Wrexham - Aim Has Always Been The Premier League

Ryan Reynolds was not budging from his statement nor from nan transportation arsenic nan latest instalment of Wrexham promotion celebrations carried connected agelong aft nan last whistle sounded connected their 3-0 triumph complete Charlton.

For now, for Reynolds, for Wrexham, nan Championship will do conscionable fine.

It is simply a level nan nine person not knowledgeable successful much than 4 decades, their highest opinionated successful their 161 Years. Even for a nine that is accelerated becoming utilized to occurrence and nan surreal, this is different.

Escaping non-league aft 15 years was a infinitesimal of relief. Going again from League Two was astir apt not a surprise. An unprecedented third? Who said trilogies ne'er beryllium popular.

As Barry Horne, nan erstwhile Wales and Wrexham skipper put it: "I didn't expect this – and anybody who did is lying."

And yet, nan Stok Cae Ras seemed group for this from nan infinitesimal Reynolds and co-chairman Rob McElhenney entered nan crushed almost 5 hours earlier their decider pinch a London broadside still harbouring their ain promotion ambitions.

As nan A-listers watched rivals Wycombe Wanderers suffer successful their early kick-off from a backstage box, location were fewer successful nan crushed to spot Reynolds look successful ceremony arsenic nan sounds from nan adjacent Turf pub confirmed a pivotal extremity successful Wrexham's favour agelong earlier they had kicked a ball.

"The door's been opened for us, now we person to measurement done it," was head Phil Parkinson's dressing room connection to his players arsenic it dawned connected supporters and players that a triumph would now corroborate a historical back-to-back-to-back promotion.

If Wrexham and each nan spotlight tin beryllium considered a circus - as Charlton leader Nathan Jones had put it earlier nan game - past Parkinson has been nan ringmaster.

Persuaded to driblet down into non-league during a agelong trans-Atlantic telephone telephone from Rob McElhenney, he has been nan calm, controlling manus amid nan chaos.

As he said connected nan transportation to reporters aft nan game, he was interrupted by that aforesaid co-owner. The emotion escalated quickly from a hug, to a kiss, to "I emotion you" from nan Always Sunny creator.

But Parkinson has ever done good to woody pinch nan emotion. Striding retired to complete pre-match media duties, location was a glint and a grin from nan 57-year-old who has dealt pinch nan Hollywood hoopla and determinedly delivered 3 times over. This is wherever he comes alive.

Evolving nan broadside from nan 1 of past glories – sometimes ruthlessly pinch past heroes specified arsenic Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer sidelined – it was fitting that 2 players he deemed valuable capable to break nan nine transportation grounds for, proved decisive.

Ollie Rathbone and Sam Smith's goals group up nan yearly transportation penetration arsenic Wrexham swept speech Charlton to "football successful nan circus," chants from supporters, immoderate of whom sported jesters hats. No-one is laughing astatine Wrexham now.

There were smiles, though, conscionable astir visible down nan pyrotechnic fog rising disconnected nan oversea of bodies that had invaded nan transportation for nan 3rd successive year.

Some fans did not make it down to nan transportation itself, though agelong earlier nan last whistle they were leaving seats to activity retired friends.

The regular sell-out crowds - pinch Wrexham liking now being spoken astir pinch a world accent – intends acquainted faces for regulars whitethorn beryllium a fewer rows away. Protocol of not moving on aisles arsenic nan crippled goes connected was done distant with, to stock a infinitesimal that galore ne'er thought they would see.

When nan transportation invaders yet moved backmost to nan stands to let for nan presentation, what was yet near was a touch of past, coming and early connected a time of history.

As players paid tribute to supporters, 1 guidelines astatine a time, soaking successful nan infinitesimal was Geraint Parry. The club's caput for decades, he had been location arsenic supporters queued up to connection life savings conscionable to guarantee nan nine could complete a season.

Then he clutched dream - now he clutched a vessel of EFL champagne. He chuckled astatine nan disbelief of really things person worked out. At 1 constituent Wrexham were struggling to seizure section imagination, now he is dealing pinch worldwide attention.

Nearby was Gareth Owen, a midfielder from nan past clip Wrexham stood supra Cardiff and Swansea successful nan shot pyramid. Having suffered a devastating changeable 2 years agone - but having made singular advancement - he smiled watching connected astatine Reynolds and movie prima woman Blake Lively revel successful nan occurrence of a northbound Wales club, marking nan infinitesimal pinch backstage selfies.

He shook his head, not astatine nan celebrities, but astatine what has been achieved and what could yet beryllium imaginable astatine his club. How acold some he and Wrexham person travel should beryllium celebrated.

And past location was Mickey Thomas, a subordinate champion known for that extremity against Arsenal, but besides portion of nan squad that past won promotion to this level successful 1978.

"I'm not judge I tin judge it," said Wrexham leader Thomas, who admits his clip moving pinch erstwhile nine Manchester United sees group extremity him and inquire questions, not of events astatine Old Trafford but astatine nan Cae Ras.

He had not watched nan earlier Wycombe game, alternatively making 1 of his regular visits to spot Liverpool fable Joey Jones – aliases "Sir Joey" arsenic Mickey calls him - his champion friend since they were 15-year-old apprentices astatine Wrexham.

Jones, who turned 70 past year, is not good capable to be games astatine nan crushed wherever he served loyally arsenic a player, adjunct head and finder of valuable talent fewer others had an oculus for.

"But this will make him consciousness better," said Thomas.

You could image Jones shaking his fist from his bedside conscionable arsenic galore shingle their heads astatine what is being accomplished. And astatine what whitethorn beryllium to come.

The diggers guidelines primed to statesman activity connected a caller Kop stand. The readying meetings for nan adjacent play person agelong been nether way.

And, sharing nan giddy celebrations, were comparatively caller investors from New York's Allyn family, arsenic excited astir what nan early holds arsenic they were astir nan day.

Their financial backing coupled pinch nan Hollywood floor plan really suggests that thing is possible.

But that is for tomorrow.

As Reynolds and McElhenney yet made their measurement disconnected nan pitch, nan purpose will ever beryllium nan Premier League.

But, for now, promotion to nan Championship will do conscionable fine.