Wrexham are now a club known worldwide thanks to its American ownership and the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary.
But in the not-too-distant past, they were just another big club languishing in English football’s fifth tier. Despite this, former Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair made the move to North Wales in 2009, after an illustrious career that led him to the 1998 World Cup. He had two seasons in the fifth tier, where he made over sixty appearances.
“I went to Wrexham in the latter stages of my career, finishing my career there. I think it was my last professional football club that I played for.”
“We were in the Conference with Dean Saunders as the manager. We got to the playoffs in my first season there but lost in the semi-final against Luton.”
“We had a fairly successful season when you look at the charge to try and get promoted, but just didn’t quite get there.”
Despite the lack of success for the Welsh outfit, they still had a hardened fanbase that stuck by them when at their lowest point. Although not quite at the levels seen today, the Red Dragons were typically well-backed, something that Sinclair remembers.
“We had really good training facilities that Wales used to share with us for internationals. We also had a massive stadium for a Conference league club, and when we had the big games, you’d often get 6000-7000 in.”
“I had the sense that this was a sleeping giant at the time, but we didn’t have the financial backing that they’ve got now.”
There’s been a resurgence in Welsh football over the past decade, cumulating in the Dragon’s European Championship campaign in 2016 when they made the last four. While Sinclair had retired by then, the foundations for the success were well in place, and it’s clear that he felt the Welsh supporters deserved their moment in the spotlight.
“I enjoyed it thoroughly because I knew I was coming towards the end of my career, so I was trying to enjoy my football as much as possible.”
“I love the culture of the Welsh people, how they were very passionate about the game, and it was a pleasure for me to play at that level for such a big club.”
Notts County, Oldham Athletic, Stockport County, and Hartlepool United are among some of the former EFL sides to fall on hard times in the past few years and end up in the fifth tier.
Wrexham are no different; they finally exited the National League after fifteen seasons in England’s fifth tier. 52-year-old Sinclair, now with Doncaster as a coach, felt that the Red Dragons’ time had come to escape from Non-League.
“I always thought that it didn’t quite have the financial clout that it certainly has now, but Wrexham’s always been a big football club.”
“I feel it has been overdue. If it wasn’t for the new owners, then I feel Wrexham may have been sleeping for a lot longer.”
The former Lincoln City defender also had a personal connection to the fifth-tier last season, thanks to Tyrese Sinclair’s involvement at Altrincham.
“I watched a bit of them play last season because my son was playing in the same league, on loan from Rochdale, in the second half of the season.
“So I watched him play against Wrexham and the likes of Notts County, who had a real race with them last season to win the title. It was quite interesting to watch from afar.”
With Sinclair having as many as six former clubs that he played for on a permanent basis, along with a handful on Non-League sides, it can be difficult to keep track of them all. But that is no issue for Sinclair, who takes an active interest in every team he has played for.
“I follow all my old clubs throughout my career, and that’s no different with Wrexham.”
“When you saw the charge from them last season, I really did want them to do it, and a lot of the neutrals did as well.”
Last season’s National League title race was one for the ages, with both Notts County and Wrexham breaking the 100-point barrier. In the process, the pair also broke the record points tally for the fifth tier, but with contrasting styles.
“Obviously, teams admired the football that Notts County was playing, with two different approaches to a promotion, which was really intriguing for me.”
The Red Dragon’s gaffer was Phil Parkinson, who received plenty of criticism for his move to the Racecourse. The 55-year-old had previously managed the likes of Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland before dropping divisions to the fifth tier.
“I certainly was pleased for Phil Parkinson. He’s obviously a manager that’s taking a gamble, going down the leagues to take on a football club like that, with the reputation he’s had as a manager of being in the Football League.”
“If this had gone wrong, where would he have gone from here? You’ve got to respect that, the opportunity that he took.”
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