As they prepare for their huge League One clash with Birmingham City, Wrexham sits atop the third tier after an excellent start to the campaign.
Phil Parkinson has overseen a rise out of non-league, straight through League Two and now has his sights set on playing Championship football next season.
You would have had to have been living under a rock not to know what’s happened at the club over recent seasons, events that saw them end their 15-year stay out of the Football League.
Of course, it hasn’t always been pre-season tours to America and hit docuseries, the club toiled away on the brink of being wound up before the glamour, and the money came knocking.
So, as they prepare for a sell-out clash with the Blues, we take a look back at the side that took the field in the final match before the takeover. On February 9th 2021, Dean Keates’ Wrexham travelled to Manchester and Broadhurst Park to take Altrincham just hours before the takeover was completed.
Christian Dibble
In goal for Wrexham that night was 26-year-old stopper, Christian Dibble. Dibble was into his fourth season at the Racecourse Ground having joined from Nuneaton Borough in the summer of 2017.
The former Wales Under 21 international was unable to establish himself as the first choice between the sticks in LL11, making 19 National League appearances during the 2020-21 campaign’ as he competed with Rob Lainton for the gloves.
Dibble would eventually leave Wrexham in January 2023 for Kidderminster Harriers, then of the National League North. He would help his new side to promotion via the playoffs before featuring in all 46 National League games the following season.
The 30-year-old remains with Phil Brown’s side and has started this season with three clean sheets in eight games.
Mark Carrington
On the right of a back three in Manchester was the vastly experienced Mark Carrington, who was in the final season of a nearly seven-year spell in north Wales.
The versatile former Bury player made close to 250 appearances for the Red Dragons before leaving the club at the end of the 2020-21 season.
Upon his departure, he joined Kidderminster where he helped the Harriers to the National League North playoffs, contributing two goals in 32 league outings.
Fiacre Kelleher
Irishman Kelleher played on the left of the three against Alty having joined the Welsh club from Macclesfield in the 2019 close season.
During his one season with the club, the former Celtic youngster made 42 league appearances, scoring once.
After his release from the Racecourse, the former Ireland Under 19 international moved on to Bradford City. Kelleher’s time at Valley Parade did not yield the results he would have hoped and he was loaned to National League side Solihull Moors.
The 28-year-old went on to join Colchester United in 2023 and he remains with The U’s, although he has only featured in one League Two match this term.
Tyler French
In the centre of the defence was Tyler French, a player who had only just signed for the club from Bradford eight days before.
French would go on to make 17 appearances in the 2020-21 season and a further 21 in the first full season following the takeover. After the unsuccessful playoff campaign, he moved north to Dundee of the Scottish Championship.
He was loaned to Greenock Morton for 2023/24 before heading back to England to join newly relegated National League side Sutton United where he has made seven appearances so far.
Jay Harris
The captain that night was midfielder Jay Harris, who was enjoying his second spell with the club. His first spell at the Racecourse began in 2010 following a 12-month ban for his involvement in a betting scandal.
Having made close to 200 appearances during his five-year stay with the club, Harris would make the move to Tranmere Rovers. Four years and a promotion to the Football League later, Macclesfield were his next employers.
Harris’ time with the Silkmen would last just six months before heading back to Wrexham. After departing the club for a second time 18 months later, it appears the midfielder signed for Warrington Town who play in the National League North.
The 37-year-old remains with the Yellows and recently made his 100th appearance for the club.
Luke Young
Alongside Harris that night was Luke Young, a tireless midfielder who made over 240 appearances for the Red Dragons.
Young joined Wrexham from Torquay United in 2018 and would play an integral part in the club finally getting out of the National League.
He would play more of a bit part role throughout the successful League Two campaign but still wore the armband on occasion. In the summer, he left for Cheltenham Town in League Two.
Jordan Davies
Completing the central midfield trio that night was the only player in the XI still on the club’s books, Jordan Davies.
Born just minutes from the Racecourse Ground, Davies was another vital cog in Wrexham’s Nationa League wheel, particularly in Phil Parkinson’s first season in charge where he contributed 15 goals.
As Wrexham climbed the divisions and added more and more quality to their squad, the 25-year-old found his involvement lessening and joined League Two outfit Grimsby Town on loan during the summer.
Davies started life at Blundell Park with two goals on his home debut only to pick up an injury in his third match that keeps him out of action.
Jamie Reckford
The experienced and much-travelled Jamie Reckford occupied the left midfield role against Altrincham in one of 33 league matches he played that season.
Before joining Wrexham, Reckford had had spells with the likes of Ross County, Oldham Athletic and Solihull Moors.
Once the Hollywood money arrived, his first-team opportunities dwindled and left the club for Boreham Wood. He now turns out for Gloucester City of the Southern League having joined them from Yeovil Town.
Reece Hall-Johnson
On the opposite flank was the former Norwich City youngster, Reece Hall-Johnson. The utility man had gained some Football League experience with Grimsby and Northampton Town before heading to the Racecourse.
Throughout his first two seasons with the club, he was something of a regular, appearing in 65 league matches across the campaigns. However, he had to make do with less than a half of football during the exhilarating title chase with Notts County.
He left for Barnet in the summer of 2023 where he is back to playing regularly, although he has missed the Bees’ last two matches.
Dior Angus
One of the strikers in Keates’ starting eleven was Dior Angus, who had represented a host of clubs before heading to North Wales.
Much like Tyler French, Angus had been at the club for just over a week before taking to the Broadhurst Park field.
The former Barrow striker found the net six times during the 2020-21 campaign but would only make three starts the following season. Harrogate Town of League Two were the striker’s next employers before a return to the National League with Altrincham.
Currently, Angus represents AFC Telford of the Southern League.
Kwame Thomas
The final member of the starting eleven that night was the match-winner, Kwame Thomas.
The St. Kitts and Nevis international came through Derby County’s youth set-up and gained some minutes in the Championship. He has, however, played most of his football at National League level for clubs such as Solihull and Aldershot Town.
Thomas’ nine-goal return in the 2020-21 season remains his best in senior football, with two of those goals defeating Alty hours before the takeover was complete.
After Wrexham came another crack at League Two with Sutton United before a move north of the border to Scottish Championship side Dundee. After a year in Scotland, he was back in the National League with Aldershot where he was predominantly used as a substitute.
Thomas currently turns out for Ebbsfleet of the National League having signed during the summer.
Dean Keates
Keates was in his second spell as manager of Wrexham during the 2020-21 season, having previously managed the club between 2016 and 2018 before leaving to manage boyhood club Walsall.
Upon his return to the Racecourse in October 2019, the former Lincoln City midfielder would oversee 60 matches and achieve a 46% win rate.
After failing to make the playoffs, he was released at the end of his contract with Phil Parkinson taking his place.
Looking back on Wrexham’s 2-1 win over Altrincham helps to understand the monumental change that has happened to the club over just three and a half years.
From 15 years in the National League to facing Birmingham City in front of almost 30,000 people with a chance to go three points clear at the top of League One, it has been quite the ride for the club’s fans. A ride that shows no signs of slowing down just yet.
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