The rise of Wrexham over the last couple of seasons is one that has captivated a far bigger audience than the club ever could have imagined, with a certain documentary series on Disney+ bringing their captivating story to the masses.
It is not often that we see a club operating in the fifth tier of English football all of a sudden become one of the more intriguing stories in the sport, but that's what has happened over the last couple of years. Of course, a sprinkle of Hollywood magic has helped in this regard.
Not only was the club taken over by actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, but a documentary crew has been there to document their remarkable rise over the last couple of years.
With 14 brand new episodes of Welcome to Wrexham now streaming now exclusively on Disney+, here is a look back at some of the most memorable moments from the first season of the show.
Paul Rutherford's sad departure
When you think of footballers, the image that probably pops into your mind is something to do with big wages, fast cars, expensive houses, and the type of lifestyle that most of us can only imagine. While that indeed might be the case for those at the very top level of the game, the reality is far different for those who are operating a bit further down the pyramid.
We were given a glimpse of that in the second episode of season one when we were introduced to Paul Rutherford.
The midfielder had been at the club for five seasons, making a life for himself in the Welsh town having moved down from his native Merseyside. Of course, the nature of football at that level meant he could never be certain how long he would stick around for.
With the club still in the promotion battle at the end of the 2020/21 season, he would receive a red card in a game that could have sealed their place in the play-offs.
With the new owners keen to rejuvenate the squad at the end of that campaign, he would leave the club that summer.
It was an unfortunate end to his time at Wrexham, but gave an important glimpse into the fickle nature of being a professional footballer at that level.
The budding McElhenney-Reynolds bromance
It's hard to believe that prior to deciding to buy the sports team together, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds had never actually met in person. Of course, their relationship would develop rapidly after buying a struggling football club in Wales.
The way in which two Hollywood stars immersed themselves in the local community was incredible to see, but what was almost as entertaining was the relationship that the two of them began to develop.
The word 'bromance' is thrown around far too often for our liking, but it certainly applies in this case. Of course, there were some rocky moments along the way, some of which you can see below.
Phil Parkinson's dressing room rant
When McElhenney and Reynolds attempted to recruit the best in class in order to finally get Wrexham over the promotion hunt, they were told that the man they needed to bring in was Phil Parkinson.
The Englishman has had a hugely successful career as a manager in the EFL, a stint which also included leading Bradford City to a Carabao Cup final. Convincing him to step down into the National League was seen as a huge coup, with his impact on the side clear to see.
There were many memorable moments featuring Parkinson in the first season, but the best of them came during a foul mouthed dressing room rant at halftime when they were behind in a game against Chesterfield.
It was a surprising scene, as Parkinson had presented a very calm demeanour up to that point. His approach worked on this occasion, with Paul Mullin going on to rescue a point with a goal in the second half.
The pitch problem
One of the first things that the new ownership duo did after taking over at Wrexham was to go about improving the club's facilities, which included a long overdue relaying of the pitch at The Racecourse Ground. That is not a cheap process at the best of times, but they were soon about to learn that unexpected costs are part and parcel of running a football club.
The new surface just didn't take in the way it was expected to, meaning it was not fit for purpose. In other words, they spent around £100,000 on a pitch that nobody could play on.
A timely reminder that owning a football club is not a cheap business.
The agony and ecstasy of football
Ultimately, this is what it's all about. For all of the glitz and glamour added by the Hollywood aspect to this story, it still comes down to what the players and fans can produce on a given weekend.
Over the course of season one, there were plenty of ups and downs on the pitch. There were dramatic moments, stunning goals, long winning runs, and crushing defeats all packed into the first 18 episodes. Of course, as is often the case in sport, it all ended in heartbreak as the club failed to reach the English Football League.
We don't want to give too much away about what is to come in season two, but you might be able to hold out hope for a better outcome this time around.
We will certainly be looking forward to watching it.
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Welcome to Wrexham Season 2 is streaming now exclusively on Disney+. Sign up to Disney+ here.
