Modern day Wrexham ain't no strangers to signing big names from leagues above, but most of the time their players are at least aware of the new signings, unlike some muppets from the past.
Wrexham's history of signing top flight players
The beautiful game in Wrexham has seen its fair share of footy legends gracing the pitch, with the likes of Ben Foster, Steven Fletcher, and Jay Rodriguez joining the squad owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. But let's not forget the statement signing back in 2005, when Paul Warhurst arrived in Wales as a free agent at the age of 36, two years after his last Premier League appearance but with seven clubs in between.
Warhurst's arrival at Wrexham
Long before that, in 1995, Warhurst won the top flight with Blackburn, but admitted his new teammates at Wrexham might not have been overly impressed. "Some of the lads won't have a clue about what I've done in my career because they are too young but I'm not the kind of person to go around shouting about it," he said after joining from Forest Green. The bloke had spent the previous campaign in the Conference National, but back in the EFL he was sure he had plenty to offer in his mid-30s, much like Foster and Fletcher long after him.
Warhurst's impact on the squad
Warhurst took up the final spot in the 20-man squad, and as manager Denis Smith admitted: "It was a massive call and it is still playing on my mind. There's always going to be competition for players but Paul needed no persuading in signing. He was only ever interested in us." The versatile veteran managed 12 appearances and scored a goal in his half season at the Racecourse, helping the Dragons stay in the second tier.
Wrexham's philosophy of adding experience to a young squad
Much has changed between those years, but Wrexham's philosophy of adding experience to a young squad remains strong – even if the junior players aren't always aware of it. The Dragons may have dropped down in 2008, staying out of the Football League until 2023 under Reynolds and McElhenney's leadership, but their commitment to bringing in seasoned pros like Warhurst has never wavered.
