Wrexham’s journey has been ‘unimaginable’. As they roll into Melbourne, they’re loving every second

6 hours ago 2

When Colin Henrys joined Wrexham AFC as a volunteer seven years ago, the Welsh club was languishing in the fifth tier of English soccer.

He could never have imagined where he’d be in 2025: the club’s head of media and communications, visiting Australia on Wrexham’s first pre-season tour outside the United States, after a record-breaking three consecutive promotions up to the second tier Championship.

Welsh soccer side Wrexham, now famous around the world after being bought by Hollywood owners, has rolled into Melbourne.

“I was just in the right place at the right time,” Henrys said. “You can’t be a volunteer and do it now, it’s such an intense job. It’s a 24-hour job.”

Things changed for Henrys and the rest of the team at the world’s third-oldest professional soccer club when Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Rob Mac expressed interest in buying the club, and planned to film a docuseries of the journey to boot.

The team’s unprecedented meteoric rise in the years that followed was a recipe for a worldwide sensation; Welcome to Wrexham exploded in popularity. Australia is the third-largest audience for the show behind the UK and US.

“I’m loving absolutely every second, as I’m sure the rest of the lads are,” Wrexham captain James McLean said. “When you’re riding the crest of the wave ... you just go along. Where the club has gone in the last few years, it’s been unimaginable, I’m guessing even for the owners and everyone involved. It’s probably exceeded their wildest expectations.”

Wrexham trained at the Matildas’ home base at Latrobe Fields on Wednesday.

Henrys said while on the Down Under tour – in which the Red Dragons will take on Melbourne Victory at Marvel Stadium on Friday July 11 before going up against Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on July 15 – he had been taking calls from the UK at bedtime before waking up to emails from the US.

“There’s interest from all over the world,” he said. “You can always tell when the documentary is launched in different parts … you suddenly get a flurry of emails.”

Henrys said the public and media interest had been the biggest change, and it began from the moment it was announced Reynolds and Mac wanted to buy the club.

“The next day we’ve gone to the stadium, and there were TV crews everywhere. That set the ball in motion, that’s the way it’s been since.”

Wrexham owners Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds celebrate the club’s promotion in 2023.

But he said everybody had adjusted quickly, and the Welcome to Wrexham crew had become a part of the team, socialising and joining players on outings.

“It’s almost day-to-day life for us now. You walk in, there are cameras, the manager’s always miked up. The players are always miked up, being taken off for interviews. And I think you just get used to it.”

The Australian tour is a more understated affair than usual, with only a couple of film crew members in tow given it is on the other side of the world.

“This [tour] actually is not too many people,” Henrys said. “It’s relatively low-key. But then other times, when the owners come in town, as you can imagine, it ramps up production-wise.”

If the team knows that Reynolds or Mac plan to make an appearance Down Under, they are remaining persistently tight-lipped. But coach Phil Parkinson said even when the Hollywood stars visited Wrexham, the club might only find out at the last minute.

Speaking to media ahead of Friday’s friendly, Melbourne Victory coach Arthur Diles welcomed the opportunity to showcase his club on the world stage, but was quick to assure reporters who were poking and prodding about the impact of Wrexham’s star power that his team would brush off the spotlight’s glare like one would a poorly timed tackle.

“I’d like to think that every time there’s a match, whether it’s a local match or an international match, it’s an opportunity for every single player to showcase what they can do,” he said.

“It’s about our preparation as a club and as a team, and we’ll do everything we have to prepare for that match, like with any match.”

Wrexham’s Sam Smith fronts the media on Wednesday.

He admitted to watching some of the series, but only “a little bit”, and “much previous to when this game was announced, that’s for sure”.

Twenty-two-year-old midfielder Jordi Valadon was more forthcoming.

“I think there’ll be a lot to learn,” he said. “Obviously, they’re very experienced. It’s always a pleasure playing players from overseas because there’s always things you can learn from them on the field, as well as off the field. You know, chat to them, little tips and stuff they can give you that can really help yourself in your own career.”

But was it daunting running out against a team that is only one promotion away from playing in England’s top flight?

Wrexham’s coach Phil Parkinson and skipper James McClean alongside Victory’s Jordi Valadon and Arthur Diles.

“You never go into a game thinking it’s daunting,” he said. “I’d say we’re going in with a bit of excitement, to be honest.”

That was the resounding attitude of players on both teams this masthead spoke to this week. Welcome to Wrexham was more often a source of excitement than nerves for the professional athletes who, perhaps unsurprisingly, were eager to lap up the atmosphere.

Striker Sam Smith said he was embracing the opportunity the show offered.

“It’s enjoyable, and puts you on a platform to show everyone what you can do. Just enjoy the journey.”

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