Former Celtic and Newcastle United defender aiming high with Wrexham

Wrexham newcomer Jodie Bartle is ready to take the club to the next level as she draws on her experiences from Celtic and Newcastle United.

Bartle signed for the Red Dragons after spending two years with the Toon Army, but when the chance came to sign for Wrexham, it was an opportunity the defender couldn’t turn down.

“There is an obvious buzz around Wrexham at the moment,” says Bartle.

“There’s a real community feel to it as well. It’s built on passion, and it’s built on the resilience of the community. As well as the city itself, the manager was a big reason why I joined.”

Jenny Sugarman has only been in the Wrexham hot seat since mid-July, but it’s clear to see what her intentions are with this club.

Sugarman has been a coach with some of England’s top clubs, but Bartle says it’s her people skills that make her stand out.

“I played under Jenny around seven years ago at Loughborough Foxes, and I got on really well with her.

“A fantastic coach, a fantastic people person, and she built me and improved me so much as a player.

“In one of Jenny’s interviews, she described that what she wanted to create was a people-first culture. That’s what she did when I played for her. You were a person first to her before you were a player.

“If you can create a happy environment where everyone respects one another, you’re going to be prepared to fight for each other. If you’re thriving, you are going to become successful. That’s the sort of culture Jenny can create.”

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Wrexham’s star-studded arrivals

It’s not just Bartle who’s been captivated by this new Wrexham project. Katie Barker joined Bartle on the trip down from Newcastle, Pakistan international Mariam Mahmood joins from West Brom, Josie Smith arrives from Wolves, while Hannah Snape has swapped Loughborough for Wrexham.

Suddenly, this has the look of a squad that wouldn’t look out of place in one of the English leagues, and therefore, expectations for this upcoming Adran Premier season are high.

Talk of the title are muted currently, but Bartle says it’s something this team are aiming for.

“I wouldn’t say the league title is the expectation, but it’s what we’re striving for. There are going to be teams that are looking to survive and teams looking to solidify.

“Then you’ll have some who are looking to compete at the top of the table, and we are throwing our hat in the ring. We want to compete, and that was a huge draw for me.

“We have an opportunity to win the league, to win silverware, and then go and compete in the Champions League. We are going to go for it this season, but we will take it one game at a time. We know where we want to be before the start of phase two.”

The role of Wrexham fans

One thing that will certainly help Wrexham in any title charge will be their fans.

Bartle has played in front of passionate fan bases at both Celtic Park and St. James’ Park, and she has already seen how the Wrexham fans get behind their team.

She said: “The passion of the Wrexham fans has been something that’s become clear to me very quickly.

“These people love the city, and they love the club.

“Celtic have a phenomenal fan base, Newcastle too, and I wouldn’t be on the pitch and be a professional footballer if it wasn’t for these fans. That’s what drives me to play.

“When you’re in these big stadiums and you’ve got them cheering you on and making those long trips, it gives you such a boost. We’ve had fans come to our preseason games when we haven’t really announced them, but they find the games and support us.

“I cannot wait to play in front of them properly at the Cae Ras and at The Rock.”

It promises to be an exciting season for players old and new at Wrexham, but for Bartle, it’s going to be a special campaign.

The defender has been ruled out with a long-term injury for many months, but the thought of donning the red of Wrexham and playing in a competitive game is a moment she’s relishing.

“I can’t wait to be back on the pitch! I’m buzzing. I’ve had a few minutes in the last couple of games, and I was loving it.

“I’m feeling more myself in every game that goes by and every training session, but to be back playing in a competitive game is something I cannot wait for.”

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(Featured Images: Craig Thomas/FAW)