Wrexham’s week as champions: Drunken dancing, late-night pizza and a Ferris wheel ride

A party that had been 15 years in the making was always going to be a frenzied and frenetic affair. It just had to be, withWrexham’s return to the English Football League (EFL) meaning everything to the people of north Wales.

But what happened after the Vanarama National League title had been paraded in front of an elated Racecourse Ground? Here’s the story of a week in the life of the newly-crowned champions whose record-breaking feats will surely never be beaten…

Saturday April 22

Rarely has the 1864 Suite seen anything quite like it. Usually home to club sponsors and partners on a matchday, the second floor of the Mold Road Stand is bouncing thanks to a promotion party that is in full swing for the players, their families and friends.

Paul Mullin, fresh from scoring twice in the 3-1 win over Boreham Wood, is in charge of the music booming out of the portable speaker that is usually used for the team’s pre-match playlist in the dressing room.

Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline goes down a storm, as does Gold by Spandau Ballet and Don McLean’s American Pie. The latter sees Mullin and Elliot Lee clambering on a table to sing along. Later, Callum McFadzean will attempt to do the same only to bang his head on the ceiling lights.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney with Aaron Hayden and family (Photo: Getty)

The bar is free — a ‘thank you’ from Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the club’s Hollywood owners who are also enjoying the fun along with staff from every single department. Such are the numbers clambering to get a drink, a couple of the players nip behind the bar to pour their own.

With manager Phil Parkinson having stipulated beforehand that no celebrations should be planned in advance due to the job not yet being finished, this is an impromptu gathering. It is also a continuation of those never-to-be-forgotten scenes at the final whistle as the pitch quickly disappeared under thousands of elated supporters.

That celebratory mood had continued in the dressing room. Never more so than when Kevin ‘Kev’ Mulholland, the head of medical whose innovative ideas such asusing cryotherapy chambers helped the players stay fresh during the run-in, wheels in a trolley of booze to a huge cheer.

Within seconds, the beer spraying has begun. Even Parkinson isn’t spared, the beer dripping off the manager as he joins in with the chant ‘Championes, championes ole ole ole’. Popular kitman Iwan Pugh-Jones,a lifelong fan who has even been known to join in training ground set-piece drills, is given a similar drenching.

Promotion may have been secured but there are still media duties to fulfil. Lee and Ben Foster are first up. However, as the duo explain just what this means to the club and players, Reynolds suddenly gatecrashes proceedings. With the formerEngland goalkeeper in his sights, the Deadpool star is intent on following up on an earlier request via text message.

“Foster, Foster… jersey, now!” demandsWrexham’s co-owner, who after collecting his prize demands the same of Lee.

🗣️ "Foster, Foster! Jersey – NOW!"

Ryan Reynolds interrupts Ben Foster's post-match duties to grab a little souvenir from Wrexham's night… 👀🤣pic.twitter.com/k5tjJwwOlU

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball)April 22, 2023

As the celebrations gravitate across the Racecourse to the 1864 Suite, not everyone heads there straight away. Parkinson opts to take time out with his family to savour the day’s achievement with a quiet drink in his office.

Such has been the 55-year-old’s single-minded determination to get Wrexham back into theEFL, he and son George, part of the club’s analysis team, live away from the family home for most of the week. Hence the desire to savour moments like Saturday night with their nearest and dearest, with most still being based in West Yorkshire.

Parkinson eventually rejoins the main party in the Suite, making a point of seeking out the players’ families. “The wives, in particular, have been on the journey with us,” he says later. “They live through every moment. So it was very special they share in that moment. Same with Rob and Ryan; fantastic to see how pleased they were.”

Proceedings finally break up after midnight. The players, though, are keen to continue the party in the city centre. Predictably, everywhere is rammed on a night that will later see football revellers praised by the police after no arrests were made.

Some opt for food, withMullin later filmed in McDonald’s at 2am joining supporters in sweary chants about the Conservative government. Earlier in the season, Wrexham’s top scorer had found himself in hot water after posting a picture of his boots embroidered with the same ‘F**k the Tories’ slogan that fans have even turned into a flag that could be seen on the pitch after the promotion-clinching victory.

Ollie Palmer, meanwhile, is spotted sitting in the back of a car being driven round the streets, chanting ‘Wrexham, Wrexham…’ at passers-by.

Gradually, the players start to drift back to the Racecourse. Here, they are reunited with the staff and pizzas are ordered, along with several rounds of chips. What follows until 6am is a chat about the season, everyone picking out the highs and lows of a journey they will never forget.

It’s a delightful, private moment for a group that lives life in the Hollywood spotlight.

Sunday April 23

As alarm calls go, assistant manager Steve Parkin’s booming voice is highly effective. Throw in the bright electric lights that automatically turn on when anyone walks into the treatment room and those players trying to grab some much-needed sleep on the physio tables never stood a chance.

They have been asleep for barely half an hour when Parkin makes his noisy entrance. Mullin, Eoghan O’Connell, physio Mulholland and a couple of others are startled by Mullin. The formerStoke City defender departs the room with a mischievous laugh, his job done. “Players today need to work on their stamina. No staying power!”

A few hours later and the players are ready to go again. Parkinson has given the squad a few days off, the manager adamant they be allowed to savour every moment after such a long and gruelling campaign.

The caveat is that everyone must do some fitness work before Thursday’s return to training, preferably a run. The sports science team are on hand should anyone need to get in touch.

For now, though, some more celebratory drinks are in order. As Reynolds and McElhenney fly back to the United States, the squad reconvenes in an upstairs room at Wrexham’s The Fat Boar pub. Local superfan — and internet sensation — ‘Bootlegger’ is coincidentally also present, and quickly joins the party.

This club. These fans. These players… they just get it.

These days, man. Special, special times for a special, special football club and community.

Wrexham back in the Football League✊️pic.twitter.com/EXWKde8cVL

— Andrew Pollard (@culturedleftpeg)April 23, 2023

As befits someone who has a beer named after him by Wrexham Lager, ‘Bootlegger’ (real name Karl Phillips) leads the squad through a beery rendition of ‘Stand By Me’. Later, he and defender Ben Tozer will be filmed dancing topless in the bar as supporters chant along in the background.

As the players toast their success, Sunday for the club’s administrative staff involves discussions with the local council over a possible open-top bus parade. Eventually, Tuesday May 2 is settled on, meaning thousands of fans will have the chance to once again hail their heroes.

Monday April 24

The end of an era at the Racecourse, as the first of the iconic floodlights pylons that have towered over the area since the late 1950s come down. WithWrexham determined to bring their stadium up toUEFA Category 4 status — the very top level required — the old lights simply had to go.

Not only did they fail to meet the required brightness levels to host international football, under standards set by Europe’s governing body, but the two pylons at the Kop end have to make way forthe new 5,500-capacity stand being built in time for the 2024-25 campaign.

The work — which will be split into two, with the two pylons at the University End both coming down first — was always going to start after the final home match of the regular season, regardless of whether Wrexham were in the play-offs or not.

Even if Wrexham had qualified, the intention was always to have the two new towers up before a home semi-final tie on either May 6 or 7.

Monday’s agenda also includes a discussion between the club and senior players about an end-of-season trip for the squad. Las Vegas is the destination, but the formalities — including dates — need to be agreed. Shaun Harvey, the advisor to the board, leads the talks on behalf of Wrexham’s owners, who are footing the bill as another ‘thank you’.

The players are expected to fly out a couple of days after the open-top bus parade.

Tuesday April 25

Nantwich Town’s Swansway Stadium is a neat and tidy ground, with one decent-sized stand facing a terrace that is covered on either side of the halfway line.

It is debatable, though, whether many recently crowned title-winning managers would make his way here during a few precious days off to watch a very young reserve side — only Jake Bickerstaff among the 16 Wrexham players on duty had any National League experience, and even then the 21-year-old’s three starts all came in 2020.

But that’s Parkinson, a stickler for detail and a manager who remains across every facet of the club even at a time when the emphasis for everyone else is on celebrating. He joins a small crowd as a young Wrexham side draw the lunchtime clash withBolton Wanderers 0-0 on a bobbly pitch.

Contact is also made with a couple of senior players, just to make sure things are OK after the weekend’s celebrations. Attention is already turning to the weekend game, with messages put in the various WhatsApp groups set up with the players offering reminders about what is expected of them in terms of squeezing in at least one fitness run.

Arrangements for the weekend are also provided, including travel details to Torquay for the final match of the season.

Wednesday April 26

As Harvey and executive director Humphrey Ker head to the Oval cricket ground in London to speak at the SportsPro Live conference about Wrexham’s unique business model, Parkinson takes the opportunity to play a rare round of golf back home in Yorkshire.

He discovers, not for the first time, that the game can be a cruel beast. “Great to have some fresh air, but I was horrendous,” he tellsThe Athletic. “I haven’t played for a whole year. You think you can pick a club up and play great. Sadly not.”

Wrexham’s promotion is the fourth of Parkinson’s managerial career but his first that has come with a match still to play. It is the same for assistant Parkin, who was part of Phil Brown’s coaching staff asHull City reached thePremier League via the play-offs in 2008 before joining Parkinson in helping take Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers up.

Those latter two successes in 2013 and 2017 respectively came via the play-offs and a final-day win over Peterborough United. Wrexham clinching promotion in their penultimate fixture has meant breaking new ground, via granting the players extended time off.

Parkinson, though, still wants to finish strongly. Once the squad is back in training, the preparation will be exactly the same as normal with the manager, as ever, leading the pre-match analysis on Friday.

With the medical team having by now contacted all the players, the coaching staff are looking forward to the following day’s return to work.

Thursday April 27

Back to work for the players, whose spirits remain high. All the chatter before training, which today will take place on the Racecourse pitch, is about Wrexham’s promotion and the celebrations that followed.

There is a real buzz to the session. The coaching staff can clearly see the players have all followed the fitness edict, which was set to prevent anyone from suffering a strain or muscle injury by returning to training cold — having not done anything since Saturday’s match.

A very good afternoon to everyone, especially you@ElliotLee9

🔴⚪️#WxmAFCpic.twitter.com/i3Hk8SoGoB

— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC)April 27, 2023

The pace suggests everyone wants to play in the final match. Recognising the pressure his players have been under during a relentless run-in that saw Notts County push the Welsh club all the way, Parkinson is keen to ensure there is a more relaxed air.

“We want to put in a performance that reflects what we are all about as a club,” he says. “If we win, fantastic. To get to 113 points — incredible. I’d love to finish the season well. But I want us to enjoy the day and play with a real freedom.”

Friday April 28

Final preparations continue for the Torquay match. But there’s still time to squeeze in a meeting between Parkinson and Harvey for an outline discussion on Wrexham’s summer recruitment and likely budget for 2023-24.

The detail on individual players, including the retained list, wifll follow. Instead, this conversation will form a big part of the club’s upcoming submission 12-month budgets to satisfy the EFL’s Salary Cost Management Protocol (SCMP). As part of these rules, League Two clubs are restricted to spending 55 per cent of total turnover on the playing budget.

Meeting over, Parkinson and his squad head to Manchester Airport for the flight south. Wrexham first took to the air back in December to allow the players to meet King Charles III on the Royal visit to the Racecourse and then prepare well for the following day’s away game at Eastleigh.

The players arrive at their city centre hotel to discover Torquay has been taken over by the Welsh club’s supporters. Those who decide to take a short stroll before dinner find themselves being serenaded outside both Yates and the Apple & Parrot pubs.

Saturday April 29

A tea-time kick-off means plenty of time to enjoy the Devon sunshine — and a few more beers — for the supporters who have made the long trek south.

The players, too, are clearly keen to sample the delights of the English Riviera, with Mullin among those who take advantage of the downtime to ride the giant Ferris wheel that dominates the seafront in Torquay.

Come the match, Parkinson’s side find reaching similar heights difficult, mainly thanks to home goalkeeper Mark Halstead. His sixth minute penalty save from Paul Mullin is just the start, as Mullin again, Tom O’Connor, Eoghan O’Connell and Ryan Barnett are all left cursing his agility between the posts.

Frank Nouble, once ofWest Ham United, then puts the hosts up but Elliot Lee finally breaks Halstead’s resistance with ten minutes remaining.

There is to be no dramatic late winner, the Hollywood ending for Wrexham having come a week earlier. But the final curtain still comes down in fitting fashion, as 15 years in non-League end amid a lusty rendition of that wonderful Welsh anthem, ‘Land of my Fathers’.

(Photo: Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)