'It's a bit crazy' – Arthur Okonkwo reveals quirky pre-match superstition that leaves him 'a bit dry' ahead of Wrexham's clash with Birmingham

The 23-year-old shot-stopper is back at SToK Racecourse in 2024-25 on a permanent basis, having rejoined the club that he helped to promotion out of League Two last season. Okonkwo has bought into the project being pieced together by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in North Wales.

His stock has soared alongside that of many club colleagues, with the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary series making household names of Football League stars. Okonkwo and Co continue to do the business on the pitch, with a standing taken up at the top of League One.

Whatever Okonkwo is doing, it is clearly working. He has told GQ Sports of the processes that he goes through to ensure that he is ready for action: “My absolute essential – my goalie gloves. When it comes to gloves, most important is aesthetic; how it looks, I want to feel good when I’m playing. Adidas, we’ve been together for years now and then comfortability, which is also important, and that’s two things Adidas have been able to do. I just have a superstition now, where I need to use a new pair of gloves every game. When I normally tell people that, they say it’s a bit crazy, but I like to give them away to fans, who absolutely love it, but it leaves me a bit dry of gloves. And you know you have my gloves if there’s a name on the label.”

Okonkwo’s precious hands will be protected by a new pair of gloves when Wrexham return to action on Monday. Their eagerly-anticipated clash with fellow promotion hopefuls Birmingham at St Andrew’s will be attended by co-chairman McElhenney, Blues investor Tom Brady and Manchester United legend David Beckham.