Wrexham vs Cardiff City: A Historic Rivalry
Does a match between two clubs separated by 138 miles truly deserve the title of a derby?
Wrexham will host Cardiff City in the fourth round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday, a fixture that has sparked significant interest.
Cardiff fans typically regard Swansea City and Bristol City as their primary rivals, while Wrexham's historical adversaries include Chester City and Shrewsbury Town.
However, despite the geographical distance and the fact that it has been 21 years since their last encounter, the rivalry between these clubs extends beyond the pitch.
This matchup represents a clash between north and south Wales, highlighting the birthplace of Welsh football against the capital city.
BBC Wales Sport explores the factors that contribute to the intensity of this rivalry, despite the clubs being situated at opposite ends of the country.
Wrexham and Cardiff: A Historical Overview
Founded in 1864, Wrexham is the oldest football club in Wales and the third-oldest professional football team globally. The town is recognized as the birthplace of Welsh football, with the Football Association of Wales established at the Wynnstay Arms Hotel in 1876.
Cardiff City, originally established as Riverside AFC in 1905, adopted its current name in 1908 and joined the Southern Football League in 1910 before becoming a part of the English Football League in 1920.
Both clubs have a rich history of success in cup competitions and are the most successful teams in the Welsh Cup, with Wrexham claiming the title 23 times and Cardiff 22 times. The winners historically qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup, with Cardiff reaching the semi-finals in the 1967-68 season and Wrexham achieving a famous victory over Porto in 1984.
Both clubs have also had remarkable FA Cup victories against Arsenal, with Cardiff becoming the first and only Welsh club to win the FA Cup in 1927, while Wrexham stunned the football world in 1992 by defeating the reigning First Division champions 2-1.
A significant distinction lies in their aspirations for the Premier League; Cardiff has reached this pinnacle twice, while it remains a dream for Wrexham's owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Contrasting Ownership: Reynolds, McElhenney & Tan
While both clubs are foreign-owned, the differences between Wrexham's and Cardiff City's ownership could not be more pronounced. Hollywood actors Reynolds and McElhenney have revitalized Wrexham since their takeover in 2021, leading the club from non-league obscurity to the Championship, just one step away from the Premier League.
Their involvement, along with the 'Welcome to Wrexham' documentary, has significantly increased the club's global profile. In contrast, Malaysian billionaire Vincent Tan's controversial ownership of Cardiff began in 2010, during which the club has fluctuated between the Premier League and League One. Tan's decision to alter the club's logo led to a backlash, and he was compelled to revert the team's colors from blue to red in 2012. His absence from home matches since 2023 has raised concerns about his commitment to the club.
The North-South Wales Rivalry
Their first encounter in the Welsh Cup final took place in 1920, but they did not meet in league play until 1975. Both clubs experienced a decline in the 1980s, dropping to the Fourth Division, but the Welsh Cup provided a silver lining, culminating in a final clash in 1988, where Cardiff secured a cup and promotion double.
Throughout the 1990s, the teams frequently faced each other in the Football League, notably in a promotion battle in 1993 when Cardiff edged out Wrexham for the Third Division title. Wrexham later avenged this loss by winning the last Welsh Cup that included English teams.
Meetings between the two clubs have become infrequent, with only four encounters in the past three decades. The last league match took place in March 2002, where Cardiff triumphed 3-2, while their most recent clash was in the FAW Premier Cup semi-final in 2004, which Wrexham won on penalties.
The rivalry transcends football; the Football Association of Wales controversially relocated its headquarters from Wrexham to Cardiff in 1986, although both cities remain hosts for the national team. Wrexham's Stok Cae Ras, formerly the Racecourse Ground, is the oldest international football stadium still hosting matches.
In recent years, the rivalry has expanded to women's football, with Cardiff City defeating Wrexham in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup final for the last two seasons.
“Competing for the Top Spot in Wales”
Waynne Phillips and Nathan Blake, who have both played in Wrexham-Cardiff matches, shared their perspectives on the rivalry. Phillips, a former Wrexham midfielder, was part of the team that defeated Cardiff in the Welsh Cup final in 1995. He stated, “Cardiff is a derby because of the rivalry between two clubs - and it will always be that. Until now, Wrexham has been behind Cardiff for the last 20 years, having played in the highest league. Both clubs will argue their case, but with everything happening, Wrexham is the biggest club.”
Blake, a former Wales international and member of the Cardiff team that won the Division Three title in 1994, reflected, “Looking back at the nineties, it was a derby. Joey Jones would have the Wrexham boys all fired up, and both teams would travel in large numbers, which speaks volumes. There are four Football League clubs in Wales, and they are all competing for the number one spot.”