The team’s star striker, who works as a prison officer during the day, has spoken up about what it’s like to play for Wrexham AFC Women.
With 97 goals scored in just 41 games to date for the Reds women’s team, Rosie Hughes has an incredible record.
With such brilliant play, the squad won the Genero Adran North League championship and was promoted to the Premier division the previous year.
Hughes also made history during a remarkable year when he scored a late winner in front of 9,500 spectators at the Racecourse to defeat Connah’s Quay Nomads 2-1.
With 97 goals scored in just 41 games to date for the Reds women’s team, Rosie Hughes has an incredible record.
With such brilliant play, the squad won the Genero Adran North League championship and was promoted to the Premier division the previous year.
Hughes also made history during a remarkable year when he scored a late winner in front of 9,500 spectators at the Racecourse to defeat Connah’s Quay Nomads 2-1.
But Ryan Reynolds and I had a conversation while we were at the Racecourse stadium, and it eventually aired on Football Focus.
“It started getting talked about, and when something gets talked about in prison, it’s exciting because it’s something new to talk about,” Rosie continued.
“Prisoners would approach me and inquire, ‘Do you play for Wrexham?’ and in the end I was unable to conceal it.
When Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney assumed their roles as co-chairmen in February 2021, Wrexham AFC Women played a significant role in the concept they had in mind.
Since moving up to the top-flight, they have achieved the same level of success as the men’s squad and have developed into a semi-professional team
Rosie described her encounter with Ryan to BBC Sport in the following way: “I felt like the superstar because I’d just scored the winner at the Racecourse ground in front of nearly 10,000 people, so when he [Reynolds] grabbed me to introduce me to his wife, kids – it felt like I was the star.”
In the interview, Hughes also disclosed that she utilises the HMP Berwyn football pitch and gym for her lunchtime football practise.
After stating that she has been employed there for six years, she continues, “You certainly need some resilience, solid communication skills, an outstanding listener, and some emotional intelligence to accomplish the job.
“Communication and teamwork are crucial for both football and working as a prison guard. You must have faith in yourself in order to avoid being devoured alive.
“Football is similar in that you need to be assured handling the ball. I am really skilled at scoring goals and placing the ball in the goal because I am confident in my abilities.
“Last season, I had some trouble with that. During the season, I missed a few games since it was difficult for me to acquire the time off for every game.
“I have asked to drop my hours as a prison officer, the Prison Service can be good like that – if you have other commitments, so I’ve asked to do that. Hopefully some time in the future that will be for me and I can focus more on the football side of things, because that is what I would love to do.”
The second season of the Welcome to Wrexham documentary, which is now being published on a weekly basis via Disney Plus, is expected to tell the story of Rosie and the women’s team’s victory from last season.
