There is a fever around Wrexham AFC thanks to the Disney+ docuseries Welcome to Wrexham. It seems like the football club now has hundreds of thousands of fans in Canada and USA from where the new owners come.
After 15 years in the National League Wrexham got promotion to the football league (Div 2) and the whole town was invigorated as a result. I was staying in Cheshire for a few weeks and realised that the victory parade on open-topped buses was going to happen on Tuesday evening and I was only 40 mins away.
Thankfully it was a bright sunny evening when I joined the crowds and made my slow way up to The Turf pub at the stadium. I was an hour early but the crowds outside The Turf were already in full voice. Across the road where I was standing there were TV crews and photographers from all over the world.
A little later than expected we could spot blue lights in the distance and the three buses moving at crawling pace through the traffic lights to the stadium. Fever pitch greeted the buses and the players holding up the trophy for the fans to see. Champagne was sprayed, beer was thrown, lots of cheering, horn blowing, singing and cheering.
The owners were on the second bus with the women’s team who had also gained promotion this year. The manager, Phil Parkinson was on the final coach with the staff. All around me were families, small children on shoulders, people standing on walls and standing on step ladders. From bedroom windows other people waved flags.
There was a sea of red and then flares creating a red mist which fell around the buses making it even more atmospheric. There has not much to celebrate in North Wales but the success of Wrexham AFC has re-energised the area and given locals a reason to celebrate when there are so many challenges facing people just to survive.
We are all Wrexham supporters these days.