Reynolds and Mac share Wrexham's European excitement

The Wrexham story under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac starts another chapter on Wednesday evening.

Wrexham Women will be making their European debut when they face Pyunik of Armenia in a first qualifying round semi-final at the historic Racecourse Stadium.

Boosting women's football were the among plans announced by the owners when they took control of the north Wales club in early 2021.

And they share the excitement of the European as much as head coach Jenny Sugarman and her team.

"They're both incredibly excited," Sugarman said.

"I had messages with Rob the other day. Rob is deeply proactive in touching base and making sure we've got what we need.

"They said it publicly that they want to back and support this women's team to make it the best in the world.

"That's a big ambition and there's a long way to go on that journey but we feel we're making the right first steps.

"They are super excited for the team and squad that we're building.

"They see the players that we're bringing in and they recognise the levels of the players that we're able now to attract and recruit and bring in.

"They're excited about that and obviously excited about Champions League and taking Wrexham back into Europe."

Should Wrexham beat Pyunik in their semi-final they will face Northern Ireland's Glentoran or Riga FC of Latvia in the final on 25 July, also at the Racecourse.

This will be Wrexham Women's first European campaign after they lifted the Genero Adran Premier for the first time last season.

Wrexham as a club have a proud European tradition, with the men's team competing in the Cup Winners Cup between 1972 and 1995 via the Welsh Cup.

Anderlecht, FC Porto, AS Roma, Real Zaragoza and Manchester United are among the clubs they faced in the now defunct competition.

But with the men's side no longer eligible to represent Wales in Europe, the women's side now pick up that mantle and are aiming to create their own history.

"There's some big names that the club have faced in the past," Sugarman added.

"We want to try and get into that bit as well when you're pulling that opposition that everybody's heard of.

"When we first knew that we were going to be playing in the Champions League by being champions, there was a lot of excitement about going on tour and going on a European tour.

"But what was even more exciting for us was being able to bring European football to north Wales and to the town.

"Because this is a town of incredibly proud, hard-working people that back their team.

"We want to see as many of them come to the Racecourse and get behind the side because it makes such a difference."

While the Wrexham men's team have risen from the wilderness of the National League to now playing in the Championship, there has also been progress for the women too.

The women's side had only reformed in 2018 after they had folded two years earlier because of a lack of players.

Co-chairmen Reynolds and Mac were true to their word when they pledged investment into the women's programme upon their arrival at the club five and a half years ago.

Promotion to the top-flight Adran Premier was finally achieved in 2023 and the team became semi-professional that same year.

Sugarman, who succeeded Steve Dale as manager last summer, led Wrexham to success in the Adran Premier and Adran Trophy in her first season in charge.

And while qualifying for the Women's Champions League was always the aim, a place in Europe has been achieved sooner than anyone could have imagined.

"I'm not even quite into a full 12 months here and when I joined and when we spoke about what the ambitions were," Sugarman said.

"It wasn't necessarily in year one but it was absolutely a key ambition of the club and the team to be competing in Europe and to do that being champions.

"There's a huge amount of building work that's gone on over a long period of time to build the foundations required to be able to compete and perform at this level.

"Certainly the acceleration over the last 12 months whether that's around the squad building, the staffing, the infrastructure that you see at The Rock now and everything that we can do to professionalise the side is important for Champions League."

The Rock Stadium in Rhosymedre – which has seen considerable improvement work over the last few months - is now home for the women's team.

Wrexham have added to their squad during the summer including Jamaica international Natasha Thomas, Bella Reidford, Lucy Farrell and Mikayla Cook.

Sugarman, who has previously held roles with Leicester City, West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa, will be experiencing European football for the first time.

Welsh clubs have a poor record in the Champions League and Sugarman recognises they will be outsiders to progress given it is their first campaign.

"I think as a coach, as a manager, you want to be tested against the best," Sugarman said.

"For me, the Champions League is the pinnacle of club football.

"We're absolutely fine with the underdog tag again, that's part and parcel of who we are as a club.

"We're the lowest-ranked side in the competition but we truly believe in the preparation that we put in as a staff and group."