Wrexham begin first second-tier campaign in 43 years with trip to Southampton
The Welsh club, co-owned by Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds and It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia co-creator Rob McElhenney, are back in the second tier for the first time in 43 years after winning three consecutive promotions.
Wrexham met Eastleigh on the opening day of the Vanarama National League season in August 2022, but are now set to play grander Hampshire opposition three years on.
St Mary's will be the venue for Wrexham's Championship bow as Will Still takes charge of relegated Southampton for the first time in a 12.30pm kick-off.
Wrexham's first home game on August 16 will be West Brom, and Sheffield Wednesday will also visit SToK Racecourse before the Red Dragons travel to Millwall ahead of the September international break.
September brings home games with QPR and Derby and trips to Norwich and Leicester, while October starts with the so-called 'Hollywood derby' against Birmingham.
The two clubs were rivals in League One last season – Birmingham winning the title and Wrexham finishing runners-up – with the Blues also having a celebrity part-owner in NFL quarterback great Tom Brady.
Wrexham will entertain Birmingham on October 4 before making the short trip to Stoke two weeks later after the second international break of the season.
Frank Lampard's Coventry visit north Wales on November 1 and there are trips to Portsmouth, Ipswich and Preston before Christmas.
The first Welsh derby of the season against Swansea is an away fixture on December 20.
Wrexham host Sheffield United on Boxing Day and travel to Blackburn on New Year's Day.
Leicester at home on January 20 is the pick of the early 2026 fixtures, with away games at QPR and Sheffield Wednesday before the month is out.
Millwall, Ipswich and Portsmouth all visit in February and manager Phil Parkinson has a Racecourse reunion with former club Hull on March 10, four days before Swansea head north.
Wrexham head to West Brom for a Good Friday clash on April 3, with Southampton their Easter Monday visitors.
The return fixture with Birmingham takes places on April 11 and Wrexham finish the season at home to Middlesbrough on May 2.
The 46-game Championship season will consist of 33 weekend rounds, nine midweek rounds and four bank holiday rounds.
Goalkeeper Mark Howard, part of Wrexham's three promotion-winning squads, called the Southampton opener a 'dream' fixture and backed owners Reynolds and McElhenney to maintain the feelgood factor in the Championship.
'It is the dream. They (Wrexham players) all want to test themselves against the best players and the best opposition,' Howard told Sky Sports.
'No better opportunity than the opening kick-off at 12.30pm against one of the teams that have come down from the Premier League.
'It really has been a Hollywood movie, every part of it over the last three years. The back-to-back-to-back promotions have been incredible and the owners have brought along some very famous faces to the football club.
'To say you've had a laugh in the dressing room with Will Ferrell and Channing Tatum is beyond belief really.
'The owners live and breathe it. They are with you for every win, every loss, and reach out to you after every game.
'They are fully invested in it in what the lads are doing as people and players. You get that sense off them whether they're at a game or watching from America, Canada or wherever.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
31 minutes ago
- The Sun
Maya Jama looks incredible in lace-up skintight dress as she hosts Love Island Aftersun
MAYA Jama once again stole the show as she hosted Love Island Aftersun this evening. The 30-year-old showed off her incredible figure in a zebra print dress with lace-up sides. 3 3 The host vowed to only wear vintage-inspired designer looks for this series and has impressed time after time. As she returned to the studio again tonight to chat to the latest dumped stars, Maya left fans gobsmacked with her busty look. One person commented: 'Maya your looking unreal as always.' A second said: 'Gorgeous, on fire.' Ahead of the series, Maya told The Sun: 'We're doing all archive, vintage, Nineties runway inspired. "They're all from hidden archives. "The designers have been hunting them down for the last few months for me. 'Everything should have a runway reference. "It's going to be very vintage.'But the star is going to have to tread carefully, adding: 'It's all stuff that I can't rip or ruin because it has to go back after!' On tonight's show Maya grilled recently dumped Remell and Megan. 3 Love Island's Conor in tears as Megan leave the villa Love Island 2025 full lineup Harry Cooksley: A 30-year-old footballer with charm to spare. Shakira Khan: A 22-year-old Manchester-based model, ready to turn heads. Megan Moore: A payroll specialist from Southampton, looking for someone tall and stylish. Alima Gagigo: International business graduate with brains and ambition. Tommy Bradley: A gym enthusiast with a big heart. Helena Ford: A Londoner with celebrity connections, aiming to find someone funny or Northern. Ben Holbrough: A model ready to make waves. Dejon Noel-Williams: A personal trainer and semi-pro footballer, following in his footballer father's footsteps. Aaron Buckett: A towering 6'5' personal trainer. Conor Phillips: A 25-year-old Irish rugby pro. Antonia Laites: Love Island's first bombshell revealed as sexy Las Vegas pool party waitress. Yasmin Pettet: The 24-year-old bombshell hails from London and works as a commercial banking executive. Emily Moran: Bombshell Welsh brunette from the same town as Love Island 2024 alumni Nicole Samuel. Harrison Solomon: Pro footballer and model entering Love Island 2025 as a bombshell. Giorgio Russo: The 30-year-old will be spending his summer in the sun, potentially his sister Alessia's successful tournament at the Euros in Switzerland. Departures: Kyle Ashman: Axed after an arrest over a machete attack emerged. He was released with no further action taken and denies any wrongdoing. Sophie Lee: A model and motivational speaker who has overcome adversity after suffering life-changing burns in an accident. Blu Chegini: A boxer with striking model looks, seeking love in the villa. Malisha Jordan: A teaching assistant from Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, who entered Love Island 2025 as a bombshell. Shea Mannings: Works as a scaffolder day-to-day and plays semi-pro football on the side. Caprice Alexandra: The 26-year-old bombshell owns a nursery in Romford. Poppy Harrison: The bombshell broke up with her boyfriend after finding out she would be in the villa Will Means: The fourth fittest farmer in the UK according to Farmers' Weekly in 2023 entered the villa as a bombshell Megan Clarke: An Irish actress part of the OG line-up.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Ozzy Osbourne says he would be 'honoured' to collaborate with Sir Paul McCartney but reveals the reason he 'couldn't'
has said that he would be 'honoured' to collaborate with Sir Paul McCartney but 'couldn't' as the Beatles legend turned him down. The Black Sabbath frontman, 76, previously tried to get Sir Paul, 83, to record a bass part on the heavy metal band's track, which he declined. Appearing on a new episode of his SiriusXM show Ozzy Speaks, the singer revealed he still dreams about being on a song with the Let It Be hitmaker. When asked by co-host Billy Morrison who he'd like to duet with, to which he replied: 'Paul McCartney.' But Ozzy quickly added: 'I would be honoured but I couldn't…' The singer has previously spoken about the iconic band from Liverpool being a huge influence on him since he was a young man. He once told Heat magazine of their failed collaboration: 'Meeting Paul McCartney was f****** phenomenal. 'I was in the studio at the same time as him and tried to get him to play bass on one of my songs. 'But he said he couldn't improve on the bassline that was there. I said, 'Are you kidding? You could p*** on the record and I'd make it my life.'' Ozzy's last solo album, 2022's Patient Number 9, featured a long list of guest artists, including Black Sabbath bandmate Tony Iommi, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Zakk Wylde, and Pearl Jam's Mike McCready among others. He is currently preparing to play his last concert with Black Sabbath at the Back To The Beginning concert at Birmingham's Villa Park on July 5. Special guests include Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan, Duff McKagan and Slash of Guns 'N Roses, Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst, Korn star Jonathan Davis, and Anthrax. It comes after Ozzy revealed a secret personal crisis ahead of what has been billed as his final ever show this summer. It will be the first time Ozzy has performed since late 2018 and following his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease. With just weeks to go until the show, Ozzy has opened up on his self-confidence battle and stage fright. Speaking on SiriusXM's podcast Ozzy Speaks, he said: 'My head's crazy. ADHD - I have that badly. I will have done the show and died a death before I even started my exercises. So I try and put it on the back burner. 'I'm not going up there saying "It's going to be great. I'm really confident." 'In my head I will have died on my ass. I remember being in f***ing Vegas one time being in the dressing room going, "I'm going to play. I'm going to die." He continued: 'And I talked myself into blowing the gig. It was only two f***ing songs. Sharon goes, 'just don't think about it.' I obsess about a f***ing bird c***ping on my show. 'But all I can say is I'm giving 120 percent. If my God wants me to do the show. I'll do it. Sometimes if I start obsessing on the time, I'll be insane by Friday. So I'm just taking it one day at a time.' The singer is also unsure about whether to perform while standing up, or sitting down following a series of spinal operations. Black Sabbath pioneered heavy metal music in the early 1970s with hits such as War Pigs, Paranoid and Iron Man. Since their last gig together in 2005, Black Sabbath has played in partial reunions but never in their original line-up. Ahead of the gig, Ozzy is in strict training, which even sees his blood pressure being taken 15 times a day. He explained: 'I have got this trainer guy who helps people get back to normal. t's hard going, but he's convinced that he can pull it off for me. I'm giving it everything I've got. 'It's endurance. The first thing that goes when you're laid up is your stamina. 'I am having my blood pressure taken 15 times a day.. I've got this f***ing device on my finger. 'It's a monitor to say how my heart rate is. Earlier this month, Ozzy vowed to go ahead with the show, telling The Guardian: ' I'll be there, and I'll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up.' WHAT IS PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? What is Parkinson's disease? Parkinson's disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years, according to the NHS website. What are the symptoms? The NHS says there are three major symptoms, including tremors or shaking, slowness of movement and muscle stiffness. Other symptoms include problems with balance, loss of smell, nerve pain, excessive sweating and dizziness. Some people can also experience lack of sleep, excessive production of saliva and problems swallowing, causing malnutrition and dehydration. What are the early signs? Symptoms can start gradually, sometimes beginning with a barely noticeable tremor in just one part of the body. In the early stages, people may show little or no expression, and their arms may not swing when they walk. Speech can also become soft or slurred, with the condition worsening over time. What are the causes? Some scientists believe a combination of genetic and environmental factors are the cause of Parkinson's disease. It occurs after a person experiences loss of nerve cells in a part of their brain. However, it is not known why the loss of nerve cells associated with the condition takes place but research is ongoing to identify potential causes. Scientists say genetics factor can increase a person's risk of developing the disease, and can therefore run in families. Other factors attributed to causing the condition include environmental problems such as pollution, though such links are inconclusive, the NHS says. How is it diagnosed? No tests can conclusively show if a person has the disease, but doctors can make a diagnosis based on symptoms, medical history and a physical examination. A specialist will ask the person to write or draw, walk or speak to check for any common signs of the condition. They may even check for difficulty making facial expressions and slowness of limb movement. How many people are affected? Around 145,000 people live with Parkinson's disease in the UK, according to the charity Parkinson's UK. What happens if someone is diagnosed? According to the charity, it is a legal requirement to contact the DVLA, as a diagnosed person will need to have a medical or driving assessment. The organisation also advises people to contact any insurance providers and find out about financial support available. People are also encouraged to partake in more exercise. Can it be treated? Although there is no cure, a number of treatments are available to help reduce the symptoms. The main remedies include medication, exercise, therapy and surgery, which can help people in different ways. What medication is available and what are the side effects? Medication can be helpful in improving the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as shaking and movement problems. There are three main types which are commonly used, levodopa, dopamine agonist or a MAO-B inhibitor. Each can affect people in different ways. The drugs do have some side effects, including impulsive and compulsive behaviour, hallucinations, sleep issues and blood pressure changes. What therapy is available? There are several therapies available to those with Parkinson's through the NHS. Among them are physiotherapy to reduce muscle stiffness, occupational therapy to help with completing day-to-day tasks and speech and language coaching. Does this change the way you live? Most people's life expectancy will not change a great deal, though more advanced symptoms can lead to increased disability and poor health. It can also cause some cognitive issues and changes to mood and mental health. Those with Parkinson's are encouraged to exercise more often, with scientists saying 2.5 hours of exercise a week is enough to slow the progression of symptoms.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
INSIDE SPORT: England's Under-21 heroes are a bigger hit than Glastonbury... plus how M&S scored a Lionesses own goal
England's Under-21s captured the nation's imagination, with a staggering 3.7million (37 per cent of all those watching television) tuning in to see their thrilling extra-time victory over Germany in the Euros final. Interestingly, the 3-2 victory, screened on Channel 4, was also the most popular programme for the key 16-34 market, with more than a third of that audience gripped by Lee Carsley 's men achieving back-to-back titles – a higher share than the BBC managed to attract for Saturday night at this year's underwhelming Glastonbury. Talks will take place over the coming weeks over an official event to recognise what is a superb achievement, with the players keen to jet off on long-awaited holidays after they landed at Birmingham in the early hours of Sunday. M&S own goal It's not just a PR own goal, it's an M&S own goal. Marks and Spencer have linked up with England Women for the forthcoming European Championship, exhorting customers to 'Eat Like a Lioness' as part of their 'Eat Well, Play Well' campaign. And while striker Beth Mead 's preferred snack of salted caramel overnight oats might go down well, those involved have been left with egg on their faces after promoting goalkeeper Mary Earps ' choice of salmon and avocado dragon roll. The heroine of England's Euro 22 triumph is on a host of in-store advertising across the country despite the fact she quit international football at the end of May - presumably too late for the PR gurus to change direction. Van Dijk misses glitzy summit Visitors to the annual Cannes Lions Festival were left impressed when Virgil van Dijk appeared as part of an event hosted by United Talent Agency. Liverpool's Dutch defender did his bit for the global group, which also represents the likes of LeBron Hames, Sadio Mane and Jalen Hurts. Some noted with a wry smile, however, that Van Dijk was nowhere to be seen the following night, when Liverpool hosted their own event on Google Beach at the glitzy creative networking summit which saw speeches by Hollywood stars Reese Witherspoon, Serena Williams and Jimmy Fallon. United back up revenue plea Manchester United will make the point that government funding for infrastructure around their proposed £2billion new stadium at the side of Old Trafford will result in significant revenue boosts for the local authority and stakeholders. However, such a scenario is already set to unfold long before any ground is broken. Inside Sport has been told that Greater Manchester Combined Authority – the area's 10 boroughs – have asked for planning permission to allow the vast car park on Greater Manchester Police's former headquarters to be opened to the public whenever Ruben Amorim's side are at home. The application, which could result in considerable sums for local government, also extends to concerts and events at Old Trafford cricket ground. TalkSPORT's podcast rap A number of fan podcasts have cried foul after being taken under the talkSPORT wing. The broadcaster snapped up a host of shows produced by supporters of clubs from Arsenal to Hartlepool under the promise of increased incomes thanks to their ability to attract sponsors. The model is that podcasts keep 75 per cent with the broadcaster taking 25 per cent. However, in recent months revenues are, in some cases, around 80 per cent less than what those involved had been told to expect with many receiving less than £10. In an email to those affected, the broadcaster attempted to pin the blame elsewhere, on issues with their ad sales house. 'This is not good enough' they added in the message. 'Our sentiments exactly,' said one disgruntled pod host. Others have been irked by a perceived lack of promised airtime on talkSPORT 2, which was part of the original sell. Lions make a splash down under The British and Irish Lions were quick to make a splash after landing in Perth for Saturday's stroll against the Western Force. Andy Farrell's men made their way to Cottesloe Beach on Thursday, stripped to their budgie smugglers and won admiring glances from some of the locals. Indeed, one witness explained that Farrell himself came across at one point to reign some of the group in and ensure they remained focussed on the task at hand. Coventry's busy start Newly-ensconced IOC President Kirsty Coventry has had a smooth first week - although she has managed to upset the Russians by deferring an Executive Board debate on whether their athletes will be allowed to compete as neutrals at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics next year. Zimbabwean Coventry also has been true to her word and has already committed to revamping the process to select Host Cities for the Games. This could see a return to democratic elections which may concern India's bid Ahmedabad, which some insiders claimed would win [the right to host] the 2036 Olympics on a wink and nod.
