BEN TOZER is proud of the fact he didn't miss a minute of Wrexham's record-breaking campaign and says following it up with another promotion was the perfect way to end his three-year spell at The Racecourse.
Centre-back Tozer has not been offered a new contract by manager Phil Parkinson but he leaves with his head held high having helped the Reds reach League One.
Brought in from Cheltenham Town in August 2021, Tozer and his team-mates were beaten 5-4 by Grimsby Town in the National League play-off semi-final but success soon followed.
Wrexham clinched the title in 2022-23 after finishing with a best-ever 111 points haul and then went from strength to strength on the return to the Football League, taking runners-up spot behind Stockport County in League Two to secure back-to-back promotions for the first time in the club's history.
Tozer's journey with the Reds has come to an end but the 34-year-old, who was club captain, is rightly pleased with what he achieved during his time in north Wales.
"It's sad to be leaving but I understand the situation," said Tozer. "That's part and parcel of football and ultimately, that's life. That's the way it is.
"But my objective when I signed was to help get the club back into League One and it is mission complete in my eyes.
"It is the way that I wanted it to go.
"I was so desperate in the first year to get the club out of the National League and to lose in the manner we did in the play-offs was disappointing.
"But we did it in the second year and had a record-breaking season.
"To then go back-to-back, I don't think it could have gone any better and what a way to finish my time at the club."
Tozer was still a Cheltenham player when Parkinson's men kicked off the 2021-22 campaign with a 2-2 draw at Solihull Moors but joined Wrexham a few days later and then started every other league and cup game that season.
The run in the side continued in 2022-23 and Tozer started and finished all 46 National League games as the Reds clinched automatic promotion and return to the Football League following a 15-year absence.
"I'd done it before but for me to have played every minute of every league game in that record-breaking season is such a nice thing to do," said Tozer.
"Even though it is a self accolade but to achieve that.
"Not only that but mentally, physically and emotionally, to go through every minute of every game and come out the other end successful is something I am proud of."
Tozer started the opening 11 League Two games this term and when he was absent for the 1-0 win at Crawley on October 7, the run of starting 100 league games in a row for Wrexham came to an end.
"When you look at that, it is incredible really," said Tozer, who wasn't aware of that statistic.
"When you are in the moment, you are literally just ticking each game off as it comes.
"If you said to me you are going to play the next 100 games in a row, I would probably be a bit overwhelmed.
"If you are playing every minute of every game in a team that is not doing well, it doesn't necessarily reflect as well as playing every minute of every game in a team that is doing well."
Following a brief spell out of the team, Tozer quickly regained his place and enjoyed another run in the side as Wrexham challenged for a top-three finish.
But the 1-0 defeat at home to Bradford City on February 10 proved to be his last start for the club as Eoghan O'Connell lined up as the middle centre-back for the final 17 league matches.
Tozer only made three substitutes appearances during the run-in but despite losing his place, he didn't sulk and was a key figure in the dressing room driving on his team-mates to another promotion.
"That is just me and my personality, that's the way I am," added Tozer, who still made 29 league appearances in 2023-24.
"I am a winner. I just want to win and I just want to do everything right in that moment to help the team.
"I am sure it has been said before that individuals win games but teams win competitions, tournaments, leagues, whatever.
"Something I have always lived by is just be the best team-mate you can possibly be every day.
"Whether that is pulling someone up for not doing the right things or being a cheerleader on the touchline.
"That's the way I see it and that's the way it has to be."
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