Meet the opposition | Wrexham
As Swansea City get set to lock horns with Wrexham on Saturday night, we take a closer look at the Red Dragons.
What’s their story?
Formed in 1864, Wrexham are the oldest football club in Wales, founded by members of Wrexham Cricket Club who were seeking a winter sport.
They won the inaugural Welsh Cup in 1878 with victory over Druids, and went on to lift the trophy a record 23 times before changes to the competition in 1995 meant clubs playing in the English system were no longer eligible.
Aside from two seasons in the Welsh League, Wrexham have spent the vast majority of their history competing in the English football pyramid. They were founding members of the Third Division North in 1921 and remained part of the Football League continuously until relegation to the National League in 2008.
The club returned to the EFL in 2023 after a 15-year absence, following their takeover by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Since then, Wrexham have enjoyed a remarkable rise, securing back-to-back-to-back promotions and returning to the second tier for the first time since 1982.
How’s their form?
Wrexham have made a steady start to the Championship season, collecting five points from their opening four league games.
After defeats against Middlesbrough and Birmingham City, they picked up draws Cardiff City and Watford before claiming their first league victory of the campaign on Wednesday night, cruising to a 3-0 win away at Millwall.
Who’s the gaffer?
Phil Parkinson has overseen Wrexham’s remarkable rise under owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, taking the club from the National League to the Championship during his time in charge.
Parkinson began his career as a midfielder, making more than 500 appearances for Bury and Reading. He captained Reading to promotion to the First Division before turning his attention to management in 2003 with Colchester United.
Since then, he has managed more than 1,000 matches across spells with the likes of Hull City, Charlton Athletic, Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland and Wrexham.
One of his standout achievements came at Bradford City in 2013, when he guided the club to the League Cup final after memorable victories over Arsenal and Aston Villa. The Bantams also secured promotion to League One that season, while their Wembley final ended in a 5-0 defeat to Michael Laudrup’s Swansea City.
Since arriving at the Racecourse, Parkinson has overseen 278 games, winning 158, drawing 66 and losing 54.
Who’s the captain?
Dominic Hyam has established himself as a key figure at the heart of Wrexham’s defence since arriving at the Racecourse Ground from Blackburn Rovers on Transfer Deadline Day in September 2025.
The Scotland international brought a wealth of experience with him to North Wales, having already surpassed 350 senior appearances by the time of his move. Much of that experience had come in the Championship, where he had spent the previous five seasons competing at the second tier.
Hyam’s career has also been marked by success. He played an important role in two promotion-winning campaigns with Coventry City and was subsequently recognised as Player of the Season by both the Sky Blues and Blackburn Rovers.
His qualities of consistency and reliability have made him a highly regarded defender at Championship level, and those attributes were quickly evident after his move to Wrexham.
Hyam took on the captaincy and became a prominent figure in Phil Parkinson’s side, with his performances earning further international recognition. His form in North Wales ultimately led to his inclusion in Scotland’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Who are the key men?
Kieffer Moore is a key player for the Red Dragons following his arrival in August 2025 from Sheffield United.
The striker began his career in non-league football before working his way up through the divisions. After spells with Yeovil Town, Viking, Forest Green Rovers and Ipswich Town, Moore enjoyed a prolific loan spell with Rotherham United, scoring 13 goals in 20 appearances. He later impressed with Barnsley, where he scored 17 goals in the 2018-19 season.
Moore has made more than 200 Championship appearances and is a two-time promotion winner, helping AFC Bournemouth and Ipswich Town reach the Premier League. He also scored on his Premier League debut for Bournemouth against Aston Villa in August 2022.
At international level, Moore made his Wales debut in 2019 and has since earned more than 50 caps. He featured at Euro 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while he marked his 50th cap with the winning goal against Kazakhstan in September 2025.
Josh Windass is another key individual who joined the club from Sheffield Wednesday in July 2025, putting pen to paper on a three-year contract until the end of the 2027-28 season.
The 32-year-old spent five years with Sheffield Wednesday, making 153 appearances and scoring 53 goals before spells at Rangers and Wigan Athletic. He played a key role in their promotion from League One in 2022/23, scoring the decisive goal in the play-off final and earning a place in the League One Team of the Season.
Since moving to north Wales, Windass has quickly become an important attacking figure for Phil Parkinson, finding the net 15 times in the league during his first campaign while also providing five assists. His impressive form saw him recognised at Wrexham's 2025/26 End of Season Awards, where he collected both the Men's Player of the Season and Top Goalscorer awards.