Wrexham

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Wrexham will face Dutch top-flight side FC Groningen in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, 2 August (14:00 BST).

The game will be played at De Langeleegte in Veendam, but Wrexham say it will not be open to away fans under "instructions from local authorities".

There will also be a behind-closed-doors game between XIs from each club on the same day.

Groningen finished 13th in the Eredivisie last season.

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Wrexham lost 1-0 to Wellington Phoenix in the final game of their pre-season tour down under.

Forward Luke Flowerdew's close-range goal early in the second half, in front of a crowd of more than 25,000 at Sky Stadium, proved the diference.

Wrexham's best chances fell to Elliot Lee, who hit the post and had another effort well saved, and Ollie Palmer who had a goal ruled out for handball.

Phil Parkinson's men will now prepare for their Championship opener away to Southampton on 9 August (12:30 BST).

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For Sydney FC's Joe Lacey, a matchwinning goal against Wrexham was particularly special because of his Welsh background.

The Red Dragons went ahead in Tuesday's pre-season contest through Corey Hollman's early own goal before Alex Popovic equalised for the Sky Blues just before half-time.

Lacey struck in the 74th minute as the Australian side beat Phil Parkinson's men at the Allianz Stadium.

The goal meant that little bit more for Lacey, he revealed, because he has a Welsh mother while his aunty has worked at the Stok Cae Ras on matchdays as a paramedic.

"My mum's Welsh and it's very big for me," he said in a post-match interview.

"My family, they're all watching in Wales, she (Lacey's mother) is there at the moment.

"I love them all. I'm very grateful for them. They're all in Wales besides from my sister who came in from Newcastle, so I'm very grateful for them."

On his goal, Lacey added: "It just felt like a video game. It felt like I had a VR (virtual reality) set on."

Wrexham conclude their pre-season tour with a match against New Zealand side Wellington Phoenix at the Sky Stadium on Saturday, 19 July (06:30 BST).

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Ollie Rathbone has been taken to hospital to undergo an X-ray after sustaining an ankle injury during Wrexham's 2-1 pre-season loss to Sydney FC.

The midfielder was withdrawn late on in the first-half at the Allianz Stadium after suffering the ankle issue.

Following the match in Sydney, Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson confirmed Rathbone had gone to hospital to receive further tests on the injury.

"Ollie's had to go to hospital for an X-ray," said Parkinson.

"It's a very quiet dressing room in there because we're concerned about Ollie.

"It didn't look that bad an incident when it happened but it swelled up instantly in the dressing room.

"Kev's [physio Kevin Mulholland] gone with him to hospital and we've just got to keep our fingers crossed."

Rathbone joined Wrexham from Rotherham United last summer and was a pivotal figure in helping the club secure promotion from League One into the Championship.

The 28-year-old netted eight times in 41 league appearances during the 2024-25 campaign and was named Wrexham's Player of the Season.

Shalom Robinson
BBC Sport Wales

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Wrexham continued their pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand with a 2-1 defeat by A-League side Sydney FC.

The home side took control of the game in the opening stages with Sydney FC threatening Danny Ward's goal on a couple of occasions.

After a nervy opening, Wrexham broke the deadlock through captain James McClean's delivery into the penalty area, which was turned in by Sydney midfielder Corey Holman.

Wrexham began to build momentum following the goal, however, last year's Player of the Season Ollie Rathbone was withdrawn before half-time after picking up an apparent leg injury.

In the wake of a controversial no-handball decision, Sydney FC equalised from a corner on the stroke of half-time.

The initial header was saved from summer signing Ward, but the rebound was converted from close range by defender Alexandar Popović.

Wrexham applied pressure to start the second half, with the wing pairing of Ryan Barnett and McClean continuously putting dangerous crosses in the penalty box for the forwards.

The Red Dragons narrowly missed the chance to retake the lead through the combination of substitutes Ryan Longman and Jack Marriott as they were denied by an emphatic save by Harrison Devenish-Meares.

Moments later Sydney took the lead through a beautifully finessed shot from just outside the 18-yard box by youngster Joe Lacey.

Wrexham struggled to create chances after falling behind, failing to break down the disciplined Sydney FC defence as they suffered a first loss on the tour Down Under.

Wrexham conclude their tour against Wellington Phoenix at the Sky Stadium on Saturday, 19 July (06:30 BST).

Parkinson's side start their 2025-26 Championship campaign at Southampton on Saturday, 9 August (12:30 BST).

They will host West Bromwich Albion in their first home league fixture of the new season a week later (12:30 BST).

Image source, Wrexham AFC/Macron

Wrexham have unveiled the new home shirt they will be wearing in the Championship next season - a nod to the strip they wore the last time they played in English football's second tier.

The shirt is inspired by the strip worn between 1981 and 1984, which included the 1981-82 season.

That was the final campaign of a four-season stint Wrexham had in the old Second Division.

It's taken them 43 years to return but Wrexham fans will only have to wait until Saturday, 9 August to see their team back at the level, with Phil Parkinson's team starting the new Championship season at Southampton.

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Wrexham's first home game in the Championship has been selected for live television coverage, with the visit of West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, 16 August now set for a 12:30 BST kick-off on Sky Sports Football.

The game will be the first time Wrexham have met the Baggies in the league.

The Stok Cae Ras will also now play host to the tv cameras for the visit of Derby County on Saturday, 27 September, with that game also moved to a 12:30 BST kick-off on Sky Sports+.

Wrexham's trip to Southampton for their league campaign opener on Saturday, 9 August had already been confirmed for television coverage, with that game set for 12:30 BST on Sky Sports Football.