All language subtitles for welcome.to.wrexham.s04e05.1080p.web.h264

I am shooting Deadpool

with my buddy Rob McElhenney
playing a super secret cameo.

And, uh

Deadpool & Wolverine.
You're in that movie?

- No!
- [laughing]

[chuckling] I was until
Ryan cut me out.

[screeching]

[McElhenney] Oh, God, please.

The scene he was in, we cut out
then we put back in, and we

I was trying for weeks
to find a way just to keep

[Reynolds as Deadpool]
Don't worry about a thing.
I got you!

[McElhenney]
Don't leave me, please!

And at the end,
my my editor was like,

- "You're just keeping
this whole sequence
- [laughing]

because Rob's in it.
It's not working."

I got you into this mess,
I'm gonna get you--

- [McElhenney screams]
- OMG!

They had a
They gave me
an intervention over you.

They were like,
"It's just it's not
we got to move."

At this point
in my life and career,

the story of me
being cut out of it

is funnier and more interesting
than me being in it.

Was your first film
The Devil's Own,
and you were cut out of it?

- That is correct.
I have been cut out
- That's gotta be devastating.

- Ugh. Devastating.
- [laughing]

No, I can look back on it now
and it's funny,

but it was not funny
at the time.

The Devil's Own was,
like, my first job, and I did
a scene with Brad Pitt,

a scene with Harrison Ford,
Julia Stiles.

And I invited all of my friends
and family to the screening.

I had been telling people
for months
that I was in this movie,

and, uh,
and then I just wasn't.

So, that was humiliating
and terrible.

It puts you into a dark place
'cause you just
feel like a failure.

And then it happened again!

I was cut from seemingly
everything I did

for the first, uh,
five to seven years
of my career.

Bye.

[McElhenney] Getting cut
in competitive fields,
that's part of the deal.

That happens all the time
at a football club

because they believe that
you're not the best fit
for that team.

You can't help
but internalize that and think,

"Well, maybe it's about me."

But sometimes it's about them,
and everybody knows it
going into it,

but it doesn't make it
any less painful
when it happens to you.

Sometimes the world's
the problem, not you,
and you gotta pick yourself up

and put them
in your rearview mirror and

and find the place
where you will shine.

[shop owner] Obviously
the club is on a heck of
a positive journey, you know,

and people are saying
about some players
not performing well.

We're third in the table,
so they must
be doing something right.

- [American accent]
Just taking a look.
- [Clarke] Where you from, mate?

- California.
- [Clarke] Ah! Brilliant.

Welcome to Wrexham,
as the the phrase is.

Um, asking what I think
of our strikers
not scoring any goals.

[customer] Oh, yeah.

[all shouting] Wrexham!

[Griffiths] Wrexham
not making opportunities.

[Gilpin] Mullin and Palmer
increasingly don't look
much of a goal threat.

We keep saying that Palmer
grinds down the defense

and sort of gets them ready
for a Fletcher onslaught.

[fans chanting]
There's nobody better
than Steven Fletcher!

That's fine
if you don't concede

[chuckling] but there will be
games where we do concede.

We do need our
starting strikers to have
a genuine goal threat.

[fan] Fletcher then comes on
for 20, 15 minutes
at the end, and is scoring,

so why can't the strikers
who are playing 75, 80 minutes

get the same results really?

[fans groan]

And what do we need?

- Another striker. A backup.
- At least one
other striker. Yeah.

[fan] We can't win 1-nil,
we've gotta be winning
2 or 3-nil.

♪ Don't forget where
You came from, don't forget
What you're made of ♪

♪ The ones who were there
When no one else would care ♪

♪ Don't be afraid to cry now ♪

♪ Even when the world
Comes crashing in ♪

♪ Don't forget
To sing when you win ♪

♪ Don't forget
To sing when you win ♪

[chanting, whistling]

[Griffiths] Welcome to
a huge derby. Wrexham
visiting Shrewsbury Town.

[chanting continues]

[Griffiths] A massive game
for both teams, of course.

Wrexham, pushing for
a promotion,
with a win would go top today.

Shrewsbury looking
to rejuvenate their season

and pull away
from the relegation zone.

Parkinson has said goodbye
to his old lineup

with Mullin and Palmer
both on the bench,

but we all say a fond hello
to Elliot Lee,

who's back from injury.

He's playing off Steven
Fletcher, making his second
league start of the season.

[Roberts] Steven Fletcher,
I mean, delighted
to see him start.

I think he's been knocking
at that door for pretty much
most of the season now

with the goals he's getting
when he comes off that bench.

[Griffiths] I'd like to see
a little bit more service
to the feet of Fletcher.

I'd like to see us giving
him a chance to use that
technique and bring them in.

Ooh, there's
an opportunity here
for Shrewsbury!

The ball drops loose,
Marquis in the box! Scores!

[fans cheering]

That's a great piece
of play by Marquis
after an error at the back.

And Shrewsbury take the lead.
Let's see how Wrexham
respond to that.

Cannon now has got
an option out wide. Barnett.

This time he's got a chance
maybe to run at Benning
before he gets support.

Gets around the outside,
sweeps into the far post

Fletcher!

- Scores!
- [all cheering]

Wrexham equalize,
and Fletcher,
in his town of birth,

scores and keeps
his remarkable run going.

[commentator] Steven Fletcher
in the form that he's in,
we're back to 1-1.

- [all shout] Wrexham!
- [Griffiths]
It's a proper derby match.

[commentator]
The noise is brilliant.

There's nobody better
than Steven Fletcher!

[commentator] And they know
how important it is.

After getting the goal back,

we felt like
we'd get the momentum
and go on and win the game.

[Griffiths] Second half,
it's Castledine working it
wide, goes for the return pass,

but Matty James did well,
tracked his run

and is back there
and calmly to O'Connell
who runs into trouble.

- He's fouled surely.
- [whistle blows]

[Griffiths] The ref's
given a penalty. Hang on.

Oh.

What a mess
O'Connell made of that one.

[Roberts]
It's a pen all day long.

[Griffiths] Yeah. It's
a penalty and here is Marquis
to take it.

He steps up now
and it's saved by Okonkwo!

- But the rebound is in!
- [fans cheering]

[Griffiths] Wrexham shot
themselves in the foot with
the concession of that penalty

and have got
to come back all over again.

An awful way
to start the second half.

That was
That was disappointing.

[Griffiths] Plenty of firepower
on the bench for Parkinson,

but Wrexham need
to get straight back at it.

Straight from the restart,
McClean, in front
of the fans who are booing,

and feeds it forward
over the edge of the area.

Good defending again by Hoole,
blocks his cross.

Throw to Wrexham,
ten yards out.

I am genuinely surprised
that they're allowing so many
people to amass there

to have a go at McClean,
I've got to be honest.

I mean Something is thrown
at him there.

[Roberts] I know it's a derby,
I know it can get heated,

but you never want
to see things like that.

[booing continues]

[Griffiths] And Mullin
coming on for Andy Cannon.

I mean, we've got
to do something like this.
Fletcher gets a partner now.

[fans chanting]
We've got super Mullin!

[Griffiths]
Lee looks for Rathbone.

Lucky ricochet falls
for Mullin,
who tries, but well over.

[commentator] Yeah, I don't
think Wrexham have really
deserved to win this game.

- [Griffiths] No.
- Can we make
something different

because we're just going in
and being so predictable.

[podcaster] The open joke is,
we're third in the table
and we don't score goals.

If we could go and get someone,
this window, a lethal striker,

someone who is too good
for this level,
break the budget, just do it,

because the reward there
is Championship football.

[Ker] The January
transfer window

[fan] The chances are,
we might slip down a bit.

Realistically, we're gonna
lose some games.

Yeah.

- You can't win every game.
- [Birrell] No.

- Even Man City
lose occasionally.
- Well, occasionally.

We'd have given anything

- to be mid table, wouldn't we?
- [Birrell] Yeah. Yeah.

To stay in this division.

- Consolidate.
That was the word.
- Consolidate was the word.

- Everybody was saying,
"Consolidate."
- [Valentine] "Consolidate."

But now, we've been spoiled
because we're doing so well.

- Now it's, "Yeah,
we want promotion."
- It's expectation now.

- "We could get promotion."
- Yeah, the weight
of expectation.

Yeah, but Dad said

I mean, Dad said
with these fellas
in charge, anything's possible.

Anything's poss Yeah.

He could see us going
straight up to the Premier,
Dad could, with these,

- so I can't see why not.
- Yeah.

It was a shame that Dad
didn't live long enough

to see us play that first game
back in this league.

- [Valentine] I know.
- Yeah.

[Birrell] Oof. [stammers] Yeah.

[sighs, sniffles]

Dear me.

My granddad sadly passed away,
a hundred years old,

and season ticket holder from,

I think he was nine years old
when he started
watching Wrexham.

Fans actually lined the streets
the day of his funeral.

They gave him
a perfect send-off.

- He absolutely adored
the football club.
- [fans applauding]

- [Birrell] He touched
so many people.
- [Valentine] Yeah.

All over the world.
And people said
"thank you" for that.

They said, "Thank you
for sharing him with us."

Yeah.

[McElhenney] We're not
guaranteed anything
except that, at some point,

we're all going to die
and that the people around us,

people we love, uh,
we're going
to have to say goodbye to.

Arthur Massey,
this is for you. Thank you.

[McElhenney]
For as painful as it is, uh,

when I think about him,
mostly I feel gratitude
that I got to meet him,

to spend time with him
and his family
and to understand

So nice to see you.
Happy St. David's Day.

what Wrexham meant to him

- as an organization
and as a town.
- [fans cheering]

But, more importantly,
what he meant
to the organization

and will continue to.

We invite all supporters
to join in a minute's applause
for Arthur Massey.

Our oldest supporter has passed
away aged one hundred.

[applause]

♪ Be still and know
That I'm with you ♪

♪ Be still, be still and know ♪

[Jones] His legacy
sort of lives on.

Every time that I go
to the game now,

I have a look up
at his seat as well.

So, he'll always be
at the football club,
in my opinion.

[applauding continues]

♪ If you forget the way to go ♪

[McElhenney] Saying goodbye
and loss is a part of life,

and Arthur's life will
always be a part of this club's
history and of its future.

He's one of the reasons
that the world has fallen
in love with Wrexham,

and we will honor him forever.

♪ Be still, be still and know ♪

[Valentine] I like to think
he's still watching,
he's just in a different place.

[Birrell] Yes.
Best seat in the stadium.

Best seat in the stadium. Yeah.

But, you know,
he's passed the baton on
to us, hasn't he?

Yeah. And we have
to pass it on. You know,
Wrexham fans will go on.

They'll go on forever.
Going from generation
to generation.

[Jones] This is the
newest addition to the family.

- [coughing]
- Oh, no.

♪ If no one
Is standing beside you ♪

[Massey] I guess you could say
I'm a Wrexham boy
through and through.

♪ Be still and know I am ♪

t game of the season.

Birmingham gave us a bit
of a lesson at their place,

so hopefully tonight
we can show them
what we're actually made of.

Up the town.

- This league is ours.
- [fan 2] It's gonna be
a tight game today.

Would you play Mullin
or Marriott today because
Marriott's back now, isn't he?

You can see Mullin's fuming.
He's fuming with himself.

His name is Tom Wagner.
Show some respect.

Who's Tom Wagner?

[Wagner] Thought it'd be
a nice gesture
to buy everyone a round

and demonstrate
that it's really
more than just about,

you know, one team versus
the other, but really the
culture of British football,

and that's what
we're trying to represent.

We love each other,
but hate each other tonight.

[McElhenney] We're here
to watch a football match,

with the Red Dragons
against Tom Brady and
Tom Wagner's evil Birmingham,

whatever they are. Blues?

It's gonna be
a really tough game,

but I'd like to believe
that we're gonna
come out victorious.

[fans chanting]

[Griffiths] Welcome to Wrexham.

Wrexham at home to
Birmingham City, third against
first, the light show begins.

A win here tonight and
Wrexham will be just two points
behind the league leaders.

Come on, let's give 'em
a Wrexham fucking night.

[Griffiths] Ollie Rathbone,
who's new in this season,

and has been making
a huge impact for us so far,

starts in midfield
and Ollie Palmer returns
to the starting lineup.

Come on, you reds!

[Griffiths]
And Birmingham kick off.

[fans chanting]
Wrexham! Wrexham!

[Griffiths] Wrexham fans
are in good voice.

Birmingham, they're moving
the ball around confidently,
looking good,

and it's gonna
be very interesting
how Wrexham cope with that.

Can't pick out May.

Hurried pass for O'Connor,
doesn't find Palmer.

Now Wrexham
looking to break from the back.

Good challenge, wins it,
and Rathbone
can hit this. He curls it!

- [shrieks] What a goal!
- [fans cheering]

[McElhenney]
Yes! Rathbone! Ollie!

[Griffiths]
That is an absolute screamer!

I mean, you could see
from the very start
that Rathbone was a player

who was going to be showing
terrific energy,

but he has a bit of quality
that does raise him up
a bit of a level.

For me, he looks like
a Championship player
who's playing at this level.

[commentator] I don't think
he has a bit of quality,
I think he has a lot.

[all] Wrexham!

What a goal.

At the game that I went to
in Birmingham,
it was the ninth minute

where we scored the first goal,
and then they came back
and smashed us.

[Griffiths] Birmingham
get a corner. Ball over the top
looking to the far post

There's a free header. It's in.

[Olsen] No!

- [Griffiths] 1-1.
Very, very simple.
- [commentator] Fucking hell!

Come on, boys.

[Griffiths] Ruby slippers
invoking the spirit of the
patron saint of lost causes,

Taylor Swift,
and saying "Shake it off, Reds.

You've got plenty of time."

As Palmer is wrestled around.
Ref doesn't give it.

Lee is trying to hold it up
on the left flank, falls over,

and the ref gives that one.

Hallelujah.

There we go.

[Griffiths] O'Connor whips
the ball in to the far post

- and a chance
for a shot for Rathbone!
- [fans cheer, groan]

- [Griffiths] Rathbone
puts it just over.
- Oh, my God.

[Griffiths] Halftime whistle
then goes,
and we've given as good

as we've got against
a strong Birmingham side.

My name is Ollie Rathbone,
and I play
for Wrexham Football Club.

Grew up in Blackburn.

My dad was a physio,
and he was a player himself.

My granddad as well.
He was a footballer
back in the '50s,

so mad football family.

Ever since I can remember,
it was always a ball
at my feet. It was my life.

[Griffiths] Can Rathbone
do something?
Carries to the edge of the box.

- Left-footed strike!
- [fans cheering]

[Griffiths] Ollie Rathbone
with a screamer!

[Rathbone] I played
at Manchester United
until I was, like, 14.

When a lot of lads
started to grow and started
to develop, I just didn't,

so it kind of meant
I couldn't compete
in my own age group there.

I'd wanted to play
first-team football,

so I signed for Rochdale
in League One.

I was a really late developer,

so I always felt
that I had to do more
than everyone else,

which is something
I think I still carry
with me today.

Played preseason friendly
against Rotherham,

and they put a bid in
for me the next day.

And a week later,
I was at Rotherham United.

[fans cheering]

First year, got promoted
automatically out of
League One to the Championship.

Then, unfortunately,
in the third year, the division
was just too tough for us,

and we ended up
getting relegated back
to League One.

My dad's career
was kind of plagued,

and he regrets
he didn't enjoy it enough,

so he insists that I just have
to enjoy it as much as I can.

You've got, like,
such a short career

that you wanna maximize it
as much as you can.

My agent said, "You have a call
with Phil, and I think
they might be interested."

And you want to feel
like you're involved
in something special.

New record fee to sign Rathbone

That's what really
attracted me there.

[producer] What's it like,
first of all,
going into a new dressing room?

Uh, difficult.

Head up to the gym.

Look at this. Wow.

I saw straightaway
it was such a tight-knit group

that have achieved
so much together,
so I was very eager to impress.

[Griffiths] Rathbone
with a lung-busting run,
and he's won it!

And then he's got two men
now by two
in the middle, pulls it back.

- Fletcher!
- [all cheering]

[Griffiths] Rathbone tees up
Steven Fletcher.

[Parkin]
Ollie fucking Rathbone. Wowser!

Ollie Rathbone's been
an absolute genius this season.

[Griffiths] The ball's swept
into the crowd and it's there!

Ollie Rathbone!

Not only on the pitch,
off the pitch,
he's been a great addition.

Steven Fletcher
if anyone knows him.

That's my mate, Jurassic Mark,
as we call him.

[Lee] He sums up
what we're about.

- He doesn't normally do this.
- [laughs]

We're a team of hardworking
lads trying to achieve success
for this great club.

[Griffiths] Welcome back
to Wrexham against Birmingham.
Great run by Rathbone.

Birmingham are on the ropes,
they're reeling here,
aren't they?

They can't get the ball off us.

[Rathbone] I'm here
to make a mark
and be part of this journey

and hopefully be remembered.

The only thing
that really matters is

that you enjoy where you are,
and at Wrexham, I've felt that.

[Griffiths] Forward to Rathbone
who rips it in the box.

And, wow, one all,
the final score.
Brilliant stuff.

All right. I'll take it.

[commentator]
That is not a bad result

to take a point
from such a strong side
in this division.

We're only one win away
from an automatic
promotion spot.

Next few matches
against lower-ranked
teams as well.

But who knows
what's gonna happen?

[fans chanting] Ollie Rathbone!

[Parkinson]
The striker dile

We're getting to the point
where we've gotta put bids in.

- It's January.
You're gonna overpay a bit.
- Yeah.

If you bring
in a 35-year-old striker,

36-year-old striker,
that might help with the now.

You maybe pay a lot of money,
but in the future,

there really isn't
anything there to go forward.

If you bring
in a 25-year-old striker,
it's gonna cost a lot of money.

And, honestly, for the now,

there's probably, you know,
limited upside to some extent.

You know, Phil,
it'll take six months
before they get,

you know, kind of situated
with the whole environment
that we have around here.

So try to find something
in between.

- Yeah, it's never easy.
- No.

It's so difficult.

People never understand
how hard it is

to get a player to improve
what you've got.

The player we bring in has
gotta be significantly better
than one we've got.

And that hierarchy
in the dressing room,

we've gotta make sure
we keep the status quo
in there.

It seems like it keeps getting
more and more expensive.

That's the problem.

[Griffiths] Since the
last season,
I've retired as a teacher.

Get up at 8:00,
have a nice coffee.

Put on the TV,
play with the cats.

Huh? That's right.

But being retired is lovely.
I'm getting used to it.

I've always been really good
at lounging around
and appearing busy,

and now I feel like
I've found that perfect arena

to really express those skills.

I love teaching,
but when people say,
"Do I miss teaching?"

[chattering]

[chuckling]
No, I do not miss working.

My long-suffering wife,
it's much worse for her now
that I'm at home.

I'm realizing how much
of my energy I got out
when I was teaching.

I was an annoying guy
on the corridors,

and now I'm just
an annoying guy
around the house.

I'm retired.
Enjoy school tomorrow.

Mark

- Oh, yes.
- [teacher] Harsh.

So because I'm retired,

my intention at the start
of the season
was I would cover every game.

You'd have to drag me out
of there
kicking and screaming

to stop me doing this.

He takes the back pass,
you know, he'll get that first.

- Oh! What a goal!
- [all cheer]

[Griffiths] It's exciting to be
able to just focus on doing
stuff for the football club

and sit around the house
thinking about football
all the time,

which makes me a top husband.

- [Griffiths] Wait for me.
- [giggles]

[Griffiths] When I was working,
there was always a voice
in the back of my head

saying I resent having to work.
I want to spend time with her.

I annoy her because I can be
borderline clingy.

Emma would cut the "borderline"
out that sentence.

[Griffiths] I love you.
You're all right, you are.

You're gonna make me
all shy now. [chuckles]

[Griffiths] Saying goodbye
to teaching

has given me the chance
to say hello again to my wife.

[Emma]
Those are nice pieces, eh?

That looks like a piece
of a tile or something,
doesn't it?

[Griffiths] Hello, welcome
to the SToK Cae Ras.

Wrexham against the
Stevenage side who have toiled
for goals away from home.

- Where's Stevenage now? 15?
- Yeah, 15.

And Wrexham at third.

Come on, Wrexham!

[Griffiths] Stevenage have
only scored four
away goals all season,

and Wrexham
are unbeaten at home.

You would hope
this is a home win.

[Roberts]
You'd absolutely hope so.

[Griffiths]
And it's a good pass as well,

and now Kemp
is bursting through,
three-on-two breakaway.

Plays a nice ball to Roberts.
First time finish, Okonkwo
saves. The rebound's in!

Stevenage take the lead.

[Roberts] Arthur might be
a little bit disappointed
to parry it where he does,

but Dan Kemp just reacts
quicker and deserves that goal.

[Griffiths] Wrexham go behind
at the Racecourse.

[Roberts] Really disappointing
from Wrexham

who just really haven't
come out the blocks at all,

like we did last week
against Birmingham.

[Griffiths]
And hits a shot. 2-nil!

[cheering]

- [seat thumps]
- [Griffiths] Oh, goodness me.

They just scored half the
away goals they've scored
all season in 18 minutes.

[Roberts] We've got
a real battle on our hands now.

[Parkinson] We got overpowered
a bit in that first half,

and when we didn't
find solutions to the problems,

it was a case of keep going.

- [Griffiths] The crowd
are fractious here.
- Fuck off!

[Roberts] You know, you've got
to overcome games like this

if you want
to be up there in those

in those automatics
or even playoff positions.

So, a real big test for
Wrexham, see what they're
made of, especially at home.

[Griffiths]
Wrexham needs to step this up.

[whistle blows]

[McClean]
That's as bad as it gets.

From one to eleven,
that's as bad
as it fucking gets.

Fucking Kemp playing
like he's fucking Messi.

I'm fucking stunned
really, boys.

We've lost every
fucking header,
every second ball.

Showed no fucking courage
to play. I mean, fucking hell.

But the great thing
about football is,

there's forty fucking nine
minutes to put it right.

Do you know what I mean? That's
what football's all about.

The crowd are booing.
Fantastic, well done.

I love nights like this
'cause we're gonna
fucking turn it around.

Gonna turn it around
by fucking playing properly

and showing
some fucking courage.

Mulls, Fletch, come on, boys,
great challenge for us.
Let's turn it round.

I made changes
to get back in it,
which is rare for me to do.

Because, I think,
if you've picked
the 11 you've gone with,

and give them
another 15 minutes
to try and rectify it.

[Griffiths] Fletcher and Mullin
come on
to a tremendous welcome

from the Wrexham fans.

[Parkinson] But I felt that
we needed to quickly respond
within the game.

At halftime,
when the gaffer told us
we were going on,

I was desperate to get back
on the pitch
and try and score a goal.

[Griffiths] Mullin fighting,
and the crowd love that.

It's a corner. Lee whips it in,
knocked down by Fletcher.

Rathbone.
Shot comes in. It's there!

- We're back in this match.
- [fans] Wrexham!

It took a deflection,
but I managed
to just help it on.

We looked like we were gonna be
the team who were, you know,

gonna go on
and get back into it
and win the game.

[Griffiths] Mullin's picked up
a loose ball, driving forwards.

Can he find something?

Hits it from the edge
of the box. Just over.

[fans groan]

Gotta lock it in!

[Griffiths] And now
he's taking on Scarr
on the right-hand side,

fills it inside nicely.

Danger here, pulled back
to Young. Great checkout,
and he scores.

Wow, this is something.

[Mullin]
It's quite difficult to take,

especially when the fans are
right behind us,

and I think that was just
a stark reminder for us

how we always need to be
a hundred percent at it.

[Parkinson] It was quite
a disappointing performance.

It was a shock to the system.

Parky was fuming,
the fans were fuming.

Not something we're used to,
losing at home.

[Griffiths] Well, they've given
it a good go, but too little
too late, ultimately.

Wrexham lose at home
for the first time this season.

That was probably one
of the worst first half
performances we've had

since we've been here.

A bit of soul searching to do,
I think, boys. For us all.

We've always said to you,
since ever we've been here,

"Earn the right to play."
Earn the right.

We didn't earn
the right tonight.

We didn't earn the right,
and that's why they've won.

[podcaster 1] How we didn't
score another goal,
I'll never know.

[podcaster 2] For the first
time ever, really,

I'm seriously questioning
the sort of decisions
that are made--

[podcaster 1] By Parkinson?

[podcaster 2] Yeah, he's got
a massive problem to solve now.

Everybody can see
we've got no goal threat.

Parky will live and die
by his decisions.

If he's playing players
who are not performing,

we'll lose games
and eventually, you know,
he could pay the price.

I really thought we would have
strikers in by now.

I've got to look closely
at myself

because I take
full responsibility for that

and make sure we pick a team
which is gonna fight
tooth and nail for the badge.

[Gilpin] You'd better
get a move on 'cause you
haven't got much time left

before transfer window
slams shut.

[Gilpin] Yep, we may have said
goodbye to our long-standing
unbeaten hom

but you know what?
We've also got reason
to say hello, haven't we?

Twenty-four days into
the January transfer window

and Wrexham Football Club
have finally got our
first signing across the line.

Hull City's midfielder
Ryan Longman on a deal

until the end
of the '26-'27 season.

[Gilpin]
Can you give us the lowdown?

He's played as a striker,
he's played as a wingback.

[commentator] And Ryan Longman
scores for Hull City!

[Gilpin] At the age of 24,

he's already got over a hundred
Championship games
under his belt.

[Longman] We'll see what
happens, but I'm happy
we've gotten in over the line.

[Parkinson] Love it. Good.

The results during January,
the defeat at Shrewsbury
in particular,

as well as we played
against Birmingham,

that was five points
dropped out of six.

We couldn't afford
to lose contact
with the teams at the top.

We have a very,
very tight window.

It's going to be
a large price tag,

but we need a proven
goal scorer at this level

to be able to continue
this push for promotion.

It's a far cry from
where we were 5 years ago, when
the odd decent player we had,

you were sort of pacing around
the house or the pub thinking,

"I hope nobody comes in
for him because we can't afford
to keep hold of him."

To be able to be
in a position now
where it's completely reversed

and we are the club
looking to maybe snatch

an absolute class player
from somebody else

Anything can happen
on the last day
of the transfer window.

[Cleworth] Our wish
has been granted
in the last 48 hours

of the January transfer window.

Wrexham Football Club
have signed a striker.

We're talking about Sam Smith.

[McElhenney chuckling] Oh!
Not that Sam Smith. This one.

[camera shutter clicks]

Sam Smith is a player
I wanted Wrexham to sign

from Reading,
fellow League One side,
for a reported £2 million,

which has completely smashed
the club's record transfer fee.

Wow, I mean,
what a signing that is.

He's in great form,
he's banging goals in
at this level.

He's big and strong, he can do
the Palmer-style scrapping
for the ball,

but he can
also the Mullin-style
smashing goals in.

We're taking him away
from a club where he
is their leading goal scorer.

He's a, you know,
fourth-leading goal scorer
in League One right now.

Then on top of that,
to add to a player
that's had over 250 appearances

in the Premier League
is incredible to bring Jay in.

[fan] We were able to bring in
Jay Rodriguez to the squad.

[Griffiths] Rodriguez who
shoots on the turn. A fantastic
strike. Jay Rodriguez.

[Griffiths] Rodriguez is just
such a clever, clever player.

He'll bring so much for us.

[Harvey] Ryan Longman to fill
that right wingback role.

Sam Smith, who was, you know,
the number one choice
of a striker,

and then Jay Rodriguez

Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy.

[Harvey] who brings
an element of experience

that'll make the difference
between draws and wins,

and it's the difference
between draws and wins
that will determine

how successful we are
by the end.

[Parkinson]
Get yourselves a drink.
Well done.

[producer] How's your first
week been at Wrexham then, Sam?

[Smith] It's been really good.

It's a lot different
to my old club, but got
a really good group of lads.

♪ And I get no pleasure
From the pain ♪

♪ You say I didn't mean it
But I feel it just the same ♪

[Smith] I've enjoyed training.

The team's done so well
for two years now

and it's difficult because
you have to prove yourself

and you have to try
and be accepted by everyone.

Especially when you come
in a January window,

your life just gets
turned upside down,

living in hotels,
can't cook, I'm big on my diet.

The hardest thing is just
coming out of your routine.

It's not ideal,
but it is what it is.

♪ Some people
Have a special kinda knack ♪

Hopefully I'm coming in
to make the squad better

and I can help
to get us promoted.

♪ It's the leader of the pack
Leader of the pack ♪

[Gilpin] So, Crawley Town away.
What do you guys think of that?

[Randall] Super Paul Mullin.
Not so super this season.

Yeah, well, we've all been
talking about, "He needed
a goal. He needed a goal."

And then he hits one,
which is a joke of a goal.

I don't know what it is,
whether it is a bit
of confidence, I don't know,

it just doesn't seem
to be happening for him.

[Gilpin] Is it fitness, Andy?
He's still, he's not 100% fit.

It can't be fitness by now,
you've got that,

if you've got five months,
four months under your belt
of full-time training,

it can't be fitness.

Paul Mullin is absolutely
tremendous, what he's done
for this club,

but if we can get promoted
this season
by bringing better players,

players that are more adapted
to winning championships,
now, I don't know.

[Griffiths] Wrexham against
Crawley Town with lots of
changes, lots of alterations.

Okonkwo replaced in goal
by Mark Howard, but Smith
and Rodriguez come in.

[fan] We've got the two
new lads straight in.

The other guys, they had,
you know, plenty of time.

Unfortunately, didn't produce,

and if we want to go up
this season, then, yeah,
we need some goal scorers.

[Griffiths] No Paul Mullin.
He's having a scan
on his shin this week.

[Parkinson] Mulls is the type
of lad, "I'll probably be
on the bench anyway."

But, you know, I just said,
"Look, Mulls, until
we get that scan tomorrow,

I don't wanna put you
at risk because we've got
a lot of football to play."

It's a cruel game.

[fans chanting]

[Griffiths] Howard stands it up
and Rodriguez the target.

It drops for Barnett.
Barnett turns,
takes on his man,

drives at the near post,
and Rathbone's
got to the ball first,

lays it nicely back,
and Wrexham take the lead!

- Matty James's first goal
for the club.
- [fans cheering]

Great start this
for Wrexham then. Ahead
with a minute on the clock.

[all shout] Wrexham!

[Griffiths] Smith driving
forwards, you've got
Rathbone arriving with him.

Whips a good ball in
to Rathbone, who helps it
on nicely. Rodriguez

It was a great chance.
That would have been 2-nil.

- [Williams] Great run
by Rodriguez.
- [Griffiths] It is a step up.

The quality of that pass
as well from Smith.

He looks kind of good,
doesn't he?
[chuckles]
I'm encouraged.

[Parkinson]
Everyone was looking round,

"Come on, are we gonna
bring someone in
to give us a lift?"

And we've good players
in the building which are gonna
be a big signing for us.

[Griffiths] Last minute.
Wrexham still lead 1-nil.

Good header by Cleworth,
keeps an eye on it well.

Ibrahim tries a long ranger.
He scored! Unbelievable strike!

[fans cheering]

[Griffiths] He must've been
a good 30 yards out.

Took it on his chest
and launched a screamer.

Howard, lunging, had no chance.
Top right corner.

And Wrexham concede
a late equalizer.

[Parkinson] The lad will never
hit a shot
like that again in his career.

[Griffiths] I thought
we were gonna get a 1-nil.

[Parkinson] The wonder goal
could've deflated us,

but this week has been
a good week for us
in the transfer market,

and football is about
big moments of quality.

[Griffiths] Thirty seconds left
of added time,

and Wrexham,
who looked so bright
in the first half,

are digging in
to get a point here.

That's a nice pass by Lee.
Dobson with a bit of space
up to the edge of the area,

held up cutely by Fletcher
with a little reverse pass.

Longman stands it in,
Free header. It's in!

Wrexham win it
with six seconds left!
Great delivery by Longman.

[Roberts] That's what teams do
at the top of that table.

[Williams]
Huge credit to Phil Parkinson

because he has thrown
that grenade
in the changing rooms

and said, "Right,
some things
need to change here."

[reporter] We've spoken
about the players
you've brought in.

Will there be movement out?

[Parkinson sighs] I mean,
listen, we're just
On the way back tonight,

We're just gonna
have a good chat because we've
had a very hectic few days

and we'll decide where we go
in the next few days.

[member 1] We've done so well,

- back-to-back promotions.
- [member 2] Yeah.

[member 3] But we all know
there's several players there
who aren't gonna be with us.

Yeah, players that have done
good service for the club,

but they're just
not going to feature.

[Harvey] In the
transfer window,
a decision was made

to release James Jones
and Anthony Forde.

When you've got a big squad,

that means players
who have been part of the club
for a long period of time,

need to leave
to continue to play football.

So, there's a natural ceiling
that players get to,

and that ceiling
is reached quicker
the better you do.

There's bound to be players
who are part
of that absolute legacy

who are gonna fall
by the wayside.

[McElhenney] It's very hard
because not only do you
become so close with them,

but because you ask them
to do a job

and they did that job for you,
and then they recognize

that they might be
promoting themselves
out of a job.

[Howard] It's tough,
but ultimately
football does go on.

New players come in
and take their position.

We have to constantly
keep adapting,

and it's hard because you make
a lot of friends in football.

[Faal] You spend time
with these players every day,

and it's always hard
to say goodbye.

That's why you cherish
every moment

and enjoy those times 'cause
things change very quickly.

[Lee] It was sad to see JJ go.

But equally, for Forde's
career, it was
the best thing for him.

He needs to show
what a quality player he is.

[Jones]
I've been at Wrexham so long,

it's been all I've known
for the last
three and a half years.

Only look back on it
with fond memories.

All the craziness
that goes along
with being a Wrexham player.

[players chanting]

[Smith] The lads are
an amazing group
and we've bonded really well,

and I think that's showed
on the pitch.

There's a lot of lads that have
made an effort
with me and Laura,

always trying to help
and something
I've definitely appreciated.

[Jones] The Wrexham dream
can't last forever.

It is tough,
but that's kind of
what we signed up for

and everyone
will eventually go through it.

There'll be very few
that hang on
all the way up to the top.

Happy that I've played
a big part
in the club's history.

I'll always have that
to look back on.

[fans cheering]

[commentator] Anthony Forde.

[Griffiths] James Jones!
What a wonderful finish
that was!

[member 1] We've now got
legend players to come back
who achieved something.

A group of heroes
for the younger fans
to look at.

I'm really sad
to see a couple of them go.

James Jones put it all
on the line for us.

Sad to see Anthony Forde move
on. He's never let us down.

[commentator] It's towards
Dalby. He's run past him.

Anthony Forde makes it six!

[Griffiths] Genuinely sad
to see James Jones
and Anthony Forde go,

but it's premature to assume
that this will be
the end for them though.

[Fay] Wrexham back in action
this weekend, the early kickoff

Is this, you know,
another one of those tests

where we'll get a clearer
indication of how much
we did strengthen in January?

Yeah, if we come out
and we beat Northampton,
happy days.

[Griffiths]
Welcome to Northampton Town.

It's a horrible day here,
just misty and rainy,

and we're about
to get things underway.

Wrexham's two new strikers,
Smith and Rodriguez,
are both in the starting 11.

They showed great potential
against Crawley

in what was
yet another close win,

and they've certainly
earned themselves
the start today.

With Northampton,
who are 19th in the table,

this is a great chance
for Wrexham

to stay within
striking distance of
second-placed Wycombe.

Absent once again
from the lineup entirely are
Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer.

Parkinson is clearly demanding

an immediate return
from his two new strikers.

They've certainly
got big boots to fill.

So it's away we go.

And immediately
Smith pops the ball backwards

and Cleworth sets himself,
stands over the top.

Smith is trying
to run in behind that,

takes it beautifully
but loses his footing.

[commentator]
What a great ball.

- [fans chanting] Wrexham!
- [commentator]
Fans very loudly singing.

[Griffiths]
Good noise, isn't it?

Cleworth putting it into
midfield for Rodriguez nicely.

Smith is there first.
Dyche is with him.

Two Wrexham players
arrive in the box.
He pulls it back.

Return pass is overhit though.

There's a threat.
Something's coming
with those front two.

Howard over the top,

and again Smith's after this,
and Willis lets it bounce.

Smith runs onto it
in the box, hits it.

And Sam Smith
has scored his first goal
for Wrexham!

[fans cheering]

[Griffiths] He took a push
in the back.
It didn't bother him.

First-time, left-foot finish
across the keeper
and Wrexham take the lead.

[Parkinson] That goal,
it sums up why
we've had to bring in a Smith.

It's because he's mobile.

And this is no disrespect
to Ollie Palmer,

he gives us so much
in that first half
of the season.

But Smith's got that little bit
of pace that when that ball
does go in behind,

he's away and he's got a chance
of getting on the end of it.

Whereas Palmer would be more
in a fight,
maul with the center halves.

Tremendous finish.

[all shout] Wrexham!

[Griffiths] Back into midfield.
Directs the ball
back to O'Connell.

Dyche stretching.
Heads it away, only as far
as Rathbone, edge of the area,

can't quite bring it down
but he keeps going Hits it!

And it's in! 2-nil!

Ollie Rathbone continues
his scoring run.

[Parkinson]
2-nil. What a start.

Rathbone does so well.
He just smells it, doesn't he?

- Smells those timings.
- [Griffiths] Yep.

But this is
certainly encouraging,

as the Northampton fans
leave the ground in numbers.

We have dominated them
on their own patch.

And that is the final whistle.

We've been winning
by the skin
of our teeth for so long.

This is the first time
in 14 matches that we've won
by more than a single goal.

So goodbye, scoring droughts,
hello, Smith and Rathbone.

A great sign of things to come
for Wrexham.

[McElhenney] In football,
as in life, the only thing
more constant than change

is the feeling
it leaves behind.

We said goodbye
to a legend
who gave us his Saturdays,

players who left it all out
on the pitch.

To lifelong careers,
to roles we thought
were permanent.

And in every space
that opened up,
someone else walked in.

A new voice, a new spark,
a new name
on the back of a shirt.

But not every chapter
has an ending.

Some stories
are still being written.

[Edwards] What do you think
is in the future
for Paul Mullin?

Because, obviously,
he's done fantastic for us,

and there is a hell
of a player there.

Is this an indication
of what is in the future
for Paul Mullin

when he's so low down
the pecking order?

[Gilpin] It's strange to say
that, isn't it? Because for the
last three or four years,

he's been our star man,

and you don't know what's
going on behind the scenes.

You don't know
his fitness levels.
Last season we needed him

because we weren't going
to get promoted without him.

I just don't think
that's gonna happen this season

because we've got Smith,
you know, the Fletcher role
is quite well-known.

[Edwards] In terms of strikers,
it just feels like
we've got too many now almost.

[Gilpin] I do wonder if Mullin
will be there
at the end of the season.

[Williams] So where
does that leave him, really?

[Randall] I look at him
not making even the bench

and I'm like, "Oh, yeah, thanks
for the hundred-odd goals,

but, yeah, thanks for that."

[Gilpin] I wonder if he will
want to move on and get
first team action elsewhere.

[Williams] It's a weird thing
to have to say it, but
ultimately you have to say it.

That's football.