22 April 2023 , 19:40
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Wrexham owner Rob McElhenney was spotted openly weeping as his side finally sealed a return to the Football League.
Goals from Elliott Lee and a Paul Mullin brace secured the Red Dragons the victory they needed over Boreham Wood to secure the National League title. And as thousands of fans spilled onto the Racecourse Ground turf, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star McElhenney was unable to stop the tears.
Co-owner and Hollywood A-lister Ryan Reynold was similarly emotional, immediately slumping after the final whistle before video calling his family from the owners’ box as they delivered on the promises made when taking over the club in 2021.
Wrexham finally sealed promotion after outlasting Notts County in a battle for the ages. Saturday's win brings their tally to a staggering 110 - a record in the top five tiers of the English pyramid.
Home fans arrived in their numbers expecting a party, but their hopes of a serene afternoon were punctured in less than a minute when Lee Ndlovu lobbed Ben Foster. But Phil Parkinson's side didn't panic and hit back through a Lee header, before Mullin took centre stage yet again.
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Mullin's double brings his tally in the league to 38 for the season and etched his name into the history of the third oldest professional club in the world.
Wrexham are back in the Football League after a 15-year absenceWrexham have become one of the biggest sporting stories after Reynolds and McElhenney acquired the club and instantly set their sights on scaling the pyramid.
"I don't understand why, if that you can theoretically get there -- we clearly have the structure and the system potentially to allow for us to grow at scale -- why not dream big?" McElhenney explained two years ago.
And although there is still some way to go before achieving that, this is the first step on the ladder and ends Wrexham's long hiatus from the EFL.. And once the fans had returned to the stands, Reynolds and McElhenney made their way onto the pitch to celebrate with players and staff.
Deadpool star Reynolds admitted that prior to his investment in the club, he had little interest in the sport. Although that quickly changed: “We didn’t know anything about the sport – now we’re obsessed with it,” Reynolds said.
“It’s a living, breathing, screaming nightmare for me. Now I love this sport so much that I hate it. It’s one of the greatest things that’s ever happened to me and genuinely one of the worst.”
Wrexham and Notts County traded blows throughout the season, sitting almost 30 points ahead of third place. However, with only one side going up automatically, the title was ultimately decided on a rollercoaster afternoon on Easter Monday.
The Red Dragons won that one 3-2 in dramatic fashion, with former Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster saving an injury-time penalty. There were euphoric celebrations on that day, although the club’s owners said the real party would have to wait for their official coronation.
“No, they didn't [give them a party after Notts County]! They've promised us a big deal, though, at the end of the season," Foster revealed. "They've promised us a monster one at the end of the season. If we get promoted, they're gonna take us away somewhere with a lot of flashing lights.”