Wrexham have added an eighth new close season signing in their quest to launch a major challenge for promotion to the Football League.
The Dragons have signed highly-rated defender Michael Chambers on a one-year deal.
The London-born centre-back follows forwards JJ Hooper, Devonte Redmond, Leighton McIntosh and Mark Harris to the Racecourse plus midfield man Adam Barton, right-back Jazzi Barnum-Bobb and goalkeeper Dawid Szczepaniak.
A number of non-League and League Two clubs were keen on Chambers, who started his career with Dulwich Hamlet and then moved to Crystal Palace in a £100,000 transfer.
He spent time on-loan with Harrow Borough and Welling before returning to Hamlet in 2016.
“I’m delighted to be here,” said Chambers, aged 25. “I came in for a few days and played for Wrexham against Fleetwood. It felt right and comfortable.
“I have played some games for EFL teams and there was interested from them, but after being here, seeing the town and spending time with the other players it was always in my mind that I wanted to sign for Wrexham.
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“I think I’m what they call a modern centre-half. I’m left sided and can get the ball down and play.”
Dragons’ manager Bryan Hughes is delighted with his latest recruit, saying: “He had loads of interest from a lot of clubs in our league and from League Two. It’s fantastic news that he is all signed up as a Wrexham player.
“He is an extremely good footballer, intelligent with the ball and a commanding defender who will give us balance being left-footed. He adds even more quality to what was already statistically the best defence in the league last season.”
Wrexham defender Doug Tharme has joined Vanarama National League North side AFC Telford United on loan.
The 19-year-old has joined Telford until December 28 and Hughes says: “It will be great for Doug to go out and play games at a good level. It’s the perfect opportunity for him to go out there and perform.
“Doug will hopefully enjoy the experience and come back hunting for a place in our side. We will monitor his progress closely.”
Wrexham FC pre-season fixtures/results
June
Saturday 29 v Cefn Druids 0, Wrexham 4 (away at the Rock)
July
Friday 5 Fleetwood Town 1, Wrexham 0
Wednesday 9 v Portimonense SC 1 Wrexham 0 (at Estádio Municipal de Portimão, Portugal)
Saturday 13 AFC Telford United 0, Wrexham 2
Wednesday 17 Wrexham 1, Stoke City 3
Saturday 20 Curzon Ashton 0, Wrexham 2
Saturday 27 v Crewe Alexandra (home at the Racecourse, 3pm).
Wrexham start their 2019/20 Vanarama National League season with a home game against Barrow on Saturday, August 3.
The Dragons’ first away trip takes them to Boreham Wood a few days later, on Tuesday, August 6, before a visit to Dover Athletic the following Saturday.
The first midweek fixture under the Racecourse floodlights comes when Wrexham welcome Halifax Town to North Wales on Tuesday, August 13.
Wrexham have been paired with Chorley for the festive fixtures, welcoming the newly-promoted Magpies to the Racecourse on Boxing Day before a trip to Victoria Park on New Year’s Day.
The final home game of the season is against Notts County on Saturday, April 18, while Wrexham’s Vanarama National League season concludes at Stockport County at Edgeley Park the following week.
Two Wrexham home matches will be broadcast live on BT Sport television over the first three months of next season.
TV cameras will be at the Racecourse for Wrexham v Sutton United on Saturday, September 15 (5.20pm) and Wrexham v Chesterfield on Saturday, October 12 (5.20pm)
All 24 Clubs in The National League will be shown live by the broadcaster within the first three months of the campaign (see list below).
Vanarama National League fixtures being shown live on BT Sport television over the first three months of the season
August
Saturday 3: Stockport County v Maidenhead United (12.30pm)
Saturday 10: Notts County v Barnet (5.20pm)
Saturday 17: Barrow v Yeovil Town (5.20pm)
Saturday 24: Torquay United v Aldershot Town (5.20pm)
Monday 26: Solihull Moors v Eastleigh (7.45pm)
Saturday 31: Chorley v Boreham Wood (5.20pm)
Saturday
Wednesday 4: Dagenham & Redbridge v Bromley (7.45pm)
Saturday 7: Hartlepool United v Woking (7.30pm)
Saturday 14: Wrexham v Sutton United (5.20pm)
Saturday 21: AFC Fylde v Eastleigh (5.20pm)
Saturday 28: Dover Athletic v FC Halifax Town (5.20pm)
October
Saturday 5: Harrogate Town v Ebbsfleet United (5.20pm)
Thursday 10: Stockport County v Hartlepool United (7.45pm)
Saturday 12: Wrexham v Chesterfield (5.20pm)
Wrexham’s full 2019-20 National League schedule
August
Sat 3 – Barrow H
Tues 6 – Boreham Wood A
Sat 10 – Dover Athletic A
Tues 13 – FC Halifax Town H
Sat 17 – Notts County A
Sat 24 – Barnet H
Mon 26 – Hartlepool United A
Sat 31 – Stockport County H
Saturday
Tues 3 – Maidenhead United H
Sat 7 – Solihull Moors A [Scottish Challenge Cup R3]
Sat 14 – Sutton United H
Sat 21 – Aldershot Town A
Tues 24 – AFC Fylde A
Sat 28 – Ebbsfleet United H
October
Sat 5 – Woking A
Tues 8 – Harrogate Town H
Sat 12 – Chesterfield H [Scottish Challenge Cup R4]
Sat 19 – Emirates FA Cup 4Q
Sat 26 – Dagenham & Redbridge A
Tues 29 – Torquay United A
November
Sat 2 – Bromley H
Sat 9 – Emirates FA Cup R1
Sat 16 – Eastleigh A [Scottish Challenge Cup QF]
Sat 23 – Yeovil Town H
Tues 26 – AFC Fylde H
Sat 30 – Ebbsfleet United A [Emirates FA Cup R2]
December
Sat 7 – Solihull Moors H
Sat 14 – Buildbase FA Trophy R1
Sat 21 – Sutton United A
Tues 26 – Chorley H
Sat 28 – Maidenhead United A
January
Wed 1 – Chorley A
Sat 4 – Aldershot Town H [Emirates FA Cup R3]
Sat 11 – Buildbase FA Trophy R2
Sat 18 – Woking H
Sat 25 – Harrogate Town A [Emirates FA Cup R4]
February
Sat 1 – Dagenham & Redbridge H
Sat 8 – Chesterfield A [Buildbase FA Trophy R3]
Sat 15 – Torquay United H [Scottish Challenge Cup SF]
Sat 22 – Bromley A
Sat 29 – Yeovil Town A [Buildbase FA Trophy R4]
March
Wed 4 – Emirates FA Cup R5
Sat 7 – Eastleigh H
Sat 14 – Barrow A
Sat 21 – Boreham Wood H [Emirates FA Cup QF/Buildbase FA Trophy SF1]
Sat 28 – FC Halifax Town A [FA Trophy SF2/Scottish Challenge Cup Final]
April
Sat 4 – Dover Athletic H
Fri 10 – Hartlepool United H
Mon 13 – Barnet A
Sat 18 – Notts County H [Emirates FA Cup SF]
Sat 25 – Stockport County A
May
Sun 17 – Buildbase FA Trophy Final
Sat 23 – Emirates FA Cup Final
