Wrexham’s rise over the last few years has been nothing short of remarkable and a former Manchester United man has played an important role.
Under the stewardship of Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, Wrexham have moved out of the National League and into League One in just two seasons.
It was tough going for the North American duo when they first took charge at the Racecourse Ground, being forced to sack the previous manager and release a number of players.
Wrexham then snapped up Phil Parkinson in what was seen as a major coup by many given his track record when it comes to promotion.
While Parkinson failed to take the Red Dragons up in his debut season – losing out in the play-offs to Grimsby Town – he guided them to a first-place finish in the National League the following campaign.
The Welsh powerhouse then finished second in League Two last term and could be en route to a third-straight promotion in 2024/25.
And while it’s often the players and owners who receive much of the praise, one former Manchester United man working behind the scenes has also been key.
Wrexham First Team Coach David Jones during a pre-season training session at WakeMed Soccer Park on July 18, 2023 in Cary, North Carolina.
Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images
Wrexham coach David Jones won FA Cup and played for Manchester United
David Jones joined Manchester United in 1995 when he was just 10 years old, making his way up their senior ranks before an eventual senior debut in the League Cup versus Arsenal on January 1st, 2004.
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The former midfielder only lined out three more times for Man Utd but still went on to have an excellent playing career after sealing a permanent exit to Derby County.
He was promoted to the Premier League on four separate occasions, including with Wolverhampton Wanders.
Jones was also on Wigan Athletic’s books when they won the FA Cup against Manchester City in 2013.
He was not part of the squad for the final as he’d just returned from a loan spell with Blackburn Rovers but had played two games versus Bournemouth and Macclesfield Town in the competition earlier in the season for Wigan.
At the end of his career, the now 40-year-old joined the Red Dragons as a player-coach in August 2021.
He was then appointed as a Wrexham first-team coach in 2022 and continues to be a key asset for Wrexham to this day, working alongside Parkinson as they look to win promotion to the Championship.
First team coach David Jones of Wrexham looks on during the Sky Bet League One match between Shrewsbury Town FC and Wrexham AFC at Croud Meadow on ...
Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images
Notable stars to play for Manchester United and Wrexham
Jones isn’t the only Wrexham man to have played for both the League One side and Manchester United.
In their current team, central midfielder Matty James began his playing career on the books of the Red Devils.
Former goalkeeper Ben Foster also burst onto the scene in Manchester as did former Wrexham ace Darren Ferguson who is, of course, the son of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Mickey Thomas, who won two promotions and two Welsh Cups with Wrexham, also spent three years at Man Utd in the last 70s/early 80s.