AN INCLUSIVE football team for people with disabilities has ended its link with Wrexham AFC.

Formed independently in 2011 and originally playing as Wrexham Disabled Supporters Association FC, in the past seven years Wrexham Inclusion FC (IFC) have achieved much in partnership with Wrexham AFC.

Wrexham IFC play regularly in Europe and have a number of players whom represent their country at international level.

This success brings opportunities as well as all of the responsibilities associated with running a club that goes well beyond football, and works with some otherwise often vulnerable and disadvantaged people to enable them to transform their lives. – the work they do on and off the field is truly inspirational.

With these responsibilities and opportunities in mind the WST and Wrexham AFC’s registered charity The Racecourse Community Foundation (RCF) have been holding a series of consultation meetings with the leadership team of the Wrexham IFC over the past few months to explore the possibility of formally integrating their independent organisation into the operational framework of ‘Wrexham AFC’ as when the club achieves Football League status we can only be associated with one charity partner. Wrexham IFC have decided to go their own way and keep their own independence.

This independent operation means that they can pursue their own charitable status and explore commercial sponsorship and the like outside of the family of ‘Wrexham AFC’. This also means that as of next season while they continue to play as Wrexham Inclusion FC they will launch their own badge and identity just to avoid any confusion. A Wrexham AFC spokesman said that the club “remain great friends with Wrexham Inclusion FC they are part of our great football community”.

He added: “We will keep a close eye on their future success.”

A spokesman for Wrexham Inclusion FC added: “The Wrexham Inclusion FC would like to go on record to officially thank everybody involved at Wrexham AFC for their continuous support over the years they have been involved.

“This came in many forms ranging from match tickets, programme pages, bucket collections, funding support, marketing and furthering our presence through the football club itself as well as many other strands, we hope Wrexham AFC continues to go from strength to strength.”