Who should win Wrexham's player of the year award?

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Ollie Rathbone was ultimately crowned player of the year following a supporters’ vote, but any number could realistically have been given the nod instead, including goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, centre-back Max Cleworth, and now-retired striker Steven Fletcher. It is a similarly competitive field this time around at the club owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, albeit with the caveat that — much like the team overall — no one has consistently shone month after month. Plenty have enjoyed hot streaks of form, starting with Kieffer Moore in the opening weeks of the season. But, at one time or another, every player who has caught the eye has also suffered a dip in form for seventh-placed Wrexham, in some cases for a sustained period. With that in mind — and with just four games remaining in Wrexham’s first season at this level for 43 years — The Athletic runs the rule over the runners and riders for the 2025-26 player of the year award. No stadium has seen more goals scored in the Championship than Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground, where Phil Parkinson’s side have found the net 37 times in 21 league games and conceded 35 times. Only champions-elect Coventry City (43) and second-placed Ipswich Town (38) have scored more goals on their own patch, while rock-bottom Sheffield Wednesday (42) are the only team to have let in more goals than Wrexham. If goals are the main criteria for the title of player of the year, Moore and Josh Windass — with 13 apiece in all competitions — must be part of the discussion. Wales international Moore certainly set the tone in those early weeks, his five goals in the opening six games helping Wrexham establish a foothold in the division, even if results were not great. Then came his ‘perfect’ hat-trick against Coventry on Halloween. His all-round play has been impressive, as has the towering striker’s work rate across 2,629 minutes of Championship action, the fourth-highest tally in the squad. Windass has played almost 550 minutes less than Moore in the league, yet his combined goals and assists tally in the league is superior by two, with five assists — including all three in that 3-2 win against Coventry — taking him to 17 goal contributions. Tellingly, he has been effective on the road, a valuable trait considering Wrexham’s goal tally of 26 away from home is distinctly mid-table. Seven of his 12 league goals have come in those games. Windass’ ability to convert difficult chances is also reflected in how his dozen league strikes have come from an expected goals (xG) figure of just 6.41, with that disparity of 5.59 the fourth-highest in the division, behind Swansea City’s Zan Vipotnik (21 goals from 11.61 xG), Jordan James of Leicester City (10 from 3.73 xG), and Ipswich Town’s Jaden Philogene (10 from 4.25 xG). Supporters seem yet to have truly warmed to Windass, perhaps because the 32-year-old does not show a huge amount of emotion when he scores, a trait that stretches back to his time at Sheffield Wednesday. But, make no mistake, the impact of a player who possesses great vision on the ball has been substantial. Others to have contributed goals and memorable moments include Sam Smith, record £7.5million ($10.2m at current exchange rates) signing Nathan Broadhead, and Rathbone, the latter’s winner at QPR in January counting as the high point of the season so far. But the consistency — and minutes for Smith and Rathbone — required to be in the running for Wrexham’s top individual honour has largely eluded all three. Playing time has not been a problem for others, with three players featuring for 3,000 Championship minutes or more. Leading the way is Cleworth on 3,594, followed by Okonkwo (3,421) and centre-back Dominic Hyam (3,230). Again, all three have had their moments — especially Okonkwo with late saves to preserve points at Charlton Athletic and West Bromwich Albion. Cleworth has also admirably stepped up a level for the fourth year running, albeit with a few difficulties lately. Hyam, too, had a tough last outing, with Southampton’s Cyle Larin causing the Scotland international all sorts of problems in last week’s 5-1 humbling. Overall, though, the deadline-day signing from Blackburn Rovers has enjoyed a fine first campaign in north Wales. It was no coincidence that his debut at Norwich City in mid-September sparked a huge upturn in performance by the defence. Wrexham had previously been wide open at the back — their expected goals against (xGA) in the five games before winning at Carrow Road stood at 12.57, comfortably the highest in the division — but were now suddenly more alert. Wrexham have conceded far too many goals this season — 60 in total, the joint-fourth highest in the division. But much of this is down to a front-footed approach that brings risk as well as reward, particularly at home. Hyam deserves to be in the running for the player of the year award, as does another deadline day signing from the summer window, the former Coventry player Ben Sheaf. A calming and composed presence in a holding midfield role, he has been sorely missed these past two months with a knee injury, not least through his ability to find space in crowded areas, a trait that allowed Wrexham to exert much more control than has been the case recently. If Parkinson’s side are to gatecrash the play-offs, Sheaf’s return will be integral. Lewis O’Brien’s four goals and George Dobson’s energy have also been positives this season, but Sheaf remains the standout candidate in midfield. At Christmas, something similar could have been said about Issa Kabore in the wide areas. The 24-year-old Manchester City loanee proved an instant hit at The Racecourse with his electric pace. Kabore sits joint top of the assists table with O’Brien on six apiece, yet he has struggled in recent weeks, meaning Wrexham have had to look increasingly to the opposite flank in George Thomason, who is surely a strong contender for the separate players’ player of the year award after sacrificing himself for the greater good of the team by playing out of position since Christmas. As for the main award, it is hard to look past another City old boy in defender Callum Doyle, closely followed by Windass and Hyam. After joining last summer for an initial £5m that could rise by a further £2.5m, Doyle took time to settle. A disrupted pre-season played its part, as did a red card against Oxford United in October that led to a lengthy spell out of the team. But, after returning in the 2-2 draw against Watford in mid-December, the 22-year-old proved his undoubted class with a series of excellent displays. Defensively, he spots danger early through a good reading of the game, but it is his passing ability that most stands out — particularly how he can pick out a team-mate from 50 yards. His assist for Smith’s opener in the FA Cup fifth-round defeat to Chelsea was typical, as a perfectly judged pass from inside his own half clinically exposed the high line being played by the Premier League side. There has been the odd off day recently. Southampton at home was a struggle for the entire team, not just a stretched three-man back line. But, of all those who have contributed to what seems certain to be Wrexham’s highest league position in their history — the previous best was 15th in the old Second Division, set in 1978-79 — Doyle’s impact has been the greatest. It is no wonder City inserted a buy-back clause in last summer’s transfer that, as well as guaranteeing Wrexham a substantial profit should they sell, gives the serial Premier League title winners first dibs on a talent who seems destined to one day reach the top division. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms