Wrexham vs Boreham Wood LIVE: Ryan Reynolds watches as Red Dragons seal promotion to EFL
Wrexham 3-1 Boreham Wood: Paul Mullin inspires Wrexham to promotion in front of Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney
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Your support makes all the difference.Wrexham are back in the English Football League after defeating Boreham Wood 3-1 today as the fairytale continues in north Wales.
The Red Dragons secured their place back in the fourth tier for the first time in 15 years and Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds, who has labelled English Football League rules allowing only one automatic promotion place from the National League as “insane”, has also promised a “monster” party now that his team have gotten over the line.
Things looked bad for the hosts when Boreham Wood took the lead after just 43 seconds at the Racecourse Ground but from then on Phil Parkinson’s side dominated. Elliot Lee - the hero in the match against title rivals Notts County - popped up on the 15 minute mark to nod home an equaliser.
Half-time came and went with the scores still level but prolific striker Paul Mullin came up with the goods. Two glorious second half strikes gave him a brace, settled the nerves inside the ground and secured the National League title for Wrexham.
Relive a historic day at the Racecourse Ground live with our blog below:
Why Wrexham? How Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney came to buy a club they’d never heard of
The best place to start a Hollywood love story is at the beginning, and in this case with a question: what would movie star Ryan Reynolds and TV star Rob McElhenney want with an ailing football club in North Wales?
Why buy any team, but especially this one, drifting without direction four tiers below the Premier League, fighting for attention in their own town, lost amid a sea of Liverpool and Manchester United shirts on the school playground?
The answer involves boredom and luck, intrigue and inspiration, strategy and a little romance too.
Why Wrexham? How Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought a club they’d never heard of
Why did two famous actors buy a football club in North Wales? Lawrence Ostlere reports on an unlikely love story between a pair of Hollywood stars and the city they’ve embraced
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in tears as Wrexham secure promotion to Football League
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney shed tears of joy as they watched Wrexham finally seal their return to the Football League.
The Hollywood actors bought Wrexham AFC in November 2020 for £2m, despite knowing little about football or indeed North Wales, and set about lifting the club back to League Two for the first time in 15 years.
After narrowly missing out last season – a disappointment documented in the TV series Welcome To Wrexham – the team held off the stiff challenge of Notts County to clinch the league title and automatic promotion with a game to spare, after beating Boreham Wood 3-1 on Saturday evening.
Reynolds and McElhenney were watching on at the Racecourse Ground along with their guest, fellow actor Paul Rudd, and they let their emotions show when the final whistle blew, while Wrexham supporters invaded the pitch to celebrate.
Ryan Reynolds in tears as Wrexham secure promotion to Football League
Wrexham 3-1 Boreham Wood: Paul Mullin scored twice as the Welsh club returned to League Two after 15 years away
How Wrexham provided a Hollywood ending to their Football League exile
The Red Dragons clinched the National League title by beating Boreham Wood 3-1 on Saturday, taking them to 110 points with one game remaining.
Here, the PA news agency looks how Wrexham became fifth-tier champions and ended the long wait to be in the Football League again.
How Wrexham provided a Hollywood ending to their Football League exile
The north Wales team were relegated from the fourth tier of English football in 2008.
Reaction from Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney
“I’m not sure I can process what happened tonight, I’m still a little speechless.” said Wrexham owner and Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds.
“Boreham Wood showed up today, they’re an incredible team and they have one of the best defences in the entire league and they showed us that all night long. Huge credit to Boreham Wood.
“Also this entire story, why it’s been so good is because Notts County is so damn good. They deserve to go up. We’re rooting for Notts County we want to see them go up as well.”
Co-owner Rob McElhenney added: “Well, I think we can hear how it feels to this town and that’s the most important thing for us. For us to be welcomed into their community and to be welcomed into this experience has been the honour of my life.”
Reaction from Phil Parkinson
Wrexham’s manager spoke to BT Sport before the trophy presentation and praised his team’s performance tonight:
Wrexham seal long-awaited Football League return in front of Hollywood owners
Paul Mullin and Ben Tozer lift the National League trophy together as ‘We are the champions’ is played through the stadium speakers.
There are tears of joy, huge smiles, champagne and lots of singing. The players, the fans and the owners are drinking in the moment.
Wrexham fans flood the pitch after historic 3-1 win over Boreham Wood
Watch the celebrations begin as Wrexham defeat Boreham Wood to earn promotion to Football League:
Wrexham fans flood the pitch after historic 3-1 win over Boreham Wood
Fan flooded the pitch after Wrexham’s historic 3-1 win over Boreham Wood. Wrexham is set to return to the EFL after a victory over Boreham Wood at The Racecourse Ground. The Red Dragons won 3-1, with Pull Mullin scoring two goals and Elliot Lee scoring one each to secure the National League title. Wrexham are promoted after 15 years of non-league football, as Phil Parkinson’s side will compete in League Two next season. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
Wrexham seal long-awaited Football League return in front of Hollywood owners
Reaction from matchwinner Paul Mullin
“Unbeliveable, the character we’ve shown this season has been phenomenal at times and that epitomises it tonight. We’ve had a long time in this divison and the fans deserve this day.
“I think after the first minute they were all fearing the worst but this group, we stick together. We have done all season, from the media and everywhere else, all the shenanigans that come with playing for Wrexham, to deal with it the way we have and to come from one goal down tonight it’s unbelievable.
“We knew that Boreham Wood were going to be a tough team to beat and when they went one up we thought it could be even harder. But the players we’ve got and the chances we can create are unbelievable.
“We’re just over the moon to get over the line. We’ve come here as favourites and were expected to go up but that makes it even more special when you do it.”
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