Wrexham promoted after Paul Mullin delivers their Hollywood ending

As a sea of red swarmed the pitch to celebrate Wrexham’s return to the Football League after a 15-year absence, it was a reminder of those who had got them back to this stage: the fans themselves. If it was not for the supporters taking control in 2011, after a winding-up order was served on the club for unpaid taxes, this day might not have come.

The investment by Wrexham’s current North American owners, the actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny, is undoubtedly the catalyst for exiting the National League, to a glamorous backdrop, but they have kept the locals at the heart of their success. The club have come a long way in a short space of time since they put their money where their mouth is in 2021.

Few will be sad to see the back of the fifth tier, a division in which they drew 1-1 at Braintree in 2016 in front of 484 people. Wrexham now play in front of a packed Racecourse Ground, albeit with three sides, for most games and with a growing audience across the Atlantic thanks to the influence of the boardroom.

It was Paul Mullin that sealed promotion with his 37th and 38th league goals of the season against Boreham Wood. The National League is the hardest to get out of, with only one automatic place available. The victory was the icing on the cake: the real damage was done a fortnight ago when they edged past second-placed Notts County 3-2 in a remarkable match to open up a gap at the top. County have 106 points but still will have to go through the playoffs, an indication of how relentless Wrexham have been.

There is no denying that heavy investment in the squad was required to get the club up but those brought in have delivered. Mullin has a phenomenal record in the league, Ben Foster saved a crucial penalty against