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Wrexham AFC, Subject Of F/X Docuseries, Gets Promoted To League One

WREXHAM, WALES - APRIL 13: Players of Wrexham celebrate victory and promotion into League One following the Sky Bet League Two match between Wrexham and Forest Green Rovers at Racecourse Ground on April 13, 2024 in Wrexham, Wales. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images) (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)

The story of Wrexham AFC’s rise in English football is like a Hollywood film.

For the first time in nearly two decades, the Welsh team is returning to League One, the third tier of English football that slots behind The Championship and Premiere League. Wrexham clinched the promotion Saturday by beating Forest Green 6-0 at home in League Two play.

The outcome on Saturday was never really in doubt – Wrexham found themselves up 4-0 at halftime. Rounding out the scoring for the club were Paul Mullin, Elliot Lee, Ryan Barnett and Jack Marriott, who propelled the team to dismantle the bottom-feeding Rovers.

Mullin, in particular, is having a very prolific season for Wrexham. He has 23 goals this season, good for third in League Two. He has played a big part in the team’s soaring 24-10-10 record.

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Much of the social media attention and subsequent success has been credited to the FX docuseries Welcome To Wrexham. The show details how actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought Wrexham against reports of financial instability and player dissatisfaction and aimed to turn the team’s fortunes around. The series also showed how Reynolds and McElhenney became involved in the local Wrexham community with no prior sports team ownership experience, bringing fans hope that the team would turn things around.

The show has been top-rated since its release in 2022, and a third season premieres May 2. After Wrexham won on Saturday to officially be promoted to League One, Reynolds posted a heartfelt message on his Instagram account.

“A few years ago, if you would have 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. “Congrats to Wrexham AFC and my co-chairman in crime. Double up this town! This is the ride of our lives.”

Wrexham’s recent success in English football has quite literally been like someone scripted it. It will be interesting to see where this wild ride goes next for this rising squad.