Glamour club Wrexham proving it can produce its own

Wrexham’s significant investment in their squad has helped fuel a remarkable rise through the divisions under owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac.

That money has also meant several keynote signings including international stars such as Jay Rodriguez, Conor Coady and Kieffer Moore.

But amid the club’s high-profile recruitment, there remains a firm desire to develop the next generation of homegrown talent.

The Hollywood backers have pumped more than £3m into the club’s academy with a firm commitment to youth.

Academy manager Gus Williams previously described how Reynolds and Mac view the academy “with high respect and expectations” in terms of what it can deliver for the club.

Teenager Dafydd Edwards is one player hoping to make the breakthrough in the Championship next season.

The 18-year-old defender has signed his first professional contract after being named the club’s academy player of the season.

Breaking into Phil Parkinson’s first team is now the aim for Edwards, who acknowledges competition will be fierce given Wrexham’s prowess in the transfer market in recent years.

“Trying to break through to the first team, that’s going to be tough, but you never know in football,” Edwards said.

“We’ve seen it on a few occasions with [academy players] Harry Ashfield and Aaron James playing in cup competitions, so it’s possible.

“He [Parkinson] is always watching the training sessions and keeping a close eye on our scores, so we’ve got to make the most of every session, keep pushing and hopefully you’ll get the chance. You want to be playing at the highest level.”

As academy player of the year, Dafydd Edwards won the Bob Clark award, dedicated to the club’s former president [Wrexham AFC]

Parkinson is keen to introduce young players to the first-team environment and Edwards was part of the touring group for recent pre-season games, first in Poland and then against Manchester United in Finland.

“It’s beneficial for them to be in the dressing room, to listen to the senior players talk and to understand what it’s all about at first-team level,” said Parkinson.

“The lads who’ve come and trained with us have not looked out of place at all. That’s a credit to the academy and the way they’ve worked with them in the off-season. They can cope with the intensity and handle themselves well.

“We’ve seen players progress and the youngsters now are looking, can they be the next player to be like Max Cleworth, Harry Ash or Aaron James who’s had that taste of first team football.”

For Edwards, winning the Bob Clark Wrexham AFC academy player of the season award was a “proud moment” for himself and his family.

He played 44 games last season, including some as captain, as the team enjoyed club’s best run in the FA Youth Cup, including a fifth round tie against holders Aston Villa.

“It was a great season and after Christmas, I felt I pushed on quite well,” said Edwards, a former pupil at Ysgol Brynhyfryd in his hometown of Ruthin.

“I was captain in a few games and that just comes with experience. We’ve got a great group of lads who are willing to work for each other.

“Hopefully I can push on even more now. I’m looking forward to the next chapter in my career.”

Since Reynolds and Mac’s takeover in 2021, the club have invested heavily in an academy training facility at Darland High School in Rossett, a village north of Wrexham.

Parkinson says having the right facilities and coaching set-up is vital for the club to produce homegrown players.

“Behind the scenes the standard of the players at the academy is improving each year,” Parkinson added.

“It needs to because we’ve progressed through the divisions. But right from the outset it was a huge opportunity because you almost started with a blank canvas.

“People may not be aware of the Darland project where the pitches are a really good standard, changing facilities and a gym for the academy players.

“All of a sudden it’s easier to attract those better quality players which ultimately we’re going to need as we keep progressing.”

Max Cleworth made his Wrexham league debut against Solihull Moors in the National League in August 2021 – Phil Parkinson’s first game in charge [Getty Images]

Edwards praised the encouragement of club captain Dom Hyam – a member of Scotland’s World Cup squad – but hopes to emulate another defender who progressed through the club’s academy to the first team – Max Cleworth.

Cleworth joined Wrexham aged 12 and, having signed his first professional deal in 2020, played a key role in each of the club’s three successive promotions.

“I’ve been looking up to him,” Edwards said of the 23-year-old, who has made nearly 200 senior appearances for the Dragons.

“If Max has done it, it gives us the confidence to push on and do the same next season.”

Wrexham may have missed out on the Championship play-offs on the last day of last season but there remains a feeling that anything is possible.

“The turnaround at the club has been phenomenal,” said Edwards. “It’s only just started, really, so who knows what’s to come in the coming seasons.”