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Chelsea Humphreys will be the League Two club’s Her Game Too Ambassador and Nicola Hughes is the Her Game Too Advocate.
They have both already been involved with the campaign through Her Game Too Cymru and now hope to help create a welcoming environment for female fans and champion women in football at their club.
Chelsea’s first encounter with Wrexham was back in 2012, when she and a group of friends walked past Y Cae Ras (The Racecourse Ground) and were drawn in by the noise.
“We won that game and I just remember the roar when each goal went in - I'd never heard or felt anything like it before and that's what made me want to go back,” she recalls.
Nicola’s earliest memory was against Burnley in the early-90s: “I just remember loving absolutely everything - from handing my money over at the turnstiles, getting a programme, finding a seat and seeing what the team was.
“I was fascinated by how different the experience was compared with just watching at home.”
Both Chelsea and Nicola regard Wrexham winning the National League title at home to Boreham Wood last season as one of their overwhelming highlights of following the team.
Chelsea recalls: “It wasn't until that third goal went in, when I thought ‘wow, it's really happening’ - I just burst into tears.
“Running onto the pitch with friends, family and familiar faces to celebrate with our players - I have never experienced a feeling like that before or since.
“Going into town and meeting, singing and celebrating with the players that night is my favourite memory.”
Nicola was motivated to become part of Her Game Too because she felt the contribution women make in football wasn’t appreciated or celebrated enough.
“Women’s football and women in football are constantly dismissed.
“The moments I can recall have been when we’ve had female officials and any mistakes were put down to their gender.
“I regularly hear male players called ‘girls’ and ‘tarts’ and social media can be particularly difficult, but you learn to report any sexism you see and scroll on.”
Chelsea has lost count of the number of times she’s been asked what the offside rule is - something she’s never heard a male fan being asked - and she’s been told to “sit down, love” when giving an opinion in the stands.
“When I first became a Wrexham fan, it wasn't cool to be a Wrexham fan. It wasn't long after the club was saved by our fans and we lost to Newport to get promoted, so it was a pretty dark time at the club.
“People would put my support down to me wanting to get boys' attention.
“I resorted to deleting my social media I used to express my opinions on football and not talking about my journey following Wrexham, because I was afraid of being accused of supporting the club for the wrong reasons.”
Chelsea said she felt “such pride” when Wrexham partnered with Her Game Too and wanted to become involved to help make positive changes.
“I know what it feels like to experience sexist abuse and not feel safe or welcome supporting my club. I don't want any girl or woman to feel the way I’ve felt in the past and I want people to enjoy following Wrexham for what it is and not let their gender get in the way of that.”
Chelsea and Nicola have both already been involved with Her Game Too Cymru events, including attending dedicated fixtures, giving media interviews and speaking to Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson, fans and other staff at the club about the campaign.
Their ideas for this season include achieving a presence of Her Game Too flags and merchandise at Cae Ras, encouraging a wider range of drinks at the stadium including a cocktail tap, holding dedicated fixtures, recruiting men’s and women’s players as campaign advocates, hosting a women’s game at Y Cae Ras and having QR codes around the ground for anyone needing to report sexist abuse.
They would also love to see Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney support the campaign.
“I believe Rob and Ryan are so proud of the partnership with Wrexham and I hope everyone will be seeing them in Her Game Too badges and merchandise,” Chelsea said.
Nicola added: “It would be incredible to get Rob and Ryan on board as advocates and get the opportunity to talk with them about our plans for Her Game Too.”
Wrexham’s growth since the Hollywood owners came on board two years ago has transformed the club’s fortunes and following.
“People are spending so much time and money to travel around the world to visit little old Wrexham, it's surreal,” Chelsea said.
“Our shirt sales have gone from being on the sale rack at the end of the season to having to pre-order them and selling out in minutes!
“The profit and the interest in the club is nothing but positive and allows us to sign quality players and pay their wages. In the same breath however, in such a tight knit community our football clubs are our pride and joy - they are ‘ours’.
“While it’s positive, it’s a difficult pill to swallow when you’re missing out on tickets to people who haven’t been there through the tough times when the club needed them the most.
“Also, with growth comes jealousy. There is so much negativity out there and the club gets hate consistently.
“We’ve been so lucky to have Rob and Ryan purchase our football club and to have them as owners who genuinely care - it still feels like a ‘pinch me’ moment. We couldn’t wish for a better position to be in and I’m so grateful to Rob and Ryan for everything they’ve done - not just for our men's football club, but for our women's team and our community.”
Nicola added: “I’d love it if, by the end of this season, we’ve got Her Game Too out there in the club and people know who we are, what we do and that Chelsea and I can offer support with any sexism they experience.
“There are so many young girls supporting the club and I want them to grow up knowing Wrexham is just as much for them.”
Mae CPD Wrecsam wedi dod yn glwb diweddaraf i gael tim llysgennad gefnogwr Gêm Hi Hefyd.
Chelsea Humphreys yw’r llysgennad Gêm Hi Hefyd i’r glwb Cynghrair Dau ag mae Nicola Hughes yn eiriolwr Gêm Hi Hefyd.
Mae’r ddwy ohonnyn wedi bod yn rhan o’r ymgrych yn barod trwy Gêm Hi Hefyd Cymru ag rwan yn gobeithio helpu i greu amgylchedd croesawgar i gefnogwyr benywaid ac i hyrwyddo merched mewn pel-droed yn eu clwb.
Gem cyntaf Chelsea roedd nol yn 2012, pan fydd hi’n cerdded heibio’r Cae Ras gyda grwp o ffrindiau ag di cael ei dynnu i mewn gan y swn.
“Enillon ni’r gem honno ag rydw i’n cofio’r rhuo pryd nath bob gol mynd i mewn. Ni fyddwn byth dy glywed na deimlo unrhyw beth fel hynny erioed a dyna beth wnaeth gwneud i mi mynd yn ol - y deimlad”, mae hi’n cofio.
Mae cof cynharaf Nicola oedd yn erbyn Burnley yn y 90au fuan. “Rydw i’n cofio caru pob dim – o talu ar y drostile, prynnu rhaglen, ffeindio fy sedd ag yn gweld y tim. Roedd i’n ymgolli gyda pa mor wahanol roedd y profiad o’i gymharu gyda gwylio gartref.”
Mae Chelsea a Nicola yn ysteried Wrexham yn ennill y teitl Gynghrair Genedlaethol yn gartref I Boreham Wood tymor diwethaf fel un o’u hysgubol uchafbwynt o ddilyn y tim.
Mae Chelsea yn cofio “Nid oedd tan y drydedd gol fynd i mewn pryd nath i meddwl ‘wow, mae o’n wir yn digwydd’, wnes I jyst beichio wylo. Rhedeg ar y cae gyda ffrindiau, teulu a wynebau cyfarwydd i ddathlu gyda ein chwaraewyr – Nid wyf erioed wedi teimlo fel hynny o’r blaen neu ers hynny. Mynd i’r dref a chyfarfod, canu and ddathlu gyda’r chwaraewyr nos hynny yw hoff atgof erioed”.
Roedd Nicola yn brwdfrydig i ddod rhan o Gêm Hi Hefyd oherwydd wnaeth hi teimlo nid oedd y gyfraniad mae menywod yn wneud mewn bel-droed yn cael ei werthfawrogi na’i ddathlu’n ddigonol.
Mae Nicola yn credu “bod pel-droed merched a menywod mewn bel-droed yn cael eu disgwyddo’n gyson. Dwi’n gallu cofi pan fyddwn wedi cael swyddogion benywaidd a rhoddwyd unrhyw gamgymeriadau i’w rhywedd. Dw i’n gweld a chlywed yn aml chwaraewyr gwrywaidd yn cael ei enwi ‘merched’ neu ‘tarts’ ac mae cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn gallu bod yn arbennig o annod, ond da chi’n ddysgu i riportio unrhyw rywiaeth da chi’n weld a sgrolio arno”.
Mae Chelsea wedi colli cyfrif y nifer o weithiau mae pobl wedi gofyn iddi beth yw’r rheol camsefyll, cwestiwn da ni byth yn glywed pobl yn ofyn i ddynion!
Mae hi hefyd wedi cael ei hysbusu i “eistedd lawr, cariad” wrth roi barn hi yn yr eisteddle. Mae Chelsea yn dweud “Pan ddeuthym yn gefnogwyr Wrecsam i’r tro cyntaf, nid oedd yn cwl i gefnogi Wrecsam. Nid oedd yn hir ar old i’r glwb cael eu archub gan y gefnogwyr na rhy hir ar ol golli i Gasnewydd i gael dyrchafiad, felly roedd yn amser tywyll yn y clwb.
Byddai pobl yn rhoi fy gefnogaeth lawr i eisiau sylw gan fechgyn. Wnes i droi i ddileu fy gyfryngau cymdeithasol roedd i’n defnyddio i fynegi fy barn ar bel-droed a beidio siarad am fy siwrnai yn ddilyn Wrecsam, yn ofni cael eu cyhuddo o gefnogi’r clwb am y rhesymau anghywir”.
Dywedodd Chelsea ei bod yn teimlo “gymaint o falchder” pan wnaeth Wrecsam partneri gyda Gêm Hi Hefyd ag eisiau bod yn rhan ohonno i helpu wneud newidiadau cadarnhaol.
“Dwi’n gwybod y deimlad i brofi cam-drin rhywiaethol a beidio teimlo’n ddiogel na deimlo’n croeso yn gefnogi fy nglwb. Dydw i ddim eisiau i unrhyw ferch neu fenyw deimlo fel yr wyf wedi teilmo yn yr gorffennol a dwi eisiau pobl mwynhau ddilyn Wrecsam a pheidio a gadael i’w rhyw cael yn y ffordd o hynny.”.
Mae Chelsea a Nicola wedi cymryd rhan yn barod gyda digwyddiadau Gêm Hi Hefyd Cymru gan fynd i gosodiadau pwrpasol, rhoi cyfweliadau cyfryngau a siarad i rheolwr Wrecsam, Phil Parkinson, cefnogwyr a staff y glwb am yr ymgyrch.
Mae eu syniadau tymor yma yn cynnwys cael marsiandiaeth a fflagiau Gem Hi Hefyd yn y Cae Ras, annog ystod ehangoch o ddiodydd yn y stadiwm, gan gynnwys tap coctel, dal gosodiadau pwrpasol, recriwtio chwaraewyr y tim dynion a menywod fel eiriolwyr, dal gem y tim menywod yn Y Cae Ras, fel tymor diwethaf, a cael codau QR o gwmpas Y Cae Ras i gallu adroddi unrhyw bygwth cam-drin rhywiaethol.
Byddent hefyd wrth eu bodd yn gweld perchnogion Wrecsam, Ryan Reynolds a Rob McElhenney yn gefnogi’r ymgyrch. “Dwi’n credi bod Rob a Ryan yn falch o’r partneriaeth a dwi’n gobeithio gweld nhw yn gwisgio bathodynnau Gêm Hi Hefyd.”, dywedodd Chelsea.
Wnaeth Nicola ychwanegu “Byddai’n anhygoel cael Rob a Ryan fel eiriolwyr a chael y cyfle i siarad gyda nhw am ein cynlluniau am Gêm Hi Hefyd”.
Mae twf Wrecsam ers i’r perchnogion Hollywood dod ddwy flynedd yn ol wedi trawsnewid ffawdd y clwb.
“Mae pobl yn gwario gymaint o arian ag amser i deithio o gwmpas y byd i ymweld a Wrecsam bach, mae’n annhygoel!”, dywedodd Chelsea.
“Mae ein gwerthiant crysiau wedi mynd o fod ar y rac wedi disgowntio ar ddiwedd y tymor, i angen archeb ymlaen llaw a’r crysiau yn gwerthu mewn munudau. Mae’r elw a’r diddordeb yn y clwb yn ddim byd ond bositif ac yn caiatau i ni arwyddo charaewyr ansawdd a thalu eu cyflogau nhw. Yn yr un anadl fodd bynnag, mewn cymuned mor glos, clybiau pel-droed yw ein balchder a’n llawenydd – mae’r clybiau yn glybiau ‘ni’.
“Er ei fod yn bositif, mae’n bilsen anodd ei llyncu pan fyddwch chi’n colli allan ar docynnau i bobl nid oedd yno tryw’r cyfnodd anodd pan oedd y clwb eu hangen nhw fwyaf. Hefyd, gyda thwf daw eiddigedd, ae gymaint o negyddiaeth allan yna ac mae’r clwb yn cael casineb yn gyson.
“Da ni wedi bod mor lwcus i gael Rob a Ryan yn prunu ein glwb peb-droed a’u cael nhw fel perchnogion sydd wir yn gofalu am y clwb a’r gymuned. Mae’n dal i deimlo fel eiliad ‘pinsio fi’. Da ni ddim yn gallu dymuno cael sefyllfa gwell a rydw i, a Wrecsam mor ddiolchgar i Rob a Ryan am bopeth mae nhw wedi’i wneud, nid yn unig i’n clwb pel-droed dynion, ond i’n tim merched a’n cymuned”.
Wnaeth Nicola ychwanegu “byddwn i wrth fy modd pe baem ni erbyn diwedd y tymor hwn, wedi cael Gêm Hi Hefyd allan yna yn a clwb ac mae pobl yn gwybod pwy ydyn ni, beth rydyn ni’n ei wneyd a bod Chelsea a minnau yn gallu cynnig cefnogaeth gydag unrhyw rywiaeth maen nhw’n ei brofi.
Mae cymaint o ferched ifanc yn cefnogi’r clwb ac rwyf am iddyn nhw dyfu i fyny gan wybod bod Wrecsam iddyn nhw hefyd”.