Wrexham and North Wales Round-Up: 17 to 19 October 2026

On October 19, 2026 By DaveIn Football, Wrexham NewsLeave a comment

Four goals. Three points. A boss under a bit less pressure. Wrexham turned on the style at the Racecourse on Saturday to beat Preston North End 4 to 1. The result lifts the Reds to 14 points from 11 games. The mood lifts with it. Add a world class tennis event starting in the city, a growing investment story across the region, and a bid for City of Culture 2029 that still has its best chapter to come. Plenty of good news to work through.

The Weekend at a Glance

Story	Headline Number	Where
Wrexham 4 Preston 1	Four scorers in one game	Racecourse, 17 Oct
Joe Worrall first goal	In over 2 years	31st minute, header
New league position	14th on 14 points	After 11 games
Lexus Wrexham Open begins	1 of 33 global W100 cities	Wrexham, Sun 18 Oct
Free shop expansion	30,000 items saved	City centre
Investment Zone backing	£160m, 6,000 jobs target	Wrexham and Flintshire

Men: A Four Goal Response at the Racecourse

Phil Parkinson made four changes from the midweek defeat to West Brom. The move paid off. Joe Worrall nodded home a header in the 31st minute for his first goal in over two years. Alfie Devine levelled for Preston five minutes later. Then Ben Whiteman curled a right footed shot into the bottom corner from outside the box, bagging his first Wrexham goal against the club he used to captain. Sam Smith made it three in the 59th. Kieffer Moore added his third league goal in four games on 63 minutes. Four and one. First time Wrexham have scored four at home in the league in a long time. The Racecourse loved it.

Preston Goal Scorers

Minute	Scorer	For	Note
31′	Joe Worrall	Wrexham	Header. First goal in more than two years.
36′	Alfie Devine	Preston	Right footed shot, bottom corner.
42′	Ben Whiteman	Wrexham	First goal for the club. Against his former side.
59′	Sam Smith	Wrexham	Rewarded a recall from the start.
63′	Kieffer Moore	Wrexham	Left footed finish, bottom right. Third in four games.

Racecourse Key Stats

Wrexham were the better side on the ball and in front of goal. The expected goals line sums it up.

Expected Goals (xG)

Wrexham (1.86)

1.86

Preston (0.72)

0.72

Possession

Wrexham (61%)

61%

Preston (39%)

39%

Shots on Target

Wrexham (6)

Preston (1)

Championship Season at Eleven Games

Three wins. Five draws. Three defeats. 14 points. Mid table and climbing. Here is the shape of the season so far.

Results Breakdown

Wins (3)

Draws (5)

Losses (3)

Home vs Away Points

Home (8 points from 5 games)

Away (6 points from 6 games)

Home record now boosted by the Southampton and Preston wins.

Updated Form Guide

D
D
L
W
D
D
L
W
D
L
W

Up Next: Blackburn Away

Wrexham head to Ewood Park on Saturday 24 October for a 3pm kick off. Blackburn have been solid at home this season. Wrexham will travel with momentum. Sheffield United follow on Friday 30 October under the lights at Bramall Lane. Two big tests to close the month.

Date	Opponent	Venue	Kick off
Sat 24 Oct	Blackburn Rovers	Ewood Park (A)	3pm
Fri 30 Oct	Sheffield United	Bramall Lane (A)	8pm

World Class Tennis Rolls into Town

The Lexus Wrexham Open began at the Wrexham Tennis and Padel Centre on Sunday 18 October. The tournament runs through to Sunday 25 October. Wrexham is one of just 33 cities worldwide hosting a World Tennis W100 event this year. The Welsh Government confirmed fresh funding for the tournament in 2026 and 2027 last week. The Mini Wrexham Open also gives local children a chance to play on the show courts.

Lexus Wrexham Open Fact File

Dates	Sunday 18 to Sunday 25 October 2026
Venue	Wrexham Tennis and Padel Centre
Tier	World Tennis Tour W100
Global peer group	One of 33 cities worldwide hosting a W100 event
Local star	Megan Davies, Wrexham, in the main draw
Fringe event	Mini Wrexham Open for juniors on show courts

Local Positive News Round Up

Story	Detail
Free shop expands to city centre	A community shop where donated items are taken free has opened in the city centre. More than 30,000 items have been saved from waste so far.
Stiwt Theatre honours volunteer	The Stiwt in Rhos recognised a long serving volunteer for years of behind the scenes work.
Butchery conference announced	Wales’ butchery industry will gather in Wrexham for a landmark skills and growth event.
PR agency grows into new HQ	A local award winning PR firm has moved into a new base to support further growth.
Play Revolution backed for global growth	Wrexham based Play Revolution has received equity investment from the Investment Fund for Wales to expand overseas and grow its team.
Howden opens Wrexham office	Global broker Howden opened a new commercial office in Wrexham targeting North Wales manufacturers. Five brokers in the opening team.
City centre regen funding	Wrexham Council welcomed funding backing for a new city centre regeneration scheme.

Investment Zone Snapshot

Wrexham and Flintshire Investment Zone keeps pulling the numbers. Here is the headline shape of what has been backed and what is expected.

The Investment Zone in Numbers

Government backing

£160m

Expected private investment

£1,000m (£1bn)

Jobs target

6,000

Core focus: advanced manufacturing. Main sites: Wrexham Industrial Estate (home to JCB and the new Kellogg’s cereal plant) and the land around Hawarden Airport (home to Airbus).

City of Culture 2029: Shortlist Watch

Still no shortlist on the ground. Mid October was the window the UK Government promised. Four names from the nine on the longlist are expected imminently. Wrexham is the only Welsh place in the running. The bid scored 365 out of a possible 370 from an independent cultural consultant before submission. A win would bring a £10 million national grant plus an estimated £200 million boost to the regional economy. Fingers crossed.

Shortlist Runners

Location	Nation
Wrexham	Wales
Blackpool	England
Inverness and the Highlands	Scotland
Ipswich	England
Middlesbrough	England
Milton Keynes	England
Portsmouth	England
Sheffield	England
Swindon	England

What’s On This Week

All week

Lexus Wrexham Open tennis, until Sunday 25 October.

Thu 22 Oct

Autumn Business EXPO 2026, Deeside Leisure Centre, Queensferry.

Sat 24 Oct

Wrexham travel to Blackburn Rovers, Ewood Park, 3pm.

Imminent

UK City of Culture 2029 shortlist announcement due.

Sun 2 Nov

Denbighshire and Flintshire Local Growth Fund application deadline.

The Takeaway

Four goals at the Racecourse. Points on the board. A world class tennis event on the doorstep. A free shop lifting lives in the city centre. Fresh investment flowing in. A shortlist envelope waiting to be opened. Momentum is good. See you back here next week.

Sources and Further Reading

Wrexham and North Wales News Round-Up: 26 September to 12 October 2026

On October 12, 2026 By DaveIn Football, Wrexham NewsLeave a comment

Another fortnight in the diary. A late Rathbone equaliser at Pride Park. A record equalling 8 to 1 away win for the women. Approval for even more seats in the new Kop. A City of Culture shortlist about to drop. And a Tuesday night under the lights against West Brom to come. Plenty to work through. Let us get into it.

The STōK Cae Ras ahead of a big fortnight. Photo credit: Wrexham AFC.

Two Weeks at a Glance

Story	Headline Number	Where
Derby 1 Wrexham 1	88th minute equaliser	Pride Park, 10 Oct
Swansea 1 Wrexham Women 8	Two hat tricks	Garden Village, 11 Oct
Kop Stand extra seats approved	7,750 capacity	Racecourse Ground
City of Culture bid score	365 out of 370	Wrecsam2029
Wrexham AFC turns	162 years old	Marked on 4 Oct
Mariam Mahmood award	AFA Women’s Player	Announced 1 Oct

Men: Rathbone Snatches a Point at Pride Park

Phil Parkinson’s side came back after the international break and took a point from Derby County on Saturday. Sam Szmodics put the home side ahead in the ninth minute with a smart finish from outside the box. Wrexham spent long spells chasing. Then with three minutes of regulation time to go, a Danny Imray long ball found Kieffer Moore, who nodded down for Ollie Rathbone. The number eight did the rest. 1 to 1. A point on the road is worth something.

Highlights via Sky Sports Football and Derby County FC.

Pride Park Key Stats

Derby	Stat	Wrexham
1	Goals	1
0.52	Expected Goals (xG)	1.30
45%	Possession	55%
4	Shots on target	3
303	Accurate passes	377
1	Corners won	9

Source: ESPN match centre. The xG line tells the story — Wrexham built the better chances. The equaliser was deserved.

“A point away from home is never devalued.”

Phil Parkinson, Wrexham manager. Source: Wrexham AFC.

Men: West Brom Up Next Under Lights

Tuesday night football at the Racecourse. 7.45pm. West Brom in town. The Baggies sit ninth and ran into back to back defeats before the break. Wrexham sit 14th on 11 points. Both sides need the three. Sky Sports Plus has it live.

Match at a Glance

Fixture	Wrexham vs West Brom
Date	Tuesday 13 October 2026
Kick off	7.45pm BST
Venue	STōK Cae Ras
Broadcast	Sky Sports Plus
Likely absences (WXM)	Max Cleworth, Liberato Cacace, George Thomason, Nathan Broadhead

Women: Garden Village Goal Rush

The headline act of the fortnight. Wrexham AFC Women travelled to Swansea on Sunday and stuck eight past the hosts. Katie Barker and Faye Knox both grabbed hat tricks. Chloe Chivers pulled one back for Swansea with a long range strike. Substitute Mikayla Wildgoose made it eight on 82 minutes. The result equals a club record league win and keeps the champions right in the title mix.

Wrexham AFC Women celebrating a goal — Katie Barker and Faye Knox celebrate during the 8 to 1 win at Garden Village. Photo credit: Lewis Mitchell FAW via Grassroots North Wales.

Swansea 1 Wrexham 8 Goal Scorers

Scorer	Goals	Note
Faye Knox	3	Opened the scoring on 21 minutes. Also just called up to the first ever Cymru Women’s Under 23 squad.
Katie Barker	3	Hat trick lifted her tally even higher. Already a league record holder.
Mikayla Wildgoose (sub)	1	Headed finish on 82 minutes to seal eight.
Other Wrexham scorer	1	Rounded out the eight.
Chloe Chivers (SWA)	1	A fine strike from 20 yards for the hosts.

Women’s Spotlight

Player	Reason to Watch
Mariam Mahmood	Collected the Women’s Player Award at the 2026 Asian Football Awards on 1 October. Pakistan international, 10 goals in 20 appearances for Wrexham.
Faye Knox	Historic call up to the first ever Cymru Women’s Under 23 squad on 2 October.
Katie Barker	Already a league record scorer. Keeps extending her own mark.

Kop Stand Keeps Climbing

Big fortnight at the Racecourse. On 6 October, Wrexham Council approved a further 2,250 seats for the new Kop Stand, taking its capacity to 7,750. On 10 October the same council gave the green light for a wider public realm around the stand, following the club’s land purchase from the Welsh Government. On 1, 8 and 11 October, drone footage captured steel lifts, glazing, cladding, concrete pours and painting work. The build does not stop at weekends.

Kop Stand under construction October 2026 — Kop Stand build progress through early October. Photo credit: Wrexham Reds via Roberts and Daughter.

Kop Capacity Journey

Original approval (March 2025)

5,500 seats

Previous plan

7,500 seats

New approved capacity (October 2026)

7,750 seats

That is a 41% capacity lift over the original plan, without expanding the approved footprint. The club says CEO Michael Williamson will “take a breath” when the Racecourse reaches around 18,000 overall and then look at the other three stands.

Kop Timeline Last Two Weeks

1 Oct

Four horizontal orange beams removed. Service trench reaches 1.9 metres deep. Insulation work begins on the first floor.

6 Oct

Council approves extra 2,250 seats. Drone footage captures multiple roof lifts.

8 Oct

Rear glazing largely complete. Mesh style cladding being fitted to the exterior.

10 Oct

Approval for extended public realm around the Kop confirmed by Wrexham Council.

11 Oct

Weekend concrete pours and painting continue near The Turf corner.

City of Culture 2029: Shortlist Window Opens

The Wrecsam2029 bid was submitted in August. An independent cultural consultant scored it 365 out of 370 before it went to DCMS. Wrexham Council’s Executive Board gave unanimous backing on 22 September. The shortlist of around four places is expected this month. If Wrexham makes it, DCMS judges will visit the county in November or December. The winner is named in late December 2026 or early January 2027. The projected prize is a £10m national award plus £200m in forecast economic benefit and roughly 2 million visitor days across the year.

Bid Score vs the Benchmark

Wrecsam2029 bid score

365 / 370 (98.6%)

Scored by an independent cultural consultant before submission. The Trust has kept the detail of the bid confidential to protect its position.

What Happens Next

Window	Milestone
Mid October 2026	UK Government reveals the shortlist of around four places.
November to December 2026	DCMS Expert Advisory Panel visits each shortlisted location.
December 2026 to Jan 2027	Winner announced.
2029	Winning city delivers a full year of culture programming.

Culture and Community Round Up

Plenty happening around the city.

Story	Detail
Wrexham AFC turns 162	The club marked its 162nd birthday on 4 October. Still one of the oldest professional football clubs on the planet.
Football Museum of Wales opens its doors	Fans have begun sharing favourite moments inside the Museum of Two Halves. A tribute to Joey Jones is already a popular stop.
New Welsh language music festival	Announced on 23 September. A fresh cultural fixture for the city.
Top tennis returns to Wrexham	Annabel Croft set for an evening with a Wrexham audience in October.
Rachel Clacher named University Chancellor	Confirmed in the October Love Wrexham issue. A high profile civic appointment.
Theatr Clwyd autumn season	Blockbuster programme launches, continuing the regional cultural lift.
Racecourse Ramble podcast	Still in the running for two national podcast awards announced last month.

Business Diary

Dates to pencil in across the region.

Date	Event	Where
Mon 12 Oct	North Wales Business Network Holywell	Springfield Hotel & Health Club
Thu 22 Oct	Autumn Business EXPO 2026	Deeside Leisure Centre, Queensferry
Fri 6 Nov	Elevate your Business in Wrexham Conference	Wrexham (free entry, deadline for exhibitor extras is Sun 18 Oct)

What to Watch This

Wrexham vs Southampton match report [2026]

On September 20, 2026 By DaveIn FootballLeave a comment

Wrexham won. After a week that felt heavy, that word is worth a moment. Kieffer Moore’s header, a late own goal, and the Racecourse in full song sent Southampton home with nothing. It was the first Championship home win of the season. It came against the form side in the league. It could not have been better timed.

Highlights via Sky Sports Football on YouTube.

Match at a Glance

Result	Wrexham 2 Southampton 1
Competition	Sky Bet Championship, Round 8
Date	Saturday 19 September 2026
Venue	STōK Cae Ras, Wrexham
Wrexham Scorers	Kieffer Moore 35′, Schlotterbeck 89′ (og)
Southampton Scorers	James Ward Prowse 50′
Referee	Gavin Ward
Bookings	Sheaf 14′, Hyam 85′ / Wood 69′, Manning 90+1′, Downes 90+5′

Kieffer Moore celebrates his opening goal for Wrexham — Kieffer Moore rose above the Southampton back line to head Wrexham in front. Photo credit: Wrexham AFC

The First Half

Wrexham started sharp. Callum O’Hare had two attempts inside the opening ten minutes. Josh Windass linked play well between the lines. The home crowd, still buzzing from a full throated round of Parkinson chants, made the noise you would hope for at a game like this.

Southampton settled quickly. They kept the ball, moved it side to side, and forced Wrexham deep. Cyle Larin, the Championship top scorer coming in, had a big chance on the half hour. He got in behind and chipped Anthony Patterson. The ball landed on the roof of the net. Wrexham held their breath.

Then the game turned. O’Hare drove at the Southampton box and forced Daniel Peretz into a save. Wrexham won the corner. Ben Whiteman stood over it. He whipped it in. Kieffer Moore rose above the defence at the far post and thumped a header into the top corner. Racecourse noise, off the charts. 1 to 0.

The Second Half

Southampton came out with fresh legs. Samuel Edozie replaced Léo Scienza at the break. Five minutes in, they levelled. James Bree drove a cross from the right. Dom Hyam could not cut it out. Ward Prowse pounced on the loose ball. His first attempt was blocked. He smashed the rebound home from close range. 1 to 1.

Then came a moment the Racecourse will replay for years. Moore chased down a loose Saints pass just inside their half. He looked up. He struck it. The ball flew towards the empty net as Peretz sprinted back. The keeper got a fingertip on it. Goal kick given. Wrexham fumed. Fans could not believe how close it came.

The visitors kept pressing. Patterson palmed away a Ward Prowse free kick. Ryan Manning volleyed over from a Bree cross. On 80 minutes Windass rolled a low shot at Peretz. Finn Azaz forced Patterson into a save five minutes later. Both keepers were working hard.

Then the winner. Jacques Ekomié skinned his man on the left. He clipped a low cross into the six yard box. O’Hare steamed in. Keven Schlotterbeck slid to clear. The ball flicked off his boot and rolled over the line. Own goal. 2 to 1. The place went up.

Wrexham players celebrate the late winning goal against Southampton — Wrexham celebrate the 89th minute winner. Photo credit: Wrexham AFC

By the Numbers

This was a smash and hold. Southampton owned the ball. Wrexham owned the moments.

Possession

Wrexham (33%)

33%

Southampton (67%)

67%

Key Stats

Wrexham	Stat	Southampton
2	Goals	1
33%	Possession	67%
Few	Shots	19
1	Goals from set pieces	0
2	Yellow Cards	3
5	Changes from last league game	0

Key Moments Timeline

2′

O’Hare tests Peretz early with a low shot from inside the box.

30′

Larin chips Patterson from a clear break. The ball lands on the roof of the net.

GOAL 35′

Wrexham 1 Southampton 0. Whiteman corner, Moore header, top corner.

GOAL 50′

Wrexham 1 Southampton 1. Ward Prowse smashes home the rebound from close range.

55′

Moore strikes from inside his own half. Peretz gets a fingertip on it. Just wide.

58′

Patterson palms away a Ward Prowse free kick.

85′

Azaz has a deflected effort held by Patterson.

GOAL 89′

Wrexham 2 Southampton 1. Ekomié cross, O’Hare pressure, Schlotterbeck turns it into his own net.

Player Ratings

Numbers are subjective. But when a team wins a game they should have lost on paper, the individual efforts stack up. Here is how the Wrexham eleven and their subs graded out.

Player	Position	Rating	Note
Anthony Patterson	GK	8	Stayed calm under pressure. Kept his side level in the second half.
Zak Vyner	RCB	8	Aggressive on the right. Dealt with crosses well.
Dominic Hyam (C)	CB	6	Missed the cross for the Ward Prowse goal. Booked late.
Callum Doyle	LCB	8	Commanding. Read the game well.
Issa Kaboré	RWB	7	Steady. Whipped in an early delivery that flashed across goal.
Ben Whiteman	CM	9	Assisted the opener with a perfect corner. Ran the midfield.
Ben Sheaf (sub 65′)	CM	7	Disciplined debut. Booked early. Withdrawn on the hour.
Jacques Ekomié	LWB	8	Carved out the winning goal with a low cross from the left.
Josh Windass (sub 86′)	AM	7	Clever between the lines. Forced a Peretz save at 80.
Callum O’Hare	AM	9	Drove Wrexham forward all game. Won the corner for goal one. Pressured the second in.
Kieffer Moore (sub 72′)	ST	9	Match winner header. Nearly scored from his own half. A menace.
Substitutes
Matty James (on 65′)	CM	6	Helped stay organised. Struggled at times to control the middle.
Sam Smith (on 72′)	ST	6	Worked hard. Little service to feed on.
Lewis O’Brien (on 86′)	CM	7	Fresh energy in the closing minutes. Kept the ball high.

Man of the Match

Kieffer Moore

A towering header for the opener. A near miss from his own half. Constant physical threat. The number nine delivered when the club needed him most.

Alternative Highlights

Alternative angle via Southampton FC official YouTube.

Voices After the Whistle

“The togetherness of the group, you could feel it.”

Phil Parkinson, Wrexham manager. Source: Denbighshire Free Press post match report.

“One of Wrexham’s standout performers.”

On Ben Whiteman. Source: Yahoo Sports player ratings.

“You only win when you’re spying.”

Home fans’ terrace chant. Source: Sky Sports match report.

“Great will to win until the very end.”

Wrexham AFC via X. Source: Canadian Soccer Daily.

Wrexham squad and fans celebrate at full time — Full time at the Racecourse. Photo credit: Wrexham AFC

Where This Leaves the Season

A win before the international break is a good win to have. Wrexham move up to 14th on ten points from eight games. The next Championship match is three weeks away. That is time to breathe, to recover the injured, and to refresh the mood.

Updated 2026/27 Wrexham Record

P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Pos
8	2	4	2	9	12	3	10	14th

Updated Form Guide

D
L
W
D
D
L
W

Last seven league matches, oldest to newest.

What Comes Next

The international break lasts three weeks. Wrexham travel to Derby County at Pride Park on 10 October. Then a home double against Hull and Sheffield Wednesday. Southampton head to Ipswich next. That one carries baggage from the Spygate case still hanging over the club. For now though, this Saturday is one to enjoy. Wrexham came off the floor. They responded. That is the message going into the break.

Sources and Further Reading

Wrexham Vs Southampton – 19th Sept 2026 Preview

On September 18, 2026September 18, 2026 By DaveIn Football, Wrexham NewsLeave a comment

Wrexham welcome Southampton to the STōK Cae Ras this Saturday. Kick off is 3pm BST. It is round eight of the Sky Bet Championship. This is the last outing before the international break, and the last chance to bank points before players scatter for national duty.

STōK Cae Ras home of Wrexham AFC — The STōK Cae Ras. Photo credit: Wrexham AFC

Match at a Glance

Fixture	Wrexham vs Southampton
Competition	Sky Bet Championship, Round 8
Date	Saturday 19 September 2026
Kick off	3pm BST
Venue	STōK Cae Ras (Racecourse Ground)
Referee	Gavin Ward
Watch (US)	Paramount Plus

The Wrexham Rise

The last five years have been quite the ride. Wrexham climbed from the National League into the Championship. That is four tiers in three seasons. Nobody in the modern era had done this before.

League Finish by Season

Season	Tier	League	Finish
2022/23	Tier 5	National League	1st (promoted)
2023/24	Tier 4	League Two	2nd (promoted)
2024/25	Tier 3	League One	2nd (promoted)
2025/26	Tier 2	Championship	7th
2026/27	Tier 2	Championship	19th (in progress)

Average Home League Attendance

2023/24 (League Two)

11,213

2024/25 (League One)

12,781

2025/26 (Championship)

10,645

The 2025/26 dip reflects reduced capacity during the Kop End redevelopment.

The 2026/27 Season So Far

Seven games gone. One win, four draws, two defeats. Seven points in the bag. That places Wrexham 19th before Southampton visit. The win at Millwall was the pick of the run. The trip to West Ham hurt. Four draws in seven says the side can stay in games.

Championship Results This Season

Date	Opponent	Venue	For	Against	Result
17 Aug	Cardiff City	Away	1	1	D
22 Aug	Watford	Home	1	1	D
28 Aug	Birmingham City	Home	1	2	L
2 Sept	Millwall	Away	3	0	W
5 Sept	Swansea City	Away	0	0	D
8 Sept	Burnley	Home	1	1	D
11 Sept	West Ham United	Away	0	6	L

Form Guide

D
D
L
W
D
D
L

Last seven Championship matches, oldest to newest.

Goals For and Against

Goals For (7)

Goals Against (11)

The Squad Backing the Push

Ownership backed the manager in the market. Sky Sports data put the summer 2026 net spend at £27m, the highest in the Championship. Nathan Broadhead and Josh Windass return as the creative pair. Jacques Ekomié adds pace on the flank. Callum Doyle anchors the back line.

Key Recent Signings

Player	Position	From	Fee	Window
Nathan Broadhead	Attacking Mid	Ipswich Town	£10m	Summer 2025
Jacques Ekomié	Full back	Ligue 1 side	£8m	Summer 2026
Callum Doyle	Centre Back	Manchester City U21	£7.5m	Summer 2025
Ben Sheaf	Midfielder	Coventry City	£6.5m	Summer 2025
Lewis O’Brien	Midfielder	Nottingham Forest	£5m	Summer 2025
Dominic Hyam	Centre Back	Blackburn Rovers	£2.7m	Summer 2025
Kieffer Moore	Striker	Sheffield United	£2m	Summer 2025
Josh Windass	Attacking Mid	Sheffield Wednesday	Free	Summer 2025

Southampton in Full Cry

The Saints started slowly. Then the goals came. They are unbeaten in six league games. Three of those were wins. Cyle Larin leads the Championship scoring charts with seven goals in seven. He grabbed a brace against Bristol City last time out.

Southampton Last Five Championship Games

Opponent	Venue	For	Against	Result
Millwall	Home	5	1	W
Birmingham	Away	1	1	D
Lincoln City	Away	1	1	D
Swansea City	Home	3	1	W
Bristol City	Home	4	1	W

A word on their table position. Southampton began the season on minus four points. That came from a ruling over the Spygate case last term. Even with the deduction, they sit ninth on ten points. Wrexham have seven.

Voices from the Camp

“The aim is to give absolutely everything.”

Phil Parkinson, Wrexham manager. Source: Wrexham AFC press briefing.

“Belief is going to be the biggest thing for us this season.”

Nathan Broadhead, on joining Wrexham. Source: BBC Sport.

Midfielder Matty James called the recent London Stadium trip a “great opportunity” for the squad to test itself on a bigger stage.

Voices from the Stands

“This defeat says more about West Ham than Wrexham.”

Michael, Wrexham supporter. Source: Yahoo Sports readers’ views.

“Wrexham has one of the toughest starts in the league.”

Fan analysis. Source: Wrexham Reds supporter site.

Over on the West Wrexham Substack the mood was similar, with the writer telling supporters to take a hand off the panic button after five and six game samples do not tell the full story.

Recent Head to Head

Date	Venue	Result
9 Aug 2025	St Mary’s	Southampton 2 Wrexham 1
7 Apr 2026	STōK Cae Ras	Wrexham 1 Southampton 5

The last Wrexham league win over Southampton dates back many years. A 1 nil FA Cup victory in 1974 stands as the most recent triumph. Saturday is a chance to write a fresh line.

Match Day Details

Kick off: 3pm BST, Saturday 19 September 2026
Venue: STōK Cae Ras, Wrexham
Referee: Gavin Ward
UK broadcast: Check the EFL’s Sky Sports selection listings
US broadcast: Paramount Plus
Global audio: Saints Play matchday pass

The Take

Southampton arrive in top form. Cyle Larin is scoring in every game. Wrexham need a lift. The home crowd will bring it. This squad has grown in the second tier. Josh Windass adds craft. Nathan Broadhead is fit and firing. Callum Doyle marshals the back line. A packed Racecourse can spark something. Wrexham has upset bigger names before. Saturday is a chance to do it again.