Reaction from Wrexham’s win over Briton Ferry to seal promotion
NEWTOWN, WALES - 16 APRIL 2023: Wrexham Women's Rebecca Pritchard scores and celebrates during the 2022/23 Genero Adran North & South play-off fixture between Wrexham AFC Women & Briton Ferry Llansawel Ladies FC at Latham Park, Newtown, Wales, 16 April 2023. (Pic by John Smith/FAW)
After folding in 2016, Wrexham AFC have returned to the top tier of Welsh football, after beating Briton Ferry on Sunday afternoon.
After the game, we spoke to some of the Red Dragons’ stars.
The Architect
If anyone knows anything about the journey Wrexham have been on, they will know big a factor Gemma Owen has been.
Off the pitch, Gemma has been the driving force behind the resurrection of this team, and Sunday marked the culmination of an amazing journey for her.
“The club is so different from where it was. The women’s section before was completely independent to the football club, but now with the support of the football club, from the board, the owners, everybody involved, the sky is the limit for us now.”
Wrexham’s promotion now makes them the second team based in North Wales to be in the Adran Premier, along with TNS.
Owen is hoping that other North Wales sides can learn from Wrexham and try to even the divide the league currently faces.
“It’s been a long time coming and hopefully us going up can enable other teams in North Wales to follow us and make Tier 1 a little more balanced in terms of the north/south divide.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming the big teams and relishing the challenge.”
The win of course means Wrexham will now be a semi-professional side next year, and Owen stressed just how important this will be for the progression of the club.
“Going semi-professional will allow us to move forward in what we want to offer our players and it’s really important that we don’t stagnate now.
“We look to move on and push forward, and that will be a big step in allowing us to do that.”
The Defensive Guardians
We are so used to seeing this Wrexham team being a free-flowing attacking side, but on Sunday, we saw the other side of them, a defensive and solid one.
Full-back Phoebe Davies was fully aware of the challenge Briton Ferry possessed and was delighted that her team got the job done.
“Briton Ferry were a strong side, we knew how tough they’d be, but we had our gameplan and knew what we wanted to do, and we’ve come away with the right result.
“It’s so nice to be a part of this project and the club should and deserve to be in the Adran Premier and we can’t wait to get started.”
Davies’ defensive partner, Erin Lovett, admitted it was hard to keep their focus for the full 90 minutes, but was delighted with the defensive shift her team put in.
“It’s really hard to keep that concentration up for the whole 90 minutes but I’m glad we didn’t go to extra time because it would have been a lot more difficult.
“But the entire back four did some really amazing work.”
Promotion means that Wrexham will be playing some of the biggest teams in Welsh football, and while it may be tough, Lovett is relishing the challenge.
“The Adran Premier is going to be a test and we all know it will be competitive.
“But we’ve played against teams like TNS before and we’ve competed against them, so, I think we can show what we’ve got, and we’ve got a lot more to give.
“We’ve got a great season ahead and we’ll be preparing for it straight away.”
The Old Guard
Along with Gemma Owen, two players were there when Wrexham last played in the top tier in 2016.
Goalkeeper Delyth Morgan put in a Player of the Match performance on Sunday, and the shot stopper was lost for words about Wrexham’s victory.
“I’m speechless. I can’t put it into words. This has been a 2-year process, and it’s something we’ve fought so hard for, especially this year.
“Winning 12 games out of 12 in the league and all the support we’ve received along the way has gotten bigger has the years have gone on.
“Having all of them at the Racecourse last month was unreal and they gave us the belief that we could win the game today.”
Another member of that 2016 side was Rebecca Pritchard. The dynamic midfielder scored the crucial goal for her side but was proud of the overall team performance.
“We really had to dig in for the full 90 minutes because they battled so strongly with us the entire way.
“One lapse in concentration from us and they would have scored, and they’re definitely the best team we’ve played all year.”
Morgan agreed with how much of a test Briton Ferry were, and she hopes they can join them in the Adran Premier next year.
“We both deserve to go up today, and they’re in the Welsh Cup final next week.
“They haven’t got there by luck, they’ve got there through hard work, and we witnessed today how tough of a team they are.”
Pritchard ended by stating that Wrexham were back where they belonged to be, and hoped they could be a guiding light for teams in North Wales.
“We’re back where we belong now. It’s even better this time around because we’ve got the full support of the club, the backing of the owners.
“It’s an unbelievable place to be and it’s really exciting not just for football in Wrexham, but for North Wales too.”
The New Guard
While Morgan and Pritchard are stalwarts of the Wrexham story, younger players have made their mark on the team this season.
Lili Jones started the season in the U19s but broke into the first team in November and recorded nine assists in the league this season.
Born and bred in Wrexham, Jones was ecstatic to win promotion with the club she adores.
“I love being a part of this team. Playing for your local club and being able to play around people who are so passionate about playing for the badge is something I’ve always strived to do and to make such an impact this season.
“To go on and win this game is something that will stay with me forever. I’m very privileged and happy to have had the opportunity.”
Jones ended by saying the club was only getting stronger, and that the backing of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney has been immeasurable.
“There’s big things in the future for Wrexham AFC, especially for the women.
“We’re taking steps in the right direction for the future of the club, and it’ll be a big challenge to play against those top sides.
“It’ll be great for the club and hopefully we’ll be able to hold our own up there.
“Rob and Ryan are huge, there’s no denying that. They’ve backed us all the way, they give us the support, they give us the funding, it’s what good owners do, and I can’t fault them for what they’ve done for the women’s side.”
