firm as They Eye League Promotion . 25 January 2024 . EssentiallySports.
26. Web site: Sheena . Jasmine . 10 June 2023 . United Airlines inks sponsorship deal with Wrexham AFC . 25 January 2024 . Marketing Brew . en-us.
27. Web site: Brooker . Alice . 5 July 2021 . Ryan Reynolds launches Aviation Gin kit for Wrexham AFC . 25 January 2024 . The Spirits Business . en-US.
28. Web site: 27 July 2022 . Blake Lively's "Betty Buzz" becomes new Wrexham AFC Women sleeve sponsor . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220727154136/https://www.wrexham.com/news/blake-livelys-betty-buzz-becomes-new-wrexham-afc-women-sleeve-sponsor-222197.html . 27 July 2022 . 25 January 2024 . Wrexham.com . en.
29. Web site: Mahadik . Gauresh . 3 June 2023 . Wrexham AFC sustain sponsorship ties with VistaPrint . 25 January 2024 . SportsMint Media . en-US.
30. Web site: Women - Wrexham AFC . 3 October 2024.
31. Web site: Top Goalscorers (By Season) All Competitions . 31 July 2024 . The Wrexham AFC Archive. en.
32. Web site: Lowri Edwards Player Profile. 31 July 2024 . The Wrexham AFC Archive. en.
33. Web site: Lyndsey Rodger Player Profile . July 2024 . 31 July 2024 . The Wrexham AFC Archive. en.
34. Web site: Women's Football in Wrexham. July 2024. 31 July 2024 . The Wrexham AFC Archive. en.
35. Web site: AWARDS | 2021/22 end-of-season winners revealed. www.wrexhamafc.co.uk.
36. Web site: PLAYER OF THE SEASON | 2022/23 award winners named. www.wrexhamafc.co.uk.
37. Web site: END-OF-SEASON AWARDS | Paul Mullin and Rosie Hughes make it three in a row. www.wrexhamafc.co.uk.
38. Web site: Season Overview Covid-19 curtails campaign . 31 July 2024.
39. Web site: Football fixtures, results and tables service for Wales : All Wales Sport. www.allwalessport.co.uk.
40. Web site: Sherlock . Harry . 20 March 2023 . Only four Wrexham Women stars make the cut as Adran North releases Team of the Year despite Welsh side winning every game & scoring 70 goals . 31 July 2024 . Goal.comSportsMint Media . en-US.
41. WrexhamAFCWomen . 1817045285303927193 . History made. With 10,379 supporters at Providence Park, we have officially smashed our record attendance . 27 July 2024 . 27 July 2024 . live.
42. Web site: Wrexham 2-1 Connah's Quay: Record crowd of 9,511 at Welsh domestic women's game . . 26 March 2023 . 27 July 2024.
43. Web site: Club Records All Competitions . 31 July 2024 .
44. Web site: Club Records North Wales Womens Football League . 31 July 2024 .
45. Web site: Europe beckons for UWIC. shekicks.net. 27 July 2024 . 15 May 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204111/http://shekicks.net/news/view/5317 . 3 March 2016 . dead.
46. Web site: Club Records FAW Cup . 31 July 2024 .
47. Web site: Season Overview Season 2012-13 . 31 July 2024 .
48. Web site: Football fixtures, results and tables service for Wales : All Wales Sport. www.allwalessport.co.uk.
49. Web site: Match Results Season 2011-12 . 31 July 2024 .
50. News: Staff . Wrexham AFC . 21 July 2024 .
51. Web site: REPORT | Wrexham AFC Women 1-0 Briton Ferry Llansawel. www.wrexhamafc.co.uk.
52. News: Best thing to happen in North Wales women's football for a long time – a review of the first Genero Adran North League season . 31 March 2022 . NWSport .
53. Web site: Women's Football in Wrexham. July 2024. 31 July 2024 . The Wrexham AFC archive. en.
54. Web site: Wrexham resign from Welsh Premier Women's League. 14 January 2016 . Daily Post. 11 January 2023.
55. Web site: Women's Football in Wrexham. July 2024. 31 July 2024 . The Wrexham AFC Archive. en.
56. Web site: Women's Football in Wrexham. July 2024. 31 July 2024 . The Wrexham AFC Archive. en.