Wrexham promoted for second straight season, chase league title

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Gomez: Wrexham is not a Cinderella story

Herculez Gomez says Wrexham's back-to-back promotions is a great story but one only achieved with the backing of Hollywood owners.

Apr 13, 2024, 08:04 pm

Wrexham beat Forest Green 6-0 on Saturday to earn promotion for a second straight season as their movie-script story under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney continues.

MK Dons and Barrow dropped points, meaning Wrexham's victory secured promotion to League One -- English football's third-tier -- and are another step closer to their owners' dream of one day reaching the Premier League.

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"A few years ago, if you told me I would be crying tears of joy over a football match taking place in North Wales, you would be Rob McElhenney," Reynolds wrote on X after the game.

"Congrats to Wrexham and to my co-chairman in crime. Double up the town! This is the ride of our lives."

Saturday's victory also kept Wrexham in the hunt to win the League Two title as they trail leaders Stockport County, who have a game in hand and are scheduled to face Wrexham on the final day of the season.

Wrexham were in imperious form against bottom-placed Forest Green on Saturday and took a 17th-minute lead through Elliot Lee, before a Ryan Inniss own-goal and a Paul Mullin brace saw them race to a 4-0 lead by half-time. Ryan Barnett's well-hit volley near the hour mark and Jack Marriott's late strike added further gloss to the win.

Elliot Lee opened the scoring for Wrexham against Forest Green on Saturday.
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Reynolds and McElhenney completed their takeover of Wrexham in February 2021. The pair saw Wrexham to finish second in their debut season but were denied promotion in a 5-4 playoff semifinal defeat to Grimsby Town after extra time.

The Welsh club were promoted last season after winning the National League by amassing 111 points -- a record in England's top five leagues -- amid a nail-biting title race with Notts County. It returned Wrexham to England's Football League for the first time in 15 years.

Wrexham endured a difficult start to the season. They lost their league opener against MK Dons in a 5-3 thriller and did not get their first win until their fourth game, a 4-2 victory over Walsall.

The side have relied on a mix of familiar faces -- top scorer Mullin has 21 league goals this season, taking his all-time club total over 100 -- and newer stars. Former Premier League players James McClean and Steven Fletcher joined last summer and have played crucial roles this season.

The club's success has been mirrored, and arguably driven, by interest in the FX docuseries "Welcome to Wrexham." The show's third season, focusing on the opening months of this season's campaign, is due to be released in May.