After 15 years Wrexham are back in League Two, clinching the National League title in the penultimate game of the 2022/23 season.
Locked in a fierce two-horse race for fifth-tier supremacy against Notts County, Wrexham have finally staved off the threat from The Magpies to confirm the non-league championship. Phil Parkinson’s men done so on Saturday night after a 3-1 win in northern Wales against Boreham Wood.
At a Racecourse packed to the rafters, with celebrity guests every which way, including Hollywood actor Paul Rudd, The Red Dragons ended a decade-and-a-half of heartbreak to make their return to the English Football League. Goals from Paul Mullin (twice) and Elliot Lee brought the house down.
With superstar owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney watching on from the terraces, their journey to elevate Wrexham back to prominence has finally paid dividends after play-off devastation last season. The long wait is finally over, and here is how the Internet reacted.
First, the full-time congratulations…
OFFICIAL: Wrexham are National League champions. ?
◉ 45 games
◉ 115 goals scored
◉ 110 pointsThey are back in the Football League for the first time since 2008. ?? pic.twitter.com/2hztyd631z
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 22, 2023
FT: Wrexham 3-1 Boreham Wood
Wrexham are National League champions and will be playing in League Two next season. ?#WRXBHW pic.twitter.com/uEhcpNCNjN
— Play Squawka Selector for Free (@Squawka_Live) April 22, 2023
WE ARE CHAMPIONS!
AFTER 15 YEARS, WE ARE BACK IN THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE!
?⚪️ #WxmAFC pic.twitter.com/8crPfDlwqs
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) April 22, 2023
? @Wrexham_AFC, you are Football League! pic.twitter.com/TVauhvL5WJ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 22, 2023
Wrexham are National League champions! ?
15 years to the day since their relegation from the Football League, the Red Dragons secure their return ⬆️❤️ pic.twitter.com/0SlY5oLkUk
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 22, 2023
Some were quick to level the praise at Hollywood owners Reynolds and McElhenney, who have fully embraced the town and its people…
Seeing Rob McElhenney moved to tears by Wrexham’s promotion shows how much this truly means to him. It may have started as something of a plaything or a PR stunt but both he and Ryan Reynolds are clearly 100% bought in at this point.
Football has them both fully hooked.
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) April 22, 2023
WREXHAM ARE GOING UP ????????⬆️ The Welsh club have clinched promotion with a 3-1 win. The victory moves them out of the 5th tier and up into League Two. Fueled by owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who have listened and learned about the club, the town and its people. ❤️? pic.twitter.com/fsyfvlbQsh
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) April 22, 2023
Think what you want of Wrexham but this is pure class. The owners have a stand purely for children with disabilities and Ryan Reynolds takes the time to go over before the biggest game of the clubs history.
Pure class#Wrexham#RyanReynolds pic.twitter.com/SAyncYe1UE
— Dave Morgan (@DaveMorg92) April 22, 2023
Incredible: WREXHAM ARE CHAMPIONS winning promotion to League 2, lowest rung of England’s 4 professional football leagues. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have shone spotlight on North Welsh town in most noble of ways, sinking pints and winning points. Glorious to witness ???????? https://t.co/2drW3FEq10
— roger bennett (@rogbennett) April 22, 2023
There was a special guest at the Racecourse…
? PAUL RUDD AT WREXHAM ? pic.twitter.com/i6DEsZSGxn
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 22, 2023
Paul Rudd has arrived at Wrexham to cheer on the Red Dragons. A win today and #WrexhamAFC are promoted ? pic.twitter.com/YHSSfROV0y
— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) April 22, 2023
Thanks for the pic Paul Rudd. #OnlyInWrexham#wrexham #WrexhamAFC pic.twitter.com/b3z9mMh1Vp
— Up The Town (@UpTheTownShow) April 22, 2023
PAUL RUDD AND RYAN REYNOLDS. THAT’S IT. THAT’S THE TWEET. pic.twitter.com/cjOho14d8W
— marti ceo of paul rudd ⁷✪ | the rookie? (@IR0NLANG) April 22, 2023
Could one or two other owners learn from Wrexham’s main men upstairs?
Ryan Reynolds is a better owner @Wrexham_AFC than the Glazers are at @ManUtd. Facts!
— Sydney (@Sydpeppa) April 22, 2023
2 Hollywood stars have done more for football, and a community (Wrexham) in 2.5 years than the Glazers have done in nearly 20. This speaks to the quality of Reynolds and Mcelhenney as much as the mismanagement and money grabbing of the Glazers… cc @Ricker666
— Tom Messett (@TomMessett) April 22, 2023