Faye Knox and Wrexham can claim their first ever Genero Adran Premier title on Sunday if they beat Cardiff City at the StōK Cae Ras (KO 17:10).
After a dominant display midweek against Swansea City in a 7-1 victory, Wrexham are now top of the league by two points with two games to play, starting with a clash against the reigning champions.
Inspiring Wrexham to success in recent weeks has been former Cymru U19 international Faye Knox. The attacking midfielder scored the winner for Wrexham against The New Saints last Sunday, before scoring twice against Swansea on Wednesday.
Wrexham vs Cardiff City
It is evidence of how crucial Knox has become since joining Wrexham from Bolton Wanderers on transfer deadline day in October. The 21-year-old has eight goals in 13 league games for the Red Dragons, with only strikers Katie Barker and Rosie Hughes finding the net more for Jenny Sugarman’s side this season.
“Coming in I knew that the girls were a great group and the staff are also a really good group, but since being here I’ve developed loads on and off the pitch,” Knox says.
“The staff have been great with me. I’m just happy to be contributing and becoming a bigger part of what we’ve got going on here.
“I played through the Welsh setup, and I started my football career here, so it’s not been too difficult (to settle in), I think it’s really helped that joining the Wrexham the standard here is so good that it’s not different to the English league. Most people think there’s a big difference and that might be the case for some areas in Welsh football, but not here at Wrexham.
“Jenny and the whole coaching staff make it easy for me to be able to perform. They let me go on the pitch and express who I am and let me do my thing. It’s not super restrictive or I’m not told in a robotic was what I can or can’t do. It’s been the environment that has enabled me to be who I am on the pitch.
“She’s been amazing (Sugarman). The thing that probably impressed me the most was how good she is with people. I feel like in the past I may have struggled with managers that sort of don’t understand me or the person I am more off the pitch than on it. She totally understands and knows how to mould it so it helps me better. On the pitch, it’s obvious to see that she’s very good at what she does.”
Having joined Wrexham with the season already underway, Knox had to battle for her place in the team and her first three league appearances came off the bench.
“Coming into a team that was already performing, I knew that it was going to be difficult to get into the team,” she explains. “But that’s for me to showcase in training what I can do, and work my way in. I wouldn’t want my place through anything but working for it.
“Coming in with players like Evie Sadler, I knew Evie before I came to Wrexham, so that helped the transition really well because we were both in the same situation, but also the group of girls are amazing. I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls to come into a new club, they were so welcoming and filled me with confidence because I’ve come from a club where I was playing every game, playing 90 minutes, so I didn’t know what it felt like for a while to sit on the bench.”
Early season success for Knox came in cup competitions. The 21-year-old registered 12 goal contributions across the Bute Energy Welsh Cup and Genero Adran Trophy, and of course the latter, Wrexham would go onto win. Knox scored the winning penalty as The Red Dragons beat Cardiff City in a shootout in Bangor.
“Cup games help because when you’re a new player and you’re settling in, they give you the opportunity to come and express yourself when other key players might be getting a rest, that’s your time to shine.
“It also felt nice to play in those cup games. Playing at NFA in Rhyl, that’s where I grew up, that’s where I’m from. So it felt nice and a bit of a throwback, full-circle moment to be able to play there and score a hat-trick.
“To win a trophy anywhere no matter what trophy it is it’s huge for the confidence. It was verifying for the group that we are on the right track and we’re heading towards where we’re meant to be. It was a massive aim for us to win silverware this season, so to be able to do it and tick the first one off was really important.”
The turn of the year has seen Knox’s goal tally significantly increase, scoring 12 goals in all competitions in 2026 so far.
“As an attacker that’s your key statistic in football is to score goals,” Knox explains. “That’s what will keep me pushing forward and achieving what I want to achieve in football. I like to think I’m an entertaining player, with that comes scoring goals. If I’m doing well and scoring that helps the team, which is the most important thing.”
Wrexham return to the StōK Cae Ras for the second time this season on Sunday, with over 2,000 supporters expected to be in attendance for a potentially historic occasion.
“I don’t think I’ve been at a club where the fanbase for the women’s side is like this,” Knox says. “Even the stuff off the pitch like all the podcasts, the talk, the social media, it is a bit crazy especially in women’s football, I don’t think it happens a lot.
“They’ve been huge, sometimes they’re our extra player on the pitch, if we’re losing or even if we’re winning, they’re still loud, they’re still there. I hope they always stick with us.
“Coming to Wrexham that’s something you want to do (play at the StōK Cae Ras). When I first arrived they gave us a little tour of the Racecourse, and you think I want to play here.
“I’ve been in the crowd at the Racecourse watching the women before. To actually be on the pitch this time will be a great experience for me and my family as well because they’ll be in the crowd.”
The mission for Wrexham on Sunday is simple. Win, and a first ever Genero Adran Premier title is theirs. It would also complete a domestic double after their Genero Adran Trophy triumph and mark somewhat of a changing of the guard following Cardiff City’s dominance in recent years.
“That’s best-case scenario if we get that done, it would be huge for the club,” Knox says. “For everyone involved, we’ve put so much into it, the commitment that goes in every week. For players it’s the one everyone thinks about, but for staff as well the amount of hours they put in. I don’t think we’d be able to do what we do on a Sunday and have got this far if they didn’t have their input.
“As a team here at Wrexham it’s to keep doing what we’re doing, keep progressing. If we do manage to win the league this season, then we want to do it again. The trophy that we have been knocked out of this season, we want to win that one next season. It’s to keep being successful but keep developing as people and players.”
