From Eurovision to European football, it has been a memorable summer for Jodie Bartle and her family. The Wrexham captain is preparing for Saturday's Women's Champions League first qualifying round final against Riga FC at the Racecourse at 18:00 BST.
In May, older brother Sam Battle – better known by his stage name Look Mum No Computer – flew the flag for the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. Although the electro-pop anthem Eins, Zwei, Drei finished last with a single point, Bartle says it was an unforgettable experience for the family.
"Going to Austria was absolutely immense," Bartle said. "My brother had the best time and so did we.
"Him going to Europe and representing the UK and then me now for Wales.
"My family have not known where to go. Here and there, they've been pulled left, right and centre, bless them."
Bartle appeared in the video for Eins, Zwei, Drei, filmed soon after Wrexham became Welsh champions for the first time. The silverware Bartle lifted - The Adran Premier trophy - makes a cameo appearance.
"I knew that I was going to be part of the video," Bartle added.
"I said 'when we win that trophy, I'm taking it with me so don't have any plans for it'. It's a bit of a crossover, which is pretty cool."
Image caption: Jodie Bartle also played for Coventry
Bartle joined Wrexham in August 2025 after leaving Newcastle United, with the lure of playing in the Champions League once again a big factor. She played in the competition five years ago during her time at Celtic, losing to Spain's Levante and FC Minsk of Belarus.
"I had unfinished business, I wanted to compete in this competition again and I very much wanted to go and win a game," said Bartle.
"My first game in the Champions League, I let the occasion get to me. I didn't deal properly with the emotions.
"I gave away a penalty, got yellow carded when it should have been a red card and then was subbed off in the second half.
"Those experiences have definitely helped me and hopefully helped the team."
How did Wrexham's European debut go?
Bartle finally celebrated her first win in the Champions League on Wednesday evening when Wrexham beat FC Pyunik 4-2 on their European debut. Victory in the first qualifying round semi-final at the Racecourse was the first time a Welsh side had won in the competition since 2019.
"At the end of the game I had tears in my eyes. It was a really emotional moment for me and us as a team," Bartle said.
"It was so important to us. We set our sights so high and if there's an opportunity to make history, we want to go and do it.
"That we did that at the first time of asking is phenomenal. A lot of us struggled to sleep on Wednesday night - we were buzzing."
What comes next for Wrexham?
Wrexham now turn their attention to Saturday's Women's Champions League first qualifying round final against Riga FC at the Racecourse, where Bartle will again be central to their hopes of making more history in Europe. The club's run has already delivered a landmark result, and the captain says the squad have been driven by the chance to go further on their first appearance in the competition.
