Wrexham

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Matty James says he jumped at the chance to join Wrexham after admitting he was desperate to return to football.

James, 33, had been without a club after being released by Championship Bristol City in the summer but joined Phil Parkinson's side on a short-term deal until January last month.

The former Manchester United and Leicester City midfielder confirmed he held talks with the north Wales club following his departure from Ashton Gate, and says he is now relishing to be a part of the Wrexham project.

"It came out of the blue really," he said of his move to the Stok Racecourse.

"We had a conversation in the summer and it didn't quite happen. I had one or two other little bits that then didn't happen after that.

"I just received a phone call asking if I'd come in and train and I jumped at the opportunity because of where I was at in my own situation.

"I was desperate to be involved in football again, and with it being Wrexham and where the club is, the ambition, anybody would jump at that opportunity.

"Everybody knows where the club is and where it's going and what it wants to achieve.

"I think there'll be numerous players out there that would want to be playing for Wrexham, in terms of players who are playing for other clubs now I'm guessing. I'm just really happy to be part of it."

James featured 43 times in all competitions for Bristol City during the 2023-24 season, scoring three goals.

The midfielder was an unused substitute for Wrexham's matches at Charlton Athletic and Harrogate Town.

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The last time Wrexham went three games without winning, they responded with a rousing run of results which delivered promotion to League One.

Phil Parkinson's side are looking to return to form once more when they host Mansfield Town on Saturday, having failed to register a victory in their last three outings in all competitions.

Last weekend's FA Cup exit at Harrogate Town came on the back of a frustrating league draw at Charlton Athletic and a home stalemate with Huddersfield Town.

Not since February had Wrexham gone three games in all competitions without registering a win.

After that sequence - which included draws at Forest Green Rovers and MK Dons plus defeat at Gillingham - Wrexham claimed nine wins in their last 12 games of 2023-24 to secure an automatic return to the third tier.

Surprisingly, perhaps, Wrexham went three games without managing a victory on four occasions last season - including one winless run of four matches - yet still finished up celebrating come May.

So presumably there will be no great feeling of concern for Parkinson and his players on the back of the current run, which leaves them third in the table - and out of the Cup - as they prepare to host the Stags.

Still, Wrexham could do with a win.

Wycombe Wanderers' thumping 5-0 triumph at Stockport County on Tuesday means they lead League One on goal difference ahead of Birmingham City, who have a game in hand.

Wrexham are four points worse off than the top two in third spot, with Mansfield a point and a place behind Parkinson's men having lost just once in nine league fixtures.

It is early in the season, of course, but this weekend's encounter at the Stok Racecourse looks a big game.

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Wrexham wing-back Ryan Barnett has been nominated for the League One player of the month award for October.

The 25-year-old, who has been linked with Championship side Stoke City this season, played in all five of Wrexham's league fixtures last month.

"Barnett’s surging runs down the right and lack of fear in taking on defenders, allied to intelligently delivered pinpoint crosses, helped to set up five of Wrexham’s seven October goals," the EFL nomination said.

Barnett is up against Huddersfield Town defender Matty Pearson, Birmingham City's Willum Willumsson and Kwame Poku, of Peterborough United for the award.

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Striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson says it was a "no-brainer" to sign for Wrexham on a short-term contract.

Bodvarsson, 32, has joined the League One side until January on a free transfer after being released by Bolton Wanderers last summer.

The Iceland international made his Wrexham debut as a second-half substitute during the shock FA Cup defeat away to League Two team Harrogate Town.

"It was really a no-brainer for me. I’ve been in Iceland since I became a free agent, just keeping fit and training with my local team that I grew up with," said Bodvarsson.

"Fitness-wise, I don't feel too far off it. It's just getting the minutes now in the tank, that was a huge positive [against Harrogate] to get minutes back in the tank because it has been a while. It's about getting the sharpness back and it’ll come."

Wrexham sit third in League One after 13 games and are looking for a third consecutive promotion under the ownership of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

"It's just exciting football-wise, what the club is doing," Bodvarsson added.

"Since I came here, the standard has been really high and the environment is really positive as a football player.

"That's what I was most excited for, you have all the noise around the club at the moment, which is positive, but first and foremost it's just great to be back in competitive football again.

"I know what I can do. For these three months it's about getting the sharpness back and enjoying myself again and hopefully expressing myself on the pitch the best I can."

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Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson says there is no "silver lining" to their FA Cup first round exit at Harrogate but insists there is still an "incredibly exciting season" ahead.

And Parkinson has told his players they must "dust themselves off" ready for a big League One game against promotion rivals Mansfield Town next weekend.

The Hollywood-owned north Wales club have enjoyed high-profile runs to the fourth round of the FA Cup in both the last two seasons.

However, despite dominating in front of the TV cameras at the Exercise Stadium on Sunday, they were beaten 1-0 by their League Two opponents.

"I've been on the giant-killing side of it many times and today we came here, picked a strong team, took the game really seriously, obviously," said Parkinson.

"Do I think there's a lack of effort out there? I really don't. I thought the lads gave us their all to get back in it, it's just that quality when it was needed the most."

Wrexham had 62.5% possesion in the game and outshot Harrogate by 21 efforts on goal to nine, but could not force an equaliser to the Sulphurites' first-half goal which saw Jack Muldoon left unmarked to head home from a Harrogate corner.

"I don't think there is a silver lining because I'm disappointed with the dominance we had [that] we haven't won the game," added Parkinson.

"When we look back at it and analyse the crosses and the positions we got, you don't get in those areas that many times in a game and usually not score, but today it wasn't to be and we've got to give them credit because they are good defensively when they defend deep."

There may be no cup run this season for Parkinson's side - Wrexham were also eliminated in the first round of the EFL cup at Sheffield United - but they are well placed in League One to challenge for a third successive promotion.

"Of course, it's an incredibly exciting season ahead of us," said Parkinson.

"It's still early in the season, and this is a setback for us because we wanted to progress in the Cup, and the last two years we've progressed and done well."

"Today wasn't our day and we move forward together, that's the key. We've taken a lot of plaudits in the cups over the last few years but we move forward together and take the defeat firmly on the chin."

And there will be no time for a cup-exit hangover. Wrexham are third in League One, just a point ahead of their next opponents Mansfield who visit the Stok Racecourse on Saturday, 9 November (12:30 GMT).

"We haven't had too many days like this since I've been at the club where we've been expected to win and not produced," said Parkinson.

"Today's a day we've got to take as a defeat firmly on the chin and we've got to dust ourselves down next week and come back ready against Mansfield."

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Wrexham kick off their FA Cup campaign on Sunday against familiar opposition.

The Red Dragons have faced Harrogate Town on 10 occasions since 2016, with meetings coming in the National League, League Two, the FA Trophy and the FA Cup.

Wrexham have won three, Harrogate two, while five have ended in draws.

The last FA Cup encounter was 6 November 2021 - Wrexham were playing in the National League at the time while Harrogate were pushing for promotion in League Two.

Wrexham had taken the lead thanks to a Jordan Ponticelli goal, but they were left kicking themselves after conceding two sloppy goals in the second half, with substitutes Simon Power and Danilo Orsi the beneficiaries.

Amid a Hollywood takeover, Wrexham have since leapfrogged Harrogate into League One and will be looking for a good cup run this season as they push for another promotion.

Phil Parkinson’s side made it to the fourth round last term, before losing 4-1 to Blackburn Rovers.

Wrexham's best ever run was in the 1996-1997 season when they made it to the quarter-finals before losing 1-0 to Chesterfield.

Safe to say a lot has changed since then.

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Wrexham fans will presumably be hoping for an FA Cup run featuring a plum draw at some point this season.

Nothing unusual there.

But what may be different for Wrexham in the cup is that these days, they are viewed as glamorous opponents.

Phil Parkinson’s team are in first-round action at Harrogate Town on Sunday, with the game switched from Saturday having been selected for live television coverage.

And though the tie is being televised – and the clubs were in the same division last season - it seems the prospect of Wrexham coming to town has captured the imagination in Harrogate.

Speaking to BBC Radio York earlier this month, after her club came out of the hat alongside Wrexham, Harrogate chief executive Sarah Barry said: “The initial reaction was a bit mixed because our objective is to get through to round two and then the third round and this is going to be one of the toughest draws in terms of the football.

“But we are really excited, and the best measure in terms of the interest in this match is that my commercial director within about two minutes of the draw said that the hospitality has nearly sold out.”

Having Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney has brought many benefits for Wrexham, who have delivered two successive promotions and are in the mix – albeit at an early stage of the season – for a third.

But the north Wales club's increased profile, as well as the successes they have enjoyed, have combined to make them one of the biggest potential scalps in the early rounds of the cup.

It is likely to take a decent shift from whichever team Parkinson picks, therefore, if Wrexham are to progress this weekend.

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There was huge frustration for all at Wrexham following their controversial 2-2 draw with Charlton Athletic last Saturday.

Matt Godden's penalty in added time earned the Addicks a draw at The Valley, although Phil Parkinson was left incensed by the award of the spot-kick for a handball against Max Cleworth.

Nevertheless, Wrexham are third in League One and remain just four points adrift of leaders Birmingham City as they switch their focus to an FA Cup first round encounter at Harrogate Town on Sunday (15:30 GMT).

So there is plenty to be positive about as league action briefly takes a back seat.

But how exactly do Wrexham currently stack up when it comes to those who have gained promotion from the third tier over recent years?

Parkinson's side have collected 25 points from a possible 39 so far this season, at a rate of 1.92 points per game.

Using these figures as guidelines, Wrexham will end the campaign on 88 points if they maintain their current levels.

Since the English Football league (EFL) was rebranded for the 2004-05 campaign, teams finishing as champions of League One end the season with an average of 94 points.

Wolves' tally of 103 points during 2013-14 is the highest ever total gained in League One, while Southend United went up as champions with just 82 points in 2005-06 - the lowest return of a side to finish top.

As for the side gaining promotion into the Championship by coming second, they finish with an average of 88 points, the exact same total Wrexham are currently on target to hit.

Ipswich Town, now in the Premier League, gained a remarkable 98 points in 2022-23, a record for a side finishing second. Colchester United hold the record for the lowest number of points gained (79 in 2005-06) for a side finishing second in League One.

With a powerhouse like Birmingham City in the division, clinching the title will certainly be a difficult task this season.

But history shows that Wrexham - despite frustration at Charlton - remain firmly on course to be contenders to secure a third successive promotion under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, whether it be automatically or via the play-offs.

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George Dobson believes Wrexham's squad depth will afford certain fringe players the chance to impress in the FA Cup at the weekend.

Phil Parkinson's side are in first-round action at Harrogate Town on Sunday (15:30 GMT) as they look to continue their strong recent record in the competition.

Indeed, Wrexham have reached the fourth round of the cup contest in each of the past two seasons under Parkinson.

And midfielder Dobson believes the trip to League Two Harrogate will be beneficial for players eager to get further minutes under the belt.

"We have a huge squad so there’s going to be a lot of players hopefully getting minutes," he told BBC Radio Wales.

Should Wrexham overcome Harrogate, they will be just one step away from potentially facing Premier League sides in round three.

"It’s a great opportunity to get to the third round and having a really good game hopefully against a real big boy," added Dobson.

"I know the club have done really well in the last couple of years, so hopefully we can do it again."