Wrexham’s Rebecca Pritchard has reflected on her time in the Adran Premier, has her side prepare for their playoff final against Briton Ferry.
Before the Hollywood investment, Wrexham were a founding member of the Welsh Women’s Premier League in 2009.
They went on to finish runners-up in 2012 and recorded a third placed finish in 2013, and Pritchard recalls the memories she had of playing in the top tier.
“It was really good playing in the Prem, playing against the likes of Swansea and Cardiff week in and week out, that’s who you want to be playing against, you want to compete against the best.
“We were a good side and we competed well in the league, but unfortunately the club ended in a bad place, and we had to restart all over again.”
After the highs came the lowest of lows, as Wrexham resigned from the league midway through the 2015-16 season.
“It’s hard starting from scratch and having to build a whole new squad from last season and the season before, and each year we had new players in.
“Now we’re a well gelled squad, we’re all working hard, and we all know where we are, what we’re going to be doing on the pitch.”
Since restarting and forming an affiliation with the men’s side in 2018, Wrexham have been going from strength to strength.
Last season, they finished second in the Adran North, four points behind winners Llandudno. This season, they have been outstanding.
They have gone unbeaten in the Adran North, scoring 70 goals, and only conceding 6, and Pritchard has praised the good atmosphere for their good form.
“We knew if we carried on the momentum from the end of last season and carried on playing the way we did, we knew we would win the league.
“The whole team atmosphere has been superb. We all get along and we all work hard for each other. The coaching staff are great as are all the other backroom staff.
“We’ve had a few new players come in as well which has really helped and improved our game this season.”
While their record in the league has no blemishes, they were pushed to the very end by Connah’s Quay.
Both of their fixtures against the Nomads came at the end of the season, including a memorable fixture at the Racecourse.
“It was a bit weird that both of our games against them came at the end of the season. It was nice, because we had the rest of the season to work and improve until it came to playing against them.
“So, when we met, we were at our very best and such a team.
“It was mad playing at the Racecourse! I didn’t think that many fans would turn up but to have 9,500, it’s not something you see every day!
“It was great to have that support and obviously the likes of Gemma Owen and everyone in the club have worked so hard to get that match and that many fans at the Racecourse.”
There have been standout performances across the pitch for Wrexham, and striker Rosie Hughes has received the praised that she deserves.
However, a player who may have gone under the radar has been Lili Jones. Since breaking into the first team at the start of December, the 17-year-old has recorded an astonishing nine assists, making her the top assister in the Adran North this season.
“She’s insane! Considering for most of the season she’s played in defence, to have the number of assists she’s had she’s done very well for herself.
“She’s an amazing player, so young as well, she’s a leader on the pitch and she’s just a great player for the club.”
Wrexham will need Jones and the rest of the team to be at their very best on Sunday as the take on Briton Ferry.
While their knowledge on the opposition may be limited, Pritchard knows how difficult a challenge it’s going to be.
“There’s no point winning the league and going unbeaten if we’re not going to win on Sunday. But we have a lot of confidence in ourselves and if we play the best that we can, then we’ll be fine.
“We have to respect Briton Ferry, they are a very good side, but we don’t know much about them. It’ll be a very different game to play but as long as we play at our best, we’ll be alright.”
Wrexham also have the carrot of turning semi-professional dangling in front of them if they come out victorious on Sunday, but for Pritchard, a victory on Sunday will mean so much, especially with where she’s been with the club in the past.
“When I joined Wrexham, that’s where I wanted to be, at the top. I wouldn’t have joined if I didn’t want to be there.
“It’s nice that over the last two years that all the hard work looks to be paying off and we hopefully now get ourselves back in there.
“There will be a lot of emotion, but fingers crossed that if we play well, we’ll be alright.”
Wrexham take on Briton Ferry in the Adran play-off at Newtown’s Latham Park on Sunday April 16th. Kick-off is at 16:30.
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