Match Preview: Swindon Town vs Wrexham

Town’s Boxing Day match against Wrexham this afternoon is expected to draw a sell-out home crowd.

With just three losses in 22 league games, Wrexham has maintained their strong overall performance as they aim to challenge for an automatic promotion berth. Currently, the Red Dragons are in third place, six points behind Stockport, who are currently leading the league.

With their current performance, they aim to carry on their four-game winning streak. Swindon is expecting to get back to winning ways with a showing that they can match the best clubs in this league.

A brief overview of the guests:

Football history is shaped by the Wrexham Association Football Club, or Clwb Pêl-droed Cymdeithas Wrecsam in Welsh. Founded in 1864, it is the third-oldest professional association football team worldwide and the oldest club in Wales.

In the beginning, Wrexham played in cup and friendly matches. Its league career started in 1890 when it became a member of The Combination. The team has won multiple championships in various competitions over the years, including two Welsh Senior League crowns and four Combination titles. Wrexham joined the Football League’s Third Division North in 1921 and played for 37 years in the Northern division. Among the noteworthy accomplishments are the Second Division promotion in 1977–1978; 23 Welsh Cup triumphs; and success  in the Football League Trophy in 2005.

In December 2004, the club encountered difficulties, including relegations, financial difficulties, and administration. Wrexham’s on-field problems continued even when they left administration eighteen months later, and they were forced out of the Football League in 2008. After two fruitless play-off runs, the team was able to advance as the 2022–2023 National League champions.

Wrexham’s trophy case is impressive; it includes the Welsh Cup, Football League Trophy, and FA Trophy. The club’s history is marked by victories over English clubs such as Arsenal in the FA Cup in 1992 and FC Porto in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1984. The club’s cross-border derbies against Chester, Shrewsbury Town, and Tranmere Rovers are particularly fierce rivalries. The Racecourse Ground, the club’s home stadium, is the oldest international stadium still in use for international matches, with a record attendance of 19,57, against Manchester United. The club’s European adventure, highlighted by its participation in the European Cup Winners’ Cup, is another fascinating chapter in its illustrious history.

Head-to-head:

2004/05: Swindon Town 4-2 Wrexham

2006/07: Wrexham 2-1 Swindon Town

2006/07: Swindon Town 2-1 Wrexham

2008/09: Wrexham 0-1 Swindon Town (FA Cup)

2023/24: Wrexham 5-5 Swindon Town

Manager: Phil Parkinson

As a seasoned football manager, Phil Parkinson has made a lasting impression on the teams he has managed. Parkinson, who was born in Chorley, England, on December 1, 1967, first pursued a career in playing before turning to coaching and then becoming a manager.

In the mid-2000s, Phil Parkinson’s managing career started to take off while he was at Colchester United. Parkinson’s skill as a manager was especially demonstrated in the 2005–2006 season when Colchester was promoted to the English Championship, a noteworthy achievement for the club and Parkinson.

Later on, he was the manager of other teams, including Bolton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic, and Hull City. During the 2012–2013 season, Parkinson led Bradford City to the Football League Cup final and arranged a remarkable run that featured wins over Premier League teams.

Parkinson also managed Sunderland from 2019 to 2020. In 2021, he became the manager of Wrexham and was successful right away.

Parkinson rebounded from his first season’s near-misses of the FA Trophy and promotion, moving up to League Two and winning the National League in 2023 with a 3-1 victory over Boreham Wood.

Keep an eye on Elliot Lee.

Lee began his professional career at West Ham United in the Premier League. He has since shown his class at all levels of the EFL and the National League, winning promotions in League One, League Two, and the National League. This season, the adaptable attacking midfielder is displaying his threat once more.

The 29-year-old’s impact is evident from his 13 goals and three assists in 2023–2024. Swindon will be aiming to stop him from influencing to get the outcome that Town is hoping for on Boxing Day.