With less than six weeks to go to the start of the 2022/23 season, we’re taking a closer look, from A to Z, at the 23 obstacles standing in the way of Wrexham AFC’s goals for the new campaign.
From old foes to new, these are the teams Wrexham will face as we bid to earn promotion to the EFL.
Fixtures for the new campaign will be released on Wednesday July 6, and 2022/23 members will always have priority on home tickets for any fixtures over non-members.
With a raft of other benefits in a range of tailored packages available, for further information on memberships, click here, or to purchase a membership for the 2022/23 campaign, visit our eTicketing website here.
Now, here’s a closer look at the teams we will be facing next season…
Aldershot Town
Two decimations of Aldershot in the 2021-22 campaign landed them as tasty prey for Wrexham, however the Shots will be desperate for redemption in their tenth season in the National League.
In any normal season, finishing in the bottom four would have seen Aldershot Town drop down to the National League South.
However, with only three relegation places last season, the Shots have another crack at the whip for the upcoming 2022-23 National League Season – the second time they have finished fourth-bottom and escaped relegation, having done likewise in 2018/19.
This season marks a decade since the Shots were last in the EFL, and while a return looks unlikely they have strengthened this summer.
One to Watch: Inih Effiong
Aldershot signed Effiong from Woking FC on June 16 after the impressive forward totalled 13 goals in a stumbling campaign for the Cards.
Effiong has been a constant performer in the National League, scoring 25 goals for Dover in two seasons from 2018-20, before a lacklustre campaign with Stevenage in the Football League.
His record speaks for itself, however, and he will be vital in steering Aldershot away from the bottom of the table.
2021/22 meetings
November 9, 2021: Aldershot Town 0-5 Wrexham AFC
February 26, 2022: Wrexham AFC 4-1 Aldershot Town
Altrincham
A healthy six goal to nothing aggregate meant Altrincham were also favoured opposition to Wrexham last season.
After two promotions in three years back to the National League, Altrincham have spent the last two years stabilising their existence in this competitive league.
While comfortably avoiding relegation, the Robins – who have now gone full-time – will also have one eye on pushing for the illustrious play-off spots, that saw Grimsby Town gain promotion last season.
One to Watch: Ryan Colclough
A successful campaign alongside Dan Mooney saw Colclough net eleven goals for Altrincham across all competitions, and the impressive winger will be hoping to extend his form into the upcoming season.
All of Colclough’s goals, including three braces, came against bottom half sides, and albeit important, he will be keen to spread his goals across the entirety of the table this time around.
2021/22 meetings
December 28, 2021: Altrincham 0-2 Wrexham AFC
April 18, 2022: Wrexham AFC 4-0 Altrincham
Barnet
Six different goalscorers at the Racecourse Ground in April saw Wrexham run riot against the Bees, as they were constantly subject to high-scoring games.
Although struggling at the foot of the table, Barnet were goalscoring minded and these often arrived courtesy of Adam Marriott, who has since left for Bromley FC.
Barnet were the lowest-placed competitive side in the 2020/21 season, but no relegation in a COVID-19 year gave the Bees another chance to fly and avoid being squashed into the National League South.
Securing their place in the National League would have been a top objective and they did this by finishing 18th in the league.
As a yo-yo team between League 2 and the National League since the turn of the millennium, Barnet will be hoping to adjust their sling to higher up in the National League table.
One to Watch: Daniel Powell
A man who seemed to come into form at a vital time of the season for the Bees was Daniel Powell. Four goals in the last seven games are what saw the 31-year-old stand up to the plate alongside head chef Marriott.
His career in the Football League saw him fail to reach double figures in goal output, but perhaps a strong end to the season and Marriott leaving the club will enable Powell to turn up the heat, as it’ll all boil down to further progression in the next season.
2021/22 meetings
October 23, 2021: Barnet 0-3 Wrexham AFC
April 5, 2022: Wrexham AFC 6-0 Barnet
Boreham Wood
A promotion-hurting draw at Boreham Wood in May cannot set aside the magnificent performances at home to see off the Wood.
Winning both 3-0 in the FA Trophy and 4-2 in the league saw Wrexham consolidate the Racecourse as a fortress, especially against the top sides in the league.
The legacy of Boreham Wood’s 2021/22 campaign lies in their FA Cup run, where they overcame League 1 AFC Wimbledon and then-Championship (now Premier League) side AFC Bournemouth. However, Everton would be one step too far and the Wood were knocked out in the quarter-finals after an incredible run.
Two wins in the league in the last three months saw the side from Hertfordshire slip from chasing the league title to missing out on the promotion spots altogether. The dream was most definitely the FA Cup, but can they imagine once more as they target a return to the play-offs.
One to Watch: Tyrone Marsh
Boreham Wood top-scorer and former Red Dragon Scott Boden has left to join York City, so all focus lands on the shoulders of Tyrone Marsh, who bagged ten goals last season for his side.
However, unless the Wood sign another forward to work in parallel with Marsh, the 28-year-old may need to contribute even more in order to help his side find promotion.
2021/22 meetings
February 12, 2022 (FAT) – Wrexham AFC 3-0 Boreham Wood
March 8, 2022 – Wrexham AFC 4-2 Boreham Wood
May 2, 2022 – Boreham Wood 1-1 Wrexham AFC
Bromley
Bromley spoiled the Wrexham party at Wembley Stadium last season, with their 1-0 win in the Buildbase FA Trophy Final denying the Red Dragons silverware in the capital.
It was the only goal Bromley scored against Wrexham, after a goalless draw at Hayes Lane in March – more notable for Rob Lainton, for the second consecutive season, being stretchered off injured against the Ravens – following Wrexham’s 2-0 home win in November.
The Ravens missed out on the play-offs by seven points after a disappointing end to their league campaign – a top-seven spot having at one point looked assured.
However, silverware at Wembley will undoubtedly have given their squad the confidence to kick on in the next season and stabilise their position as one of the top teams in the division.
Ones to Watch: Michael Cheek & Adam Marriott
The early summer signing Adam Marriott, while also retaining Michael Cheek, has heightened Bromley’s prospects of reaching the play offs this season.
Cheek’s 17 goals last season, including the Trophy-winning goal against Wrexham, further cemented his reputation as one of the league’s top strikers; he also scored 23 goals in the season prior.
Marriott was a goalscoring maestro for King’s Lynn in the leagues below, meanwhile, and he carried on this form by netting 17 goals for a struggling Barnet side last season. Cheek and Marriott linking together next season will be dangerous prospect for fellow promotion-chasing sides.
2021/22 meetings
November 27, 2021 – Wrexham AFC 2-0 Bromley
March 19, 2022 – Bromley 0-0 Wrexham AFC
May 22, 2022 (FAT Final) – Wrexham AFC 0-1 Bromley