Wrexham Association Football Club is an association football club based in Wrexham, Wales. Founded in October 1864, it is the oldest football club in Wales and the third-oldest professional association football team in the world.[1] After playing in the Combination and regional leagues for several years, Wrexham joined the Football League shortly after the First World War, as a founding member of the new Third Division North. The club remained in the Football League for over 85 years, before they were relegated to the National League in 2008.[2] They remained in the fifth tier of English football for the next 15 seasons, missing out on promotion through the play-offs on five separate occasions.[3] Wrexham were promoted in two consecutive seasons between 2022 and 2024, and will play in League One for the first time since 2005.[4]
Wrexham's first team has competed in numerous nationally and internationally organised competitions. As of the end of the 2023–24 season, a total of 396 players have appeared in between 25 and 99 such matches for the club. The list includes 14 players who are still contracted to the club, so can add to their appearance total. Two Wrexham players with between 25 and 99 appearances went on to manage the club on a caretaker basis – Ralph Burkinshaw (1931–1932) and George Showell (1985).[5]
Key
The list is ordered first by date of debut, and then if necessary in alphabetical order.
Appearances as a substitute are included. This feature of the game was introduced in the Football League at the start of the 1965–66 season.[6]
Statistics are correct up to and including the match played on 27 April 2024. Where a player left the club permanently after this date, his statistics are updated to his date of leaving.
Unless otherwise noted, the nationality of a player is determined by the country/countries which he has played for, or if said person has not played international football, their country of birth.
Position
Playing positions are listed according to the tactical formations that were employed at the time. Thus, the change in the names of defensive and midfield positions reflects the tactical evolution that occurred from the 1960s onwards.
Club career
Club career is defined as the first and last calendar years in which the player appeared for the club in any of the competitions listed below.
Clubs are grouped by their division in the 2024–25 season. Includes the Welsh clubs where lists have been created. 'POTY' = 'Player of the Year / Season'.