Wrexham are set to become the first football club in the Welsh pyramid to have a semi-professional women's team.
The club, owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, wants its team to become "the best women's team in Wales, in the shortest period practically possible".
If promoted to Welsh women's football's top league, the Genera Adran Premier, the team will become semi-pro, further stamping the club’s burgeoning identity as a standard bearer for women’s football in the country.
It comes after the club applied for a Tier 1 licence for the upcoming 2023/24 season, with the intention that manager Steve Dale's side achieve promotion from the Genero Adran North, the pyramid's second tier, this season.
The semi-pro status also officially shifts women’s football within the club's department structure. Former women's under-19s assistant manager Gemma Owen has been appointed as the full-time head of women’s football operations.
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Wrexham currently sit second in the league, two points shy of leaders Connah’s Quay Nomads but with a game in hand. Promotion to the top flight – dependent on successfully achieving the Tier 1 licence as well as finishing top of the Adran North and defeating the winner of the Adran South – would see them competing against perennial women’s football behemoths Cardiff City Women and Swansea City Ladies with the prospect of European football.
Owners Reynolds and McElhenney have made clear their commitment to investing in the club's women’s programme. Both owners have attended women’s matches and continue to show support on social media for the team.
The Wrexham ownership opted against applying last season for Tier 1 licensing as they finished runners-up to Adran North winners Llandudno, whose absence of a licence saw Adran South winners Abergavenny automatically promoted to the top flight.
Wrexham have yet to play Connah’s Quay in the league, though a suspenseful match-up in the North Wales Cup saw the Nomads edge the win. A first league clash is set for the end of February away to Connah’s Quay, with a potentially dramatic season finale on March 26 set at home.
Wrexham's men's team are also eyeing a promotion push as they sit second in the National League, three points behind leaders Notts County but with two games in hand.
Wrexham Women return to action with an away league clash to Llanfair United this Sunday, February 12.
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