Once again for Wrexham it was so near but yet so far in the quest to return to the football league as they lost an amazing play-off semi-final game 4-5 at home to Grimsby Town on Saturday. The Mariner's netted the winner via former Wrexham player Luke Waterfall in the 119th minute of the game. Despite many players being brought in from football league sides after the take over by Hollywood actor's Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in November 2020 the Welsh side will spend their 15th season in non-league football in the 22/23 campaign.
Since relegation from the football league they have qualified for the play-offs on five occasions with the other times being 10/11 (Lost to Luton Town in the SF), 11/12 (Lost to Luton Town in the SF), 12/13 (Lost to Newport County in the final) and in 18/19 where they lost in the QF to Eastleigh.
Here we look at the signings Phil Parkinson has made since he was brought in as Manager in July last season.
Shaun Brisley was signed from Port Vale and the 32 year old defender brought 292 football league appearances with him. He sustained a knee injury in a pre-season game against Spennymoor Town and then only played 3 Vanarama National League (all in October and November) and 2 FA Cup games over the season.
Striker Liam McAlinden joined from Morecambe in July 2021. He has 109 football league appearances to his name. He made 21 substitute appearances and 12 starts in The National League this season netting just one goal in the 6-0 home victory over Barnet in April.
Striker Jake Hyde joined from fellow National League side FC Halifax Town where he had netted 13 goals in 27 games during the 20/21 campaign. He is a well travelled player having started his career with Swindon Town and also played for Weymouth (loan), Barnet, Hayes & Yeading United, Lochee United, Dundee, Dunfermline Athletic, Barnet, York City, Stevenage, Maidenhead United and Woking. He made 10 starts and 5 sub appearances in The National League netting 3 goals. He spent a large period of the season out with a calf injury but was on the bench in the play-off semi-final against Grimsby Town.
Defender Harry Lennon joined on a one-year deal from Southend United where he had played 9 times in their League Two relegation 20/21 season. He has also played in the league for Gillingham and Charlton Athletic. He played 17 National League games for the Welsh side with his last appearance coming in January at Yeovil Town. A back injury unfortunately has limited his playing time.
Paul Mullin was a real marquee signing for the club. The Striker scored 32 goals in 46 League Two games for Cambridge United in the 20/21 season and was attracting interest from Championship teams. His goals helped The U's to promotion to League One but he dropped down to The National League with Wrexham for the 21/22 season. The former Liverpool and Everton academy player who has also played for Tranmere Rovers netted 28 goals in 39 National League games for Wrexham this season which won him the league's golden boot. He signed a three year contract last summer so is likely to be amongst the goals next season too.
Defender Aaron Hayden joined from League Two side Carlise United for an undisclosed fee. The former Wolves and Chelsea academy player made 39 National League appearances for the club and was one of the stand out performers. He limped off in the April game at Weymouth with a hamstring injury and didn't feature in any further games.
David Jones who is a midfielder joined in July from Oldham Athletic as a player/coach. The 37 year old started his career with Manchester United as an academy player from 1995 to 2003 and a professional from 2003 to 2007. He played 36 Premier League game for Burnley in the 14/15 campaign. Only made one National League start against Solihull Moors in August.
Dawid Szczepaniak signed from Welsh League side Cefn Druids in August. The 22 year old Polish goalkeeper has not featured in first team games yet.
James Jones was another eye catching signing dropping down from League One side Lincoln City in August. The 26 year old Scottish midfielder signed for The Imps in the summer of 2020 from Crewe Alexandra. He played in 41 National League games for Wrexham and will be a key player next season I think having signed a three year contract when joining the club.
Defender Ben Tozer brought with him a huge amount of experience having helped Cheltenham Town to the League Two title along with winning the Supporter's Player of the Year and Player's Player of the Year award in the 20/21 season. He has also played for Swindon Town, Newcastle United, Northampton Town, Colchester United, Yeovil Town and Newport County. Has played 335 football league games and started 44 National League games last season.
Midfielder Charlie Trafford signed a short term contract with the club in October having spent the 20/21 season with then Scottish Premiership side Hamilton Academical and prior to that a three year stay with Inverness Caledonian Thistle. He left in January without making a first team appearance and now played for Calvary FC in the Canadian Premier League.
Ollie Palmer dropped down from League One side AFC Wimbledon in January signing for Wrexham for a club record fee of £300,000. The 6ft 5inch tall striker started his career with Woking in 2010 and has also played for St Albans City, Boreham Wood, Havant & Waterlooville, Mansfield Town, Grimsby Town, Leyton Orient, Luton Town, Lincoln City and Crawley Town. Scored 15 goals in 22 National League starts during the second half of the season. His partnership with Mullin could be very dangerous next season.
Callum McFadzean joined League One side Crewe Alexandra last summer after spending the 20/21 season with Sunderland. After making just six league starts for Alex he left the club by mutual consent in January before singing a two and a half year deal with Wrexham a few weeks later. Made 16 National League starts for the Welsh club in the second half of the season.
Tom O'Connor is another January recruit from League One having moved from Burton Albion for an undisclosed fee. He had only signed a two year contract with The Brewers in the summer of 2021 having left Southampton where he came through the academy system. The defender/midfielder has only made 3 National League starts for the club since joining after making 17 League One starts for Burton Albion.
37 year old goalkeeper Lee Camp signed for the club on a short term deal in March after playing a handful of games for Clitheroe in the Northern Premier League Division One (West). The former Derby County and Nottingham Forest has yet to play a first team game.
Wrexham are very much likely to be favourites for the Vanarama National League title for the 22/23 season - I expect to see one or two more high profile arrivals at The Racecourse Ground over the next few months.
With non-league's top table having former football league side's Chesterfield, FC Halifax Town, Notts County, Oldham Athletic, Scunthorpe United, Southend United, Torquay United and York City to name a few it's going to be another exciting highly competitive season for the 22/23 campaign. Not to mention the many up and coming clubs who have played non-league football but now want to move into the football league like Harrogate Town, Salford City, Forest Green Rovers and Sutton United have done so successfully in the last few years.
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