Racecourse Field, Wrexham
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Wrexham fans will probably be singing long into the night, serenading their famous owners in the process, because the wait for the promotion is finally over.
On a raucous night at the racecourse, and with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the actors who have transformed the club since their takeover in 2021, at the stadium, Wrexham secured promotion to the Football League after a 15-year absence.
“I'm not sure I can process what happened tonight, I'm still a little speechless,” Reynolds told reporters after the game.
“One thing that comes to mind again and again is that at first people said 'Why Wrexham, why Wrexham'? “This is exactly why Wrexham, what is happening right now, is the reason.”
Once the referee blew his whistle, securing a 3-1 comeback against Boreham Wood, thousands of fans rushed onto the pitch, the victorious players disappearing into the red mist as fans lit flares, waved banners and got lost in the the moment. Television cameras showed McElhenney shedding a tear.
“I think we can hear what the city feels and that's the most important thing for us; I think this is a moment of catharsis for them,” McElhenney said.
“For us, being welcomed into their community and being welcomed into this experience has been the time of my life.”
It will be said that this was a story made in Hollywood, but the truth is that the story was always here, waiting for Hollywood. The historic small town club saved from the abyss by its fans, once in the upper echelons of the English football league system only to fall into the National League, its fortunes declined both on and off the pitch.
But then along came Reynolds and McElhenney and Hollywood did what it does best: add stardust and hope to create a magical conclusion to what is the end of a chapter, not the story.
Wrexham will compete next season in League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league. Three more promotions and they will be in the English Premier League; easy to write, much harder to achieve.
Hours before kickoff, near the stadium you could hear the sound of horns and fans singing. The atmosphere was being set for a kickoff that had been moved later in the day so it could be broadcast live on television.
There was no doubting the importance of the occasion: win and the championship would be for Wrexham and their first promotion since being relegated to the National League in April 2008.
But the team had been here before and failed. There was optimism (this team has only lost three times this season and has only dropped two points at home), but also some uncertainty. Seeds of doubt are difficult to remove after years of near misses.
Fans flocked to the city, hotels were booked for the night, pubs were packed and movie stars were also in attendance, as is often the case these days.
Joining Reynolds and McElhenney in this fight to secure promotion was Paul Rudd, star of Marvel's “Ant-Man.”
He was photographed in the Turf, a pub near the ground, before the game, the latest Hollywood star to visit the pub who regularly appears in “Welcome to Wrexham”, the television documentary following the actors' first season at the helm.
Longtime fans often shake their heads in disbelief when asked about the impact the owners and their show have had on the club and the city. That this Welsh city is now recognized worldwide is a source of amusement and bewilderment.
The documentary seems to have captured the imagination of many, especially Americans who seem to have fallen in love with a club that is the beating heart of their community.
New Wrexham fans, from Ohio, Los Angeles, Washington and Arizona, had come to Wales this week; some had tickets, others simply wanted to be in town to see for themselves what they had seen on television.
The club's global appeal can be measured in merchandise sales, 80% of which this season have been global sales, the club says. By December, the club had sold out of shirts: 24,000 home, away and third shirts were sold out. It is unprecedented. Needless to say, a larger order has been placed for next season.
What's next for Wrexham? The competition in League Two will be tougher, but the goal (promotion to League One) could arguably be an easier challenge than the one the club faced this season, with three teams automatically promoted from League Two, instead of the only automatic promotion place. offer in the National League.
With Phil Parkinson, at the helm of the team since the summer of 2021, the club already has an experienced coach, who has already enjoyed four promotions in his career, in addition to several players already accustomed to playing in the Football League.
“It's a great moment for this football club, from the owners to the supporters who have followed this club for the last 15 years through some really difficult times, and I'm happy for every single one of them,” Parkinson said.
Paul Mullin, the star forward who has been an integral part of the team's resurgence and whom McElhenney called “one of the best soccer players in the world,” will also likely be a key player next season. He scored two goals, the first on a special shot that put the home team ahead 2-1 and a goal in the 71st minute that almost secured the victory sparked wild celebrations.
“All the shenanigans that come with playing for Wrexham – tackling it the way we have and obviously coming back from a game down tonight is incredible and we love what we've done,” he said.
“The fans deserved it. I think after the first minute, everyone feared the worst, but you know, we stuck together… no matter what they threw at us.”
The records broken this season (with one game remaining, the club has already broken the record for most goals and points in National League history) suggest that Wrexham will be more than capable of being competitive next season.
When Reynolds and McElhenney took over ownership of the club in February 2021, few could have imagined the impact the pair would have. The story and the dream continue.
