WREXHAM IN DREAMLAND RIDING THE RED CARPET
Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney found a lovely way to address his audience on the manicured lawn of the Wilshire Garden at the prestigious Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.
The massed ranks of the Welsh club’s men’s and women’s teams, assorted executives and at least one pub landlord toasted his remarks.
“I came here with a dream,” said McElhenney, of his decision to move to LA from his native east coast of the United States when he was 25. “It was tough. But I aligned myself with the right people who changed my life.
“I have to guess you all had dreams like me. I am part of the 4% who make a living and get to do what they dreamed of doing. I guess you are the same. It is why you are here in California, continuing to live your dream.
“To all of us dreamers, I say cheers.”
Dream is a useful word to sum up Wrexham’s presence in Los Angeles this week.
Phil Parkinson’s League One hopefuls are training at the world famous UCLA facility, used by Real Madrid last season and Manchester United later this month after Wrexham have moved out.
The north Wales outfit play Bournemouth in Santa Barbara on Saturday followed by a meeting with Chelsea – for the second pre-season running – in Santa Clara and finally a trip to Vancouver to play the local Major League Soccer side on 27 July.
Wrexham women hit the red carpet
The women’s team have three games too, starting with SoCal FC at Drake Stadium, cited at UCLA, which has a capacity in excess of 14,000.
For context, in 2019, Wrexham counted non-league AFC Telford United and Curzon Ashton amongst their pre-season opponents. Their women’s team used to play on a park pitch.
Five years ago, anyone suggesting Wrexham’s pre-season would involve attending a red carpet event at the hotel where the prestigious Golden Globes ceremony has been held for over six decades could easily have been accused of living in dreamland.
“It’s crazy we have been invited out here,” said Wrexham WAFC midfielder Lili Jones. “Two seasons ago we were playing on the local park field. They put some changing rooms in for us, but they were really small, like a cabin, like you get at school.
"The pitch was boggy and there was a hill in the corner. To be playing in the Drake Stadium in LA is absolutely ridiculous.”
Not as ridiculous, it could be argued, as being interviewed on a red carpet for someone who, as the Emmy nominated docuseries ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ recorded, washes dishes in cafes.
After successive promotions, Wrexham’s ascent from the National League to League One has left them at risk of outgrowing their surroundings. Even with record revenues, fuelled by the TV fame, the club lost £5m last year.
New chief executive Michael Williamson, formerly of Inter Milan amongst others, managed to get an academy proposal together in a matter of days to allow them club to secure Category Three status on Wednesday.
Yet, according to executive director Humphrey Ker, this is where the plot gets interesting.
“I have always thought the story we are telling is much more interesting than football results,” he said.
“It is about what a football club means to a community. It means a lot in good times, which we have enjoyed. But there will be difficult times for us and that is when a football club becomes so important, when we are not dishing out sweets.
"We became a huge scalp from the moment we came in. Everyone wants to beat Deadpool’s football team. So far it has gone quite well for us, so bring it on.”
Those are bold words from the club who are fifth favourites for promotion, behind, amongst others, Birmingham, who have NFL legend Tom Brady as one of their co-owners.
There has been speculation a request was rejected for one of the league games between the pair to be played in the United States.
“The EFL might have had something to say about that,” said Parkinson.
It is an example of Wrexham being willing to ruffle a few feathers, as was the case when they were in the National League and lobbied hard for the right to show matches abroad.
Overseas games excluded, McElhenney and partner Ryan Reynolds, who is doing promotional work for his Deadpool franchise, have enjoyed huge success on and off the pitch over the past two years.
Asked which he would prefer, an Emmy for his Wrexham series or another promotion, McElhenney doesn’t hesitate.
“Another promotion,” he said. “Not even close.”
But you get the sense there is an air of realism about Wrexham’s owners. After all, at a comparable level of the game, no English league side has been promoted three seasons in a row.
“The beauty of sports is the ups and the downs,” said McElhenney. “You can’t taste the sweet until you have tasted the sour and vice-versa.
“We know we are in this for the long haul.
“Winning still means as much, but every loss means even more. It is devastating when we lose. At least in the UK, if you watch a game and you lose it’s already 5.30pm, I will maybe have a drink, eat dinner and go to bed.
"If I am in Los Angeles, I have to spend the entire weekend miserable.”
2024-07-19T08:28:38Z dg43tfdfdgfd