Wrexham

The sight of the fit-again Ollie Rathbone – last year’s player of the season – in the matchday squad for the first time since early pre-season adds weight to those sentiments.

At the same time, Parkinson is unlikely to be swayed in ignoring the steady progress so far, even if many fans saw the Stoke display as a step backwards.

While the run of games will bring pressure, it also brings opportunity, with Kieffer Moore among those adamant that Wrexham are not far from clicking and that they will be a real threat when they do.

Before the next international break – and all inside the space of three weeks – Wrexham also have games against Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic, even if the Addicks have done eye-catchingly well since their own promotion.

And then there is the small matter of the chance to reach the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup when they welcome Welsh rivals Cardiff City.

Get it right and Wrexham will have people talking for all the right reasons. Something Parkinson will know full well.

“We need to just analyse the performance and not get too down about it,” Parkinson said.

“It says something about how far we’ve come that we come to Stoke in front of 25,000 and are disappointed not to get something from the game.

“But we have got to look at ourselves. I think it’s good to be frustrated, I think it’s good to be a bit annoyed and that we don’t have pats on the back and say ‘Oh, we’ve come to Stoke and done okay’.

“They are a good group of lads who are working really hard and I’m excited about what we’ve got in the building, I really am.

“We have taken a knock, but we’ll come back fighting on Wednesday.”

And with plenty looking hard at Wrexham – and maybe even looking for them to fail – a win would do much to wrestle back control of that narrative.

Although still seeking their first home league win of the season, Wrexham have only lost one of their last six games in the Championship.

Moore’s fellow Wales international Nathan Broadhead secured a point for Wrexham in a 1-1 on Tuesday away at Leicester City, who were a Premier League side last season.

“Leicester are a great side,” Moore added.

“For a team that has just been relegated and for us to go there and impose ourselves.

“We could have come away with three points, which is a credit to us and what we’re trying to do here.”

The result at the King Power Stadium was a second successive Championship draw for Wrexham, following a 3-2 win at Norwich.

“I think we can really see some momentum in not just our results, but in the way we play and the way we’re moving the ball,” Moore continued.

“It’s come a long way and hopefully we continue that.

“I’m only judging from my personal experience – It’s just momentum, really.

“You need a string of results together, you need a group that’s hard work and all on board, really.”

For now at least Moore’s full focus is on Wrexham but then the attention will turn to two big games for Wales – the friendly against Thomas Tuchel’s side England and a potentially decisive World Cup qualifier in Cardiff.

Moore scored his 15th goal for Wales on his 50th appearance in September’s 1-0 qualifying win in Kazahkstan.

“There’s no greater honour playing for your country. You know, it’s everything you ever want,” Moore added.

“International football is amazing and to be a part of it and to play a part in it is incredible.”

Premier League champions Liverpool will play FA Cup winners Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Holders Newcastle United host Tottenham in another all-Premier League tie while Arsenal, who have not won the competition since 1993, face Brighton.

Grimsby Town, the only League Two side still standing and conquerors of Manchester United, get another home tie against Premier League Brentford.

And with three Welsh sides in the last 16 for the first time, it was perhaps inevitable there would be an all-Welsh clash as Wrexham host Cardiff City, with 2013 winners Swansea handed a tie against Manchester City.

It will be the first meeting between Wrexham and Cardiff since 2002.

Bangor-born Broadhead was in Wrexham’s academy as a boy before he started his professional career with Everton.

He joined Ipswich permanently in 2023 and was part of the Tractor Boys team that last season played in the Premier League, something he hopes to emulate with Wrexham.

Wrexham’s Hollywood owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have spoken of their ambition to reach English football’s top-flight.

“That’s the main reason I came and hopefully we can do that to get this club to the Premier League,” Broadhead added.

“That’s the aim of the owners. So I see the vision and hopefully we can get there.

“You see the players coming in. You’re bringing in quality players from the Championship and it just shows you where the owners want to be.

“That’s the project, what we’re going on.”

Broadhead was one of 13 players to join Wrexham during the summer along with Wales team-mates Danny Ward and Kieffer Moore.

Moore scored Wales’ winner in the 1-0 win in the World Cup qualifier in Kazakhstan earlier this month, a game Broadhead missed due to his calf injury.

Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham will find out who they will play next when the fourth round draw is made at around 22:00 BST on Wednesday, following Arsenal’s televised third-round tie at Port Vale.

There are seven Premier League sides in the hat so far – Liverpool, Chelsea, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Brentford, Fulham and Wolves – along with Wycombe Wanderers, of League One, and League Two club Grimsby Town, who knocked out Manchester United in round two.

As well as the Arsenal tie, Manchester City are in action on Wednesday at Huddersfield Town, while Newcastle United host Bradford City and Tottenham Hotspur are at home to Doncaster Rovers.

There is a decent chance, therefore, that Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham could face heavyweight opposition as they look to reach the quarter-finals.

There is also the possibility, of course, of a Carabao Cup Welsh derby.

Her name was etched in the memory of millions thanks to her role as Gabrielle Solís in “Desperate Housewives,” a series that established Eva Longoria as one of the most influential Latina actresses in Hollywood.

She went on to become a producer, director, entrepreneur, activist and, in recent years, an investor in the world of sports, where she has earned the nickname “La Patrona” — or “The Boss” in English — which easily could be the title of a Mexican soap opera.

After more than two decades of credits and awards earned in the entertainment industry, Longoria has shifted her focus. Today, her role as “La Patrona” of Liga MX team Club Necaxa draws on her family’s roots, her passion for storytelling and her commitment to giving Mexico visibility in the world.

Her involvement was not limited to serving on Necaxa’s board of directors as a celebrity investor. From the beginning, she knew she wanted to tell a story. Inspired by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds’ “Welcome to Wrexham” docuseries, she decided to produce the the docuseries “Necaxa,” which premiered on Aug. 7 on FX. Cameras take viewers behind the scenes, follow along on road trips and offer an intimate look at the soccer team.

Rob McElhenney, left, and Eva Longoria stand on the field at Estadio Victoria, Liga MX team Club Necaxa’s home stadium.

(HANDOUT / FX)

Few could have imagined a Mexican American actress would become the leading front office voice for a historic Mexican soccer club, whose home stadium — Estadio Victoria — is located in the city of Aguascalientes in north-central Mexico.

In 2021, Longoria joined a group of investors who acquired 50% ownership of the team. McElhenney, the actor best known for the TV show “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” and Reynolds, who turned the mercenary Deadpool into one of the most beloved antiheroes in the Marvel universe, later joined the ownership group.

While restoring Necaxa to prominence in Liga MX was only a business and creative venture, it also had a deep personal component. Longoria grew up in Texas watching sports with her father, Enrique Longoria Jr.

“My dad can’t believe it. He doesn’t believe I’m ‘La Patrona,’” Longoria told L.A. Times en Español. “I’ll always be his little girl. … But I love sports because of my dad. My dad always watched the Dallas Cowboys, the Spurs, the Texas Rangers. … Every sport, I watched with him. I love sports because of the drama, the excitement, the ups and downs.”

In 2020, McElhenney and Reynolds acquired Wrexham AFC, a Welsh team that had been stuck in the National League — the fifth division of English soccer — since 2008. The team has steadily climbed the ranks to reach the Championship, just one step away from the top division, the Premier League.

Although promotion and relegation is no longer used in Liga MX, Longoria aspires to see Necaxa’s “Rayos” return to prominence in the Mexican soccer playoffs and is therefore seeking to mirror what her colleagues achieved with Wrexham AFC while flying the flag for her Mexican roots.

“This opportunity came from a group of investors who called me and asked if I wanted to be part of this project in the Mexican league. When they explained to me that the league has a huge audience, because there is so much beauty and talent coming out of Mexico, I decided to go for it,” said Longoria, who grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, but now primarily splits her time between homes in Mexico and Spain. “I invested in the Necaxa team because I saw a great opportunity, not only as a business venture, but also as a great way to showcase Mexico and the most passionate sport in this beautiful country, to put Mexico on the map.

“When I have the opportunity to put Mexico or Mexicans on the map, I will always do so. Whether I’m producing or directing, that’s my philosophy in storytelling. That’s why I wanted to do this with the docuseries because I knew there was a story there that we had to tell.”

Eva Longoria is “La Patrona,” which translates to “The Boss,” in ‘Necaxa’ on FX.

(HANDOUT / FX)

Despite her ambition and determination, her first visit to Aguascalientes was fraught with uncertainty.

“I was very anxious and afraid because I am a woman, I am Mexican American,” she said. “I didn’t know if they would welcome me with open arms, but the truth is that they have welcomed me with open arms and I have been impressed by the local support.”

Although filming the docuseries is as important as any of her other projects, her work also involves finding the formula to return Necaxa to the prominence it had in the 1990s when it won its only three championships in the first division.

Her power as an international star has allowed her enter the locker room, which is considered a sacred space in the world of soccer.

After watching her confidently enter spaces around the club, the players dubbed her “La Patrona.”

“It’s a lot to manage a soccer club, behind the scenes, behind the docuseries,” Longoria said. “We’re so lucky to have access to the locker rooms, to go home with them. For me, it’s very important to have everything in one series, because I want the world to see it all. It’s not just about points and games; you’re talking about real lives.”

Longoria has also become a bridge between cultures and markets. As co-owner and original investor in Angel City FC in the National Women’s Soccer League, she recognizes the differences between soccer in the United States and Mexico. That experience, coupled with her connection to McElhenney and Reynolds, has shaped a broader vision.

“Here in Necaxa, there’s a saying: ‘If there’s no suffering, it’s not Necaxa.’ I’m explaining this saying to them, because the fans have embraced the idea that you have to suffer to win,” she said. “Rob and Ryan know a little bit about this, and we wanted to explore that idea in the series.”

Diego González, Necaxa’s head of media relations, said Longoria’s arrival marked a turning point for the club.

“It’s something unexpected, something surprising to have something like this with Necaxa and Aguascalientes,” he said of the docuseries. “It’s seeing inside Club Necaxa. Getting to know not only the player, but the people, the city … lots of emotions, lots of feelings that represent what soccer is and how it’s lived in Necaxa.”

Opening the doors to the cameras was not easy, according to González, but Longoria’s presence made it possible.

“It’s something that is highly respected, that intimacy of the locker rooms, the training camps, the trips. The players had to get used to it, but the professionalism of the club and the production team helped. You’ll notice it in the series: it feels so natural because that’s how it was,” said González, whom the players call “Sheldon” because of his resemblance to the character Sheldon Cooper from the sitcom “The Big Bang Theory.”

He describes Longoria’s relationship with the team as close and genuine.

“When she arrived in Aguascalientes, she showed herself as she is, even nervous, but without wanting to impose anything,” González said. “That naturalness helped the players feel comfortable. You don’t know how to treat a superstar, but she gives you the confidence to approach her and talk about anything.”

The influence of Longoria, McElhenney and Reynolds has gone beyond the locker room. They have put Necaxa on the international map.

“The most visible thing is the international showcase they can give you,” González said. “Necaxa was already known for its soccer merits, but now you have fans of Rob, Ryan, Eva, even Wrexham. A whole range of important possibilities has opened up for us, and that’s thanks to them.”

This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times en Español.

Torquay-born Moore began his career in his home town club’s youth system before playing non-league football with Paignton Saints, Truro City and Dorchester Town.

Signing for Championship side Yeovil Town in 2013 he made over 50 appearances but was released in his second season and had a short spell with Norwegian side Viking before returning to the Conference with Forest Green Rovers.

Given another chance in the English Football League (EFL) by Championship side Ipswich Town in 2017, Moore grabbed attention with 13 goals in 22 loan appearances for Rotherham United, before moving on to League One Barnsley and then Championship Wigan Athletic.

In 2020, the then 28-year-old forward signed a three-year deal with Cardiff City in a transfer deal thought to be worth £2m, scoring 25 goals in 65 games for the Welsh club before a £5m move to fellow Championship side Bournemouth in January 2022.

Although hampered by injury at the Vitality Stadium, Moore scored the goal that secured promotion for the Cherries and he scored five times in the Premier League before returning on loan to Portman Road and helping Ipswich gain promotion to the top-flight.

Joining Sheffield United on a three-year deal in July 2024, the 6ft 5in striker scored five goals in 28 Championship appearances for the Blades last season.

An England C international, Moore – whose grandfather is from Llanrug near Bangor – made his Wales debut against Belarus in 2019.

His most recent appearance was in June’s World Cup qualifying victory over Liechtenstein, scoring the final goal for Craig Bellamy’s side in a 3-0 win at Cardiff City Stadium.

Wrexham, who have enjoyed three successive promotions from the National League to the Championship since their Hollywood takeover, begin their first second-tier campaign in 44 years at Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday, 9 August (12:30 BST).

Wrexham are set to sign centre-back Conor Coady from Championship rivals Leicester City.

The two clubs have agreed a fee – believed to be around £2m – for the 32-year-old England defender, who passed his medical on Friday morning.

Signing Coady would be another major statement of intent from Wrexham, who are preparing for their first season back in the second tier for 43 years.

They have already broken their club transfer record twice this summer, first for Empoli left-back Liberato Cacace and then for Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien.

Wrexham are likely to smash it again as they are in talks over an ambitious £7.5m move for Wales and Ipswich Town forward Nathan Broadhead.

They also hope to complete the signing of another Wales international, striker Kieffer Moore, from Sheffield United.

Following three successive promotions under Phil Parkinson, Wrexham are now set for what will be their first season in the second tier since 1981-82.

They have already added Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward, striker Ryan Hardie, central midfielders Lewis O’Brien and George Thomason, left-back Liberato Cacace and attacking midfielder Josh Windass to their ranks since winning promotion to the Championship.

But signing Eriksen would prove the biggest addition yet, if Parkinson can convince him to step down to the Championship.

Eriksen made 35 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils last season – scoring five goals – but is now a free agent.

He began his professional career with Ajax and spent seven seasons with Tottenham Hotspur before joining Brentford in 2022 following one campaign at Inter Milan.

He won an FA Cup and a League Cup during his time at Old Trafford.

Wrexham kick-off their 2025-26 campaign against newly-relegated Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday 9 August.

O’Brien played 16 times for Swansea after joining on loan in the mid-season window, and played a key role as they pulled clear of relegation danger to finish 11th.

He also had loan spells at Los Angeles FC, Middlesbrough and DC United after falling out of favour at Forest.

O’Brien’s signing would be another statement of intent by Wrexham, who are owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, as they prepare for life in the Championship after three successive promotions.

The north Wales club have already brought in goalkeeper Danny Ward from Leicester City, forward Ryan Hardie from Plymouth Argyle, left-back Liberato Cacace for a club-record fee from Empoli, midfielder George Thomason from Bolton Wanderers and forward Josh Windass, who was a free agent after leaving financially troubled Sheffield Wednesday.

Disney+ is back with a mega-cheap £1.99 streaming offer – these are the series our team is loving

The weekend is here and for those keen to relax on the sofa with a bingeable series, there’s lots on offer. Disney+ is making headlines for the return of one of its most affordable deals, as prices drop to £1.99.

The deal ditches the usual £4.99 per month price of the Standard with Ads plan for a much cheaper £1.99 rate. It makes it the cheapest major streaming site, less than Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+ tariffs.

Shoppers will have to sign up for the subscription to get the £1.99 price, but there is no required contract and users can leave after each 30-day window. The deal is available to snap up by June 30, and it lasts for four months before rising to the previous £4.99 rate.

READ MORE: Top Tech: Disney+ £1.99 per month deal is back but with one major upgrade

READ MORE: Non-greasy SPF spray that’s ‘anti-blemish’ gives sun worshippers clearer skin and ‘more confidence’

With a packed TV guide for the summer, including the live-action Snow White and Marvel’s Ironheart, there’s plenty to watch. As a team filled with series lovers, we’ve got a handful of recommendations from the new Welcome to Wrexham season, reality dramas The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, or decade classics like Grey’s Anatomy.

Get Disney+ for £1.99 for four months

£4.99

£1.99

Disney+

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Disney+ has brought back its popular deal that lets new and returning customers join its Standard with Ads plan for £1.99 per month for four months.

This means members can stream hit shows like Andor, The Bear and Alien: Earth, plus countless titles from Star Wars and Marvel, for a fraction of the usual price.

Narin’s favourites – Daredevil: Born Again and Welcome to Wrexham

Daredevil: Born Again might be the best TV series I’ve watched this year so far. Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio reprise their roles as Daredevil and Kingpin as the two old adversaries clash once more, with both men trying to juggle their public personas and secret lives inextricably linked with New York’s crime-ridden underbelly.

The result is a show that takes the best of the already-brilliant Netflix run (including some fan favourite returns) and surprisingly makes it even darker and more brutal – what would Walt say?

As a proud comic book geek I freely confess that Marvel fatigue has been a thing for a while now, with much of their output proving a miss rather than a hit for me. Daredevil: Born Again (and actually also Thunderbolts which will be coming to the streaming giant in due course) are a pleasing and much-needed return to quality and definitely a must-see.

Welcome to Wrexham season four is streaming now on Disney+ and this £1.99 deal allows you to watch the thrilling climax of the celeb-led club’s season week by week. In the four short years since A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought Wrexham AFC for £2 million the club’s fortunes have transformed, taking it into a £150m+ force in football.

This show offers a great behind-the-scenes look at that ascendance, led by both men alongside a cast of supporting characters, including the team’s sweary yet brilliant manager Phil Parkinson and Executive Director Humphrey Ker.

Don’t let the football distract you, though – at its core, this is as much a show about the community and people who live around Wrexham as the on-pitch shenanigans and all the better for it. If you like your reality TV heartwarming rather than angsty then this is your next perfect binge watch.

Harriet’s favourite – The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives

If drama, gossip, affairs and the craze of social media is your thing then I’d highlighy recommend The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Season 2 of the reality series has recently hit Disney+ after a gripping first season – and I’ve never been more hooked on a series.

Yes, you have to enjoy shows like Keeping Up with Kardashians and The Real Housewives to love this. The series follows a group of MomTok influencers and their Mormon community as they navigate growing social presence and scandals.

Jake’s favourite – Andor Season 2

I’ve been a huge Star Wars fan since I was a little kid, but had almost given up on the franchise after some of its recent output left me with Jedi fatigue. That was until the new season of Andor pulled me well and truly back in.

After admittedly not being blown away by the first season, I was completely gripped by the eponymous rebel spy’s latest mission, so much so that I binged the whole thing in one weekend. It may not feature any lightsabers or Jedi, but what it does offer cements its position as one of the greatest Star Wars titles there is and without doubt, the best episodic instalment yet.

There simply aren’t enough superlatives to describe the series; it’s beautifully shot, each performance is Emmy-worthy and the high-stakes of Andor’s mission result in incredibly intense viewing – especially in the latter half of the series. Going back to watch Rogue One – which is set immediately after the Andor finale – completely changes the viewer’s perspective on the story, making a great film even better.

Jada’s favourite – Abbotts Elementary

Quinta Brunson has been on my radar since she first went viral for her ‘he got money’ videos when I was a teenager, with her enthusiastically telling anyone who would listen that her cinema date was rich since he bought a large popcorn. I’ve watched her through the Buzzfeed years and when I heard that her award-winning show was going to be available to stream on Disney+ I knew it was time to get a subscription.

Abbott Elementary is about a public school in Philadelphia where the odds aren’t really in anyone’s favour. It’s so consistently funny that I’d love to be a fly on the wall of their writer’s room. Quinta plays Janine Teagues, a perky second-grade teacher with so much enthusiasm to make a positive difference. The cast are all hilarious in their own right, Ava the principal (played by Janelle James), who bribed her way into a job has to be one of the standout characters and over the seasons she seems a little more vulnerable even if she remains obnoxiously tone deaf.

There’s romantic tension with Janine and Gregory, played by Everybody Hates Chris star Tyler James Williams, that had me routing for them the whole way through as they awkwardly navigate their feelings.

It’s easily the best mockumentary sitcom I’ve ever seen, my only gripe is the episodes are released later in the UK than the US – so I made sure to catch up to the season finale when I visited the states earlier this year.

Eve’s favourite is something Disney+ doesn’t offer

1883 is, without a doubt, one of the best TV series I have watched to date. I’m a bit of an all-rounder when it comes to the shows I watch.

I’m a sucker for Gilmore Girls and Ginny & Georgia (both on Netflix) as well as the hit, edge-of-your-seat, relatively brutal mob-family extravaganza Mobland (Amazon Prime), Ted Lesso (Apple TV), The Last of Us (NOW) and New Girl (Disney+). All of which bring very different things to the table. But when I was recommended 1883, aside from knowing the bare bones of its description, I had no idea what to expect.

Ginny and Georgia season 3 – Get Netflix free with Sky

from £15

Sky

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Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.

This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Ginny and Georgia.

A prequel to the highly regarded Yellowstone (a show still on my watch-list), 1883 is an American Western drama miniseries which follows the origin story of the Dutton family to the Yellowstone ranch. The show sees the five Dutton family members in post-Civil War America flee poverty in Texas and embark on a long, arduous journey through the Great Plains in the hope of a better future in Montana.

A description of the show on IMDB reads: “The post-Civil War generation of the Dutton family travels to Texas, and joins a wagon train undertaking the arduous journey west to Oregon, before settling in Montana to establish what would eventually become the Yellowstone Ranch.”

Exploring the use and roles ranchhands/cowboys as well as the history, challenges and conflicts faced by the Indiginous Americans during this period, it’s an action-packed, heart-wrenching story that had me hooked.

The 10-part series features some pretty big names in the world of film as country music such as Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Sam Elliott and even has cameos from Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Hanks. Its sequel, 1923, stars Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford – also an incredible watch on Paramount+

Phoebe’s favourite – Grey’s Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy is my mum’s favourite TV show of all time. She has been a loyal viewer since the first series aired in the mid-2000s, so when it was announced that the American medical drama would be available on Disney+, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

I signed up and began binge-watching the gripping show right away. I can happily say Grey’s Anatomy has earned a place in my top TV shows of all-time. It’s full of heart and passion, and a bunch of characters I adore. The show’s creator Shonda Rhimes has me laughing out loud one minute and ugly crying the next. With there being 21 series and over 400 episodes waiting to be watched, it’s sure to keep households entertained for months.

Wrexham will play three pre-season fixtures against A-League opposition during a summer tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Fresh from securing a historic third successive promotion, Phil Parkinson’s side will take on Melbourne Victory at the Marvel Stadium on 11 July before facing Sydney FC at the Allianz Stadium four days later.

The north Wales side will then play Wellington Phoenix at the Sky Stadium on 19 July.

Wrexham co-chairmen Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds said: “From the very beginning, we wanted to help make Wrexham a globally recognised team, town and brand.

“We could not be more excited to bring the Red Dragons to Australia and New Zealand, and we are particularly proud that this announcement features neither a Men at Work or Hugh Jackman joke.

“The latter of which took maturity and tremendous restraint. We’re proud of Ryan. Of course, we make no promises going forward.”