The celebration at the Racecourse Ground was in full effect on Saturday night as Wrexham achieved an extraordinary third consecutive promotion, according to BBC reports.

Wycombe Wanderers’ 1-0 loss to Leyton Orient earlier that day opened the door for Phil Parkinson’s team to pull ahead of their League One competitors, contingent upon defeating Charlton Athletic.

Seizing that chance, Ollie Rathbone netted his eighth goal of the season, followed by Sam Smith scoring twice, culminating in a solid 3-0 victory.

BBC Sport Wales reflects on Wrexham’s remarkable ascent from lower league football to the Championship in just three seasons and contemplates the prospects ahead.

Where did it all begin?

During his time writing for the comedy series Mythic Quest, current Wrexham director Humphrey Kerr developed a close friendship with one of the show’s creators, Rob McElhenney.

The Philadelphia-born actor became intrigued by football, and during the pandemic, he enlisted Kerr to investigate potential investment opportunities.

Supporters of Hartlepool, Aldershot, Carlisle, and Shamrock Rovers might want to look away, as these clubs were also under consideration before Wrexham was selected.

A chance encounter on Instagram marked the start of a partnership that feels like a fairy tale.

Ryan Reynolds, known for Deadpool, reached out to McElhenney through social media to commend his performance in an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

They quickly became friends, and as the saying goes, the rest is history.

In a pre-game conversation with BBC Breakfast, Kerr remarked: “They (Reynolds and McElhenney) have grasped a concept that’s entirely alien to the American system—the idea that you can transition from top to bottom and vice versa. It’s a closed system in America.”

The Hollywood duo finalized their acquisition of Wrexham in February 2021, immediately injecting two million pounds (about 2.3 million euros) into the club after taking over from the supporters’ trust.

The journey so far

Under Phil Parkinson, appointed just five months post-takeover, Wrexham has not placed below second in any of the four seasons.

A playoff semi-final defeat to Grimsby Town abruptly curtailed Parkinson’s impressive debut season in 2021/22.

However, the subsequent season was unforgettable; Wrexham clinched the National League title with a record 111 points, ending a 15-year hiatus from the Football League system.

Since then, the “Red Dragons” have surged forward.

Wrexham secured 26 wins out of 46 matches last season and finished second in League Two, prompting back-to-back promotions.

This season, despite playing at a higher level, Wrexham successfully contended with several former Premier League teams, earning the second and final automatic promotion spot from League One.

The encounter against Charlton marked Parkinson’s 181st league game as manager, a testament to his remarkable leadership.

Wrexham triumphed in 112 matches under his stewardship, boasting a win percentage of nearly 62 percent. There were also 40 draws and just 29 losses.

In that timeframe, the team scored 361 league goals (excluding playoffs), averaging almost two per match, with 2.08 points per game.

Parkinson also led Wrexham to the FA Trophy final in his inaugural season, though they were eventually defeated by Bromley at Wembley, and reached the fourth round of the FA Cup twice.

“Phil Parkinson, our coach, deserves immense credit because other teams have had more resources than us, yet they haven’t achieved what we have,” Kerr stated.

The success of the documentary

The documentary series “Welcome to Wrexham” has been pivotal in catapulting the club to global fame over recent seasons.

The fourth season is set to debut in May, chronicling the club’s journey from League One to the Championship, marking Wrexham as the first team in the top five tiers of English football to accomplish three consecutive promotions.

Though Wrexham doesn’t directly profit from the series, its popularity has significantly boosted the club’s revenue from various sources.

“It’s remarkable. We frequently discuss the power of storytelling,” Kerr noted.

“What we’ve achieved with the documentary and the football club is to communicate to people in America why football is so vital to us, its meaning, and the stakes involved.”

“Frankly, I’m astounded by the level of interest. It’s because America is captivated by English football, and we serve as the gateway into that realm for many.”

The documentary, which features local community narratives in addition to athletic achievements, has garnered eight Primetime Emmy Awards and two Critics’ Choice Television Awards.

“We’re sharing that narrative and telling the story of the city,” Kerr added.

“The amazing aspect of any football club is the vibrant life that surrounds it, and that’s precisely what we’re striving to capture.”

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