“You’re only here to see the Wrexham.”
Not strictly true, of course, even if the Bolton Wanderers PA system has, just moments earlier, confirmed that the 25,957 crowd is the Lancashire club’s biggest on home soil since they were in the Premier League more than a decade ago.
Still, the presence in the third tier of a club owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney does bring an undeniable curiosity factor that few others can rival.
How else do you explain Bolton — with two promotions in the last nine seasons to their name, along with an EFL Trophy final victory in 2023 and a play-off final defeat three months ago — drawing an attendance that hasn’t been seen since the heady days when Jay-Jay Okocha, Youri Djorkaeff and Nicolas Anelka lit up this part of the world so magnificently?
Considering fans were asked to pay Category A prices, Bolton choosing the top level was surely a nod towards the visitors’ appeal following the global success of Welcome to Wrexham.
This being the tribal world of football, no such admission was ever going to be forthcoming from the home fans, though. “Where were you when you were shit?” they sang over and over again instead during a hard-fought goalless draw between two clubs who previously hadn’t met since the late 1980s.
(Richard Sutcliffe/The Athletic)
So long ago, in fact, that most of those on either side of this Anglo-Welsh sporting divide who spent the afternoon giving it the big ‘un in the direction of the other weren’t even born.
This includes the small group of Wrexham fans who brought along a Spain flag to goad the locals over England’s Euro 2024 final defeat. More of that later.
Much has changed since the last league meeting at Bolton, played at the old Burnden Park in December 1987, when just 3,701 hardy souls turned up — ‘Where were you when you were’ what? — to watch the hosts triumph 2-0.
Bolton went on to clinch promotion from what was then the Fourth Division on the final day, ironically with a 1-0 triumph at The Racecourse Ground. After that, both clubs went on very different trajectories, Wrexham dropping out of the Football League altogether at the end of the same 2007-08 season when Bolton beat Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Cup knockout stage.
Now, though, things are different. Wrexham’s back-to-back promotions and a £20million ($25.7m) annual revenue stream mean they met on a level playing field.
GO DEEPER
The story of Wrexham’s 2024 U.S. tour: More rest, more excitement, more progress
It also provided further confirmation to the 3,800 travelling fans that their days meandering around football’s outposts are over. Like last season’s 1-1 draw at Bradford City’s Valley Parade, a visit to the delightfully named Toughsheet Community Stadium feels like a big occasion.
Not in the manner of an FA Cup tie, where the Welsh club are just happy to be there as the underdog and hoping for the best. No, this was a chance to inflict an early bloody nose on a promotion rival.
Those from Wrexham fortunate enough to bag a ticket clearly recognised this, as club anthem Fearless in Devotion boomed around the stadium soon after kick-off.
“History only tells the story
We are here to see your glory
Stand aside, the Reds are coming
Wrexham is the name…”
Phil Parkinson’s side start the game slowly. Only a searching run from Sebastian Revan, operating at right wing-back for the first time since joining from Aston Villa, relieves the pressure of that early onslaught.
Gradually, though, Wrexham find their feet. George Dobson, one of seven summer signings following promotion, helps hugely in centre midfield, his ability to find space even in the most congested area means team-mates always have an ‘out’ ball.
Confirmation that the visitors are firmly in this contest comes midway through the first half via two crunching tackles by Tom O’Connor in quick succession, followed by another from pantomime villain James McClean. The delighted roar from the visiting hordes speaks volumes.
(Richard Sutcliffe/The Athletic)
By now, the visitors from north Wales are enjoying themselves. An unsuccessful appeal for handball by the locals means the next 90 seconds are spent with every touch being greeted by the cry, “Handball!” Some are still shouting it as referee Ben Speedie blows for half-time.
Optimism abounds in the away seats during the interval. “Score early and we’ll win this,” says one fan to a sea of nods from those around him.
They nearly get their wish, as Jack Marriott thunders a shot goalwards just 39 seconds after the restart that Nathan Baxter does very well to save.
As Parkinson’s side prove equal to their hosts on the pitch during the second half, the stadium is treated to much of the Wrexham back catalogue. Fearless In Devotion, obviously, but also, ‘We’re the Wrexham boys, making all the noise…’, ‘Wrexham ’till I die…’, and old favourite, ‘You’re only here to see the Wrexham…’.
Then comes a truly spine-tingling version of Hymns and Arias, Max Boyce’s Welsh sporting anthem, that even their rugby union brethren might struggle to match for passion at next year’s Six Nations.
The locals, however, are not impressed. They respond with an equally lusty God Save the King. Cue much waving of the Spain flag that has been smuggled into the top tier of the away end and a reworked version of Three Lions, mocking how “England f***ed it up” in the Euro 2024 final.
(Richard Sutcliffe/The Athletic)
Back on the pitch, both teams are similarly countering each other. Eoin Toal almost squeezes in a header for the hosts, while Wrexham substitute Steven Fletcher brings an excellent save from Baxter.
Finally, as the game moves into stoppage time, Ricardo Santos tumbles to the ground along with Eoghan O’Connell. All eyes are suddenly on referee Speedie as Santos and his team-mates demand a penalty but he waves play on.
Cue relief all around in the away end to send the Wrexham fans home happy. On this evidence, their team are ready to live up to the hype having celebrity owners inevitably attracts.
(Top photo: Richard Sutcliffe/The Athletic)