1 week Ago
SOUTHAMPTON, Leicester City, Ipswich Town, West Brom, Swansea City, Sheffield Wednesday, Watford, Norwich City, QPR, Portsmouth and Birmingham City. It's never too soon to start greedily dreaming of the future but for those Wrexham fans who remember trips to Braintree, Lewes, Histon and Grays during the Reds' non-league nightmare, feast upon those big grounds you're going to be heading to next season. It's never been in doubt that Wrexham Football Club can boast about its proud history but what Phil Parkinson and the players have achieved over the last three seasons has been extraordinary, out of this world.
Amazing was the first word Parkinson said as he entered the press room at about 8.35 on Saturday evening after he became embroiled in the on-the-pitch celebrations with his back-room staff, players, family and fans. Parkinson went on to use the word 'amazing' six times during his press conference and it is the best way possible to describe what has happened at Wrexham Football Club.
They've jumped from the National League to the Championship in just two years. And how fitting was it that the two men, who have also played more than an amazing role in this Racecourse rags to riches story, were there to witness another great day for the club. Ryan Reynolds was wiping away the tears and Rob McElhenney was just taking it all in thinking to himself: "Did I really expect this to happen so quickly?" Well it did and although everyone associated with the club and especially their fan-tastic supporters will want to savour this historic back-to-back-to-back promotion, you can't help thinking about next season.
Names like Jamie Vardy and Kevin De Bruyne were thrown up for Parkinson to answer questions about who he'd be looking to bring in to continue Wrexham's upward trajectory next season. Saudi Arabia may be a more lucrative choice for ex-Premier League stars but dropping down a few divisions didn't do James McClean, Steven Fletcher and Matty James any harm. And who wouldn't want to add their names to a story that everyone is talking about worldwide.
Saturday's scenes will whet the appetite for what promises to be another can't-leave-your-seat Welcome To Wrexham documentary series. That airs next month and it will be yet another crowd-puller. The Racecourse now houses fans from Brymbo to Chicago and the demand for tickets is going to be even higher next season.
Wrexham on matchdays is a joy to behold. Fans queueing outside The Turf 10 hours before kick-off, The Maesgwyn has been packing them inside and out. And I have to mention two American visitors, Jill and Brad from North Carolina, who were taking in their first Wrexham game on Saturday.
They'd been exploring some of North Wales' finest castles, like Harlech and Conwy and on Saturday the fortress that is Wrexham's Racecourse Ground was on their list. They were thrilled at the prospect of taking it all in and they generously bought me and The Leader's Wrexham FC reporter, Richard Williams, a beer before the game. Chatting over a pre-match pint of Cruzcampo with an American couple.
.. who'd have thought that would ever happen? But that's the Pandora's Box of dreams Messrs McElhenney and Reynolds have opened up in Wrexham and long may it continue.
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