Ben Foster has issued a rallying cry to his Wrexham teammates as they prepare for their first season in the EFL in 15 years following their promotion heroics.
The Red Dragons' rise in the fifth tier won the club supporters from around the world, with fans from across the planet embracing the club's unique story through the 'Welcome to Wrexham' TV series. Backed by Hollywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, the Welsh club eventually won promotion back to the football league after a gruelling title race.
The signing of former Manchester United stopper Foster proved pivotal in giving the Racecourse Ground outfit the edge over their nearest challengers after he joined in March. He featured in eight matches in all after coming out of retirement, keeping three clean sheets and was the hero as he saved a penalty in the title decider versus rivals Notts County.
After deciding to sign a one-year deal to stay with the club, the ex-Premier League star has set a challenge to his teammates to repeat their form of last season over the next year. He told the BBC that he feels the group of players assembled by head coach Phil Parkinson could be good enough to win back-to-back league titles.
Foster said: "You can say that we want to finish in the top half, top six or top two but I don't think we're going to look at it like that. We want to go and win every single game and I feel we've got a good enough team to go and win this league, genuinely.
"There's no divine right to win or to be in the top six, it doesn't work like that. It doesn't matter what your name is, you've got to put the work in and put the graft in and all the bits and bobs behind the scene."
The 40-year-old former England international previously explained his decision to extend his stay at the club where he previously spent a loan spell during the 2003-04 campaign. Speaking in glowing terms about everyone associated with the Welsh outfit from the chairmen to the supporters, he explained that he made his decision prior to the club's momentous end to last season.
He said: “At the end of last season it was obvious that I enjoyed being at the Club, I loved being part of the team and everything that Wrexham stands for. The fans took to me so warmly, Phil Parkinson is brilliant, Steve Parkin is top class, I love Aidan Davison to bits, and the Co-Chairmen are out of this world.
“I’d decided before the end of last season I wanted to do it, because it feels like home. I’ve never joined a football club and felt at ease so quickly.”
Wrexham's players have now returned to pre-season training, where they will be put through their paces ahead of next term by boss Parkinson and his staff. Following on from this, a high-profile tour of the US beckons, with dates versus Chelsea and LA Galaxy II alongside clashes with Manchester United and Philadelphia Union II.
