Wrexham news: A detailed look at their rise through the English football ranks

After 42 years, Wrexham A.F.C have been promoted to the EFL Championship, with Premier League football only one step closer now.

The club confirmed second place in League One on the 26th of April following a 3-0 home win against promotion rivals Charlton Athletic, with Birmingham City taking the title of champions.

Goals from both Ollie Rathbone and Sam Smith in the first half helped stun Charlton, and a second goal for Smith in the second half confirmed promotion for the Welsh side.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer Maddie Newton takes a look at their rise through the ranks.

Wrexham are history makers

While promotion is a giant achievement in itself for the club, it is also a historic achievement within UK football.

Wrexham have become the first club to achieve 3 successive promotions.

The three promotions have taken them from the National League to the Championship, following the purchase of the club by well-known Hollywood actors, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.

The purchase of the club became official in February 2021 and has caused much conversation globally about Wrexham.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Golf betting tips: Jordan Spieth to find form in home state at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson

The Wrexham fairytale

Reynolds and McElhenney taking ownership of the club has sparked much debate among football fans across the globe.

Many are displeased by the “Wrexham fairytale,” and feel the amount of exposure and funding the club receives is unfair, and that the two should never have been allowed to buy the club.

The fame of the owners has massively increased the following of the club globally, with many people travelling from all over the world to Wrexham to see the team play.

This has not just aided the club's financial situation but also has funded the local town and community surrounding the club's stadium, The Racecourse.

It also allowed for prominent sponsoring, with the logo of the social media platform TikTok taking centre on the team’s shirts, showing the influence that Reynolds and McElhenney have.

While these factors do favour Wrexham, they are not the only reasons behind a team’s success.

A club needs a strong manager and team to go out and get the results, which ultimately gets them promoted.

Phil Parkinson has been the man for the job since the start of the new era, having achieved promotions for Colchester, Bradford and Bolton Wanderers prior to taking up the post at Wrexham.

Signing players such as James McClean, Paul Mullin, Ollie Palmer and Ben Foster throughout the seasons, who have all made an impact across the different promotion seasons, has also contributed massively to the newfound success of the club.

Parkinson has stated his respect for the owners, who have put their full trust in him and allowed him to make the decisions in terms of tactics and signings, stating that they are “great to work for.”

While the controversy surrounding the club will always be there, promotion is a huge achievement which the staff and players have worked hard for, and they will continue to fight for promotion: this time, to the Premier League.

READ NEXT: Chelsea news: The winners and losers so far in a season of ups and downs