Wrexham’s Quest for Another Promotion
Most people know the story already, so I’ll keep it short. One of the oldest clubs in the world, Wrexham, was struggling financially and with on-field play. They seemed forever stuck in the English Fifth Tier and were on the verge of extinction before their Hollywood takeover. Actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought Wrexham and took the brand global, bringing eyes from all over the world. Since then, Wrexham has had a resurgence both financially and competitively, securing back-to-back promotions. Now, Wrexham sits in third place on the League One table with 52 points. They seek their third consecutive promotion, putting them in the EFL Championship. The opportunity is there, and with eight games left, Wrexham looks to take full advantage.
With little season left, Wrexham will likely finish third or fourth. This means they will compete in the playoffs for promotion, as only the top two teams receive automatic promotion. The playoffs work like this: the team finishing third plays the team finishing sixth, while the team finishing fourth plays the team finishing fifth. These matches are two legs, meaning these teams will play twice, and the team with the higher aggregate score will move on. The winners then move to the final, which is held at Wembley Stadium, England's national soccer stadium. If you have not previously watched the playoffs of any soccer league, then I implore you to tune in, as it is some of the most riveting soccer I have watched. The tension is palpable, and with every crunching tackle, the crowd gets louder, making the contest hectic but exciting. The winner of this match, along with the top two finishers in the league, gets promoted.
Can Wrexham do it? The answer is yes, as they have the fourth-highest payroll in the league and recently signed two strong attackers. Wrexham has signed Reading striker Sam Smith for a club record that isn’t yet to be announced, as well as striker Jay Rodriguez from Burnley. This is important for the rest of their campaign as their joint top scorers are central defender Max Cleworth and Midfielder Elliot Lee, with six goals each. They needed a striker who could score goals for them, and these two signings will be massively important for their promotion efforts. These last months will surely be worth watching to see if Wrexham can do something unprecedented and secure back-to-back-to-back promotions.
