Wrexham Football Club - 2036/2037

Season Summary

Our season kicked off against the Premier League champions Arsenal in the Community Shield. We'd been here two years prior only to lose to Man United but there would be no repeat as we claimed it for the first time. Braces galore but we were worthy victors.



We'd finished runners-up to The Gunners last season and although we got off to a slow start this time round, we soon found ourselves up there in a congested top five as ourselves, Arsenal, City, United and Liverpool took turns at the top of the table and with three games to go, we all had a shot at taking it. Our game in hand against Wolves is what took us back on top and in doing so knocked Man United out of the equation with the final day approaching but with Arsenal as our opponents and Man City facing already relegated Sheffield United, it was tense. Not helped by the fact that Liverpool could leap frog us both if results went their way, had they not beaten us a a few games earlier then they'd have been out of it too. Man City won 4-0. Liverpool won 1-0 thanks to 37 year old Joao Felix's solo strike. Did we follow suit? YES! We recorded a 4-0 rout.

Champions.



EFL Cup

We won both domestic cups last season, the EFL being one we'd won three times in the last ten years but it was disappointing to go out in the manner that we did, especially to Man United who fielded a weakened side. We didn't. The Red Devils vs the Red Dragons.




FA Cup

We first reached the FA Cup final in 2032/33 only to lose against Chelsea but we put that right last season by defeating Man United to win our first. This time round it would be Manchester City who were also our most competitive challengers in the league. It didn't matter.



A domestic double as Jones and Blake made it comfortable late on as the Citizens threw everything our way. We should have gone out at Anfield, a ground we'd stopped using only earlier in the season as we moved into our expanded stadium. The Racecourse now houses over 40,000. Lovely. So was the occasion.

Champions League

We qualified from the group with ease despite how it looks. Our youngers lost to both PSG and Trabzonspor but only once we were assured of our place in the knock out rounds. I thought we should be confident as we'd gained enough experience in the competition. 0-0 at home in the first leg against Juventus sowed a seed of doubt but Alec Blakes lone effort in the return ensured we were progressing. Tougher than anticipated though and it didn't get better as we returned to Italy a few weeks later only to record another 0-0 draw this time with Inter. The return again was a positive but I thought it would be a breeze. Rinse and repeat because the semi's brought PSG, if we'd gone on the group stage results they would have beaten us 5-4 on aggregate, a 1-1 draw in the first leg meant we once again had it all to do at home but the away goal was a bonus. As it is, we didn't even need it as we romped home 5-1 but three goals came in the final five minutes so one strike for PSG could have sent alarm bells ringing throughout.



But now...here is where it really gets interesting.

We lost to Man United in the final in 2035 on penalties, the following year Arsenal dumped us out on away goals and this time we'd face Barcelona. It wasn't too much of an issue because we'd shown we were capable but what made this match different was one man.

Bret fuckin' Parker.

Bret had left the club in January to join the Spanish giants, for a giant fee too and challenging for the Champions League was the reason he gave and kicked up a stink to begin with. He had one year left on his deal and despite our recent form in the competition, he felt a move to one of the heavyweights would give him a better chance of claiming it. That's all fine and dandy but to see him in the starting line up....well, you just knew what was going to happen init.

Only it didn't. Mateo Simon scored from the spot within minutes of kicking off, a goal we failed to respond to until the hour mark as the underrated Lewys Jones levelled proceedings. A back and forth final half hour in which Parker went very close on one occasion saw both teams unable to be separated and so extra time would be needed. I did wonder if it was too much given our long ass season, not helped by that stupid International Cup competition that kicks off 16 days after each seasons end but we pushed, we pushed and OMG!! Jason Haynes!! 111"minutes on the clock and we were staring victory in the face. We were going to be European Champions!

Then it happened. Stoppage time. Eric Claude. 2-2. Fuck. Memories of two years prior came flooding back. Surely it would be a cruel twist of fate to lose a second European Cup final on pens. Right? Well, a cruel twist of fate did occur.

It just wasn't for us. It was for Parker who missed his bloody penalty.



If you've reached this far and read. You'll have counted.

One. Two. Three.

Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League. The treble baby!!





No words. Perfect timing too. With the exception of Cummings (Pontypridd), Ben Hughes (Rhyl) and scorer of the winning penalty Russel John (Cardiff) the rest of our starting eleven were/are all from Wrexham and all through the academy.

Not sure this will be topped by myself and so with FM22 now available, it's time to retire. A European Champion. A treble winner. A true Wrexham legend joining the likes of Joey Jones, Tommy Bamford and Arfon Griffiths.

Buzzing.

I'll have a little update tomorrow with a bit of history from the last 17 years, who's still knocking about etc but what a bloody enjoyable save that was.



You don't win anything with kids?

2020/21 - Vanarama National League Champions
2025/26 - Sky Bet League One Champions
2027/28 - Carabao Cup winners
2028/29 - UEFA Europa Conference League winners
2031/32 - Carabao Cup winners
2031/32 - International Champions Cup winners
2032/33 - Uefa Europa League winners
2033/34 - UEFA Super Cup winners
2033/34 - Premier League champions
2034/35 - International Champions Cup winners
2035/36 - Carabao Cup winners
2035/36 - FA Cup winners
2036/37 - Community Shield winners
2036/37 - Premier League Champions
2036/37 - FA Cup winners
2036/37 - UEFA Champions League winners

Goodnight!