Wrexham promoted to Championship as historic rise continues

WREXHAM, Wales — Ryan Reynolds mentioned Wrexham are focusing on the Premier League after the Hollywood-owned membership secured a historic third successive promotion to say a spot within the EFL Championship.

A 3-0 win in opposition to promotion rivals Charlton Athletic at STōK Cae Ras on Saturday sealed second-place in League One and ensured that Phil Parkinson’s crew will be a part of runaway leaders Birmingham Metropolis within the second tier subsequent season.

However after watching Wrexham grow to be the primary crew in English soccer historical past, courting again to 1888, to realize three consecutive promotions, co-owner Reynolds mentioned that the membership is charting a course for the Premier League.

“Our goal is to make it to the Premier League,” Reynolds mentioned. “It just seemed like an impossible dream [when buying the club in February 2021], but as storytellers, you look as much as you can at the macro view of history.

“I’d not be right here, you possibly can go all the way in which again from the Gresford [coal mine] Catastrophe to [club legend] Mickey Thomas, who is a large level of aspiration for this membership and the aim was to succeed in that feeling — and it’s a feeling.”

Reynolds and co-owner Rob McElhenney, who bought the club for $2.5 million in 2021 and turned it into a household name around the world, were part of a full house of nearly 13,000 fans packed into the club’s historic stadium to celebrate.

McElhenney said that the club will put plans for next season on hold — but only for a few hours.

“That is for tomorrow,” McElhenney said when asked about the Championship. “Right now is only for having fun with the second. We will go away it till 12:01!

“Ryan and I have the easiest job in the world. We just sit back and watch this incredible football team and incredible staff.”

Charlton had gone into the sport as one among solely two groups, alongside Wycombe Wanderers, who might deny Wrexham the second spot within the division.

However with Wycombe dropping 1-0 away to Leyton Orient earlier within the day, Wrexham knew {that a} win of their remaining house recreation of the season would clinch the ultimate computerized promotion berth.

Reynolds had earlier posed for selfies with followers exterior and served drinks behind the bar in a marquee arrange exterior the close by Turf pub, which has earned world renown from the docuseries “Welcome to Wrexham.”

Followers erupted in cheers after the ultimate whistle of Wycombe’s loss, which was proven on an enormous display screen.

Two objectives within the house of three minutes within the first half from Ollie Rathbone and Sam Smith set Wrexham on the way in which to victory. Then £2 million-record-signing ($2.7 million) Smith scored a 3rd at 81 minutes to safe the all-important win.

The ultimate whistle sparked mayhem as hundreds of followers poured onto the pitch carrying banners saying “Back to back to back” and hoisting grinning gamers on their shoulders amid clouds of purple smoke.

Wrexham supervisor Parkinson, who was employed in 2021 after already reaching three promotions within the EFL with Colchester, Bradford and Bolton, has overseen the crew’s speedy rise from the Nationwide League to the Championship.

However whereas Parkinson mentioned Wrexham are prepared to satisfy the problem head-on subsequent season, he has warned that the Championship is as robust as any league on the planet.

“We will take the Championship full-on, just as we have done in recent years,” Parkinson mentioned. “We are going into one of the most competitive leagues in world football and it is going to be a huge challenge.

“We are going to sit again, recruit the precise gamers and attempt to get the squad as sturdy as potential. After which benefit from the experience.

“But you can’t take this achievement away from us. It is amazing how we have done it.

“Getting over the road in soccer is difficult to do, so to have the ability to preserve that commonplace in such a high-profile recreation is a testomony to all people.

“I want to savor the moment. The division’s been strong this year but all of our players have stepped up and adapted so well, the mentality in the group was so strong.

“We targeted tonight and when the third aim went in it was only a excellent second.”

Info from The Related Press and Reuters was used on this report.