27 June 2023 , 12:00
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Wrexham Women have been awarded historic semi-professional contracts following their promotion to the Welsh top-flight earlier this season.
Ten stars from Ryan Reynolds' and Rob McElhenney ’s women’s senior squad have put pen to paper on the club’s first-ever semi-pro contracts following last season’s promotion play-off final heroics that secured them a return to the Adran Premier.
The contracts are the first of their kind for a women’s club in North Wales and represent the latest chapter in Wrexham’s co-owners’ goal of making the club “the best women’s team in Wales”.
Ten stars from April's 1-0 promotion play-off final victory over Briton Ferry have signed deals, including goalscorer Rebecca Pritchard and goalkeeper Del Morgan. Pritchard and Morgan, who is also set to join Liverpool Women's coaching staff next season , join veteran Phoebe Davies in signing one-year contracts having represented the original Wrexham Ladies team that was forced to fold in 2016 following financial struggles.
In a major boost to Wrexham’s bid to cut themselves genuine competitors in the Adran Premier next season, goalscoring taliswoman Rosie Hughes has also signed a first semi-pro contract, along with Genero Adran North Young Player of the Season Amber Lightfoot. The pair combined for 40 of Wrexham’s 71 goals scored across the club's promotion-winning campaign.
Ryan Reynolds mispronounces name of new Wrexham signing in hilarious video
On the new contracts, Wrexham AFC Women’s manager Steve Dale said: “We are delighted to have our first players signed up to semi-professional contracts, after the role they played in our promotion last season.
“The preparation has already begun behind the scenes for our first season back in the top flight, and this is an important step as we look to finalise the squad for the challenges that lie ahead.”
The list of players who have signed semi-pro contracts in full:
- Del Morgan (Goalkeeper, 27)
- Phoebe Davies (Defender, 28)
- Erin Lovett (Defender, 20)
- Katie Sharp (Defender, 28)
- Lili Jones (Defender/Midfielder, 17)
- TJ Dickens (Midfielder, 26)
- Mari Gibbard (Midfielder, 26)
- Rebecca Pritchard (Winger, 26)
- Amber Lightfoot (Winger/Striker, 20)
- Rosie Hughes (Striker, 27)