When most teams in League Two are planning their pre-season matches it normally involves a collection of fixtures against teams in the same locality, but not Wrexham.
The National League champions are playing a different game on their return to the Football League. Instead of taking on Tranmere Rovers or Crewe Alexandra, the Red Dragons have jetted across the Atlantic for a coast-to-coast tour of the USA.
While they are there, they won’t be playing teams of a similar level either. Instead, they have been pitted against Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea as well as MLS sides LA Galaxy and Philadelphia Union.
It’s all in a day’s work for Wrexham right now, who have been riding the crest of a wave ever since Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took ownership of the club in November 2020 and set about reversing the club’s fortunes.
The enormity of their rise in popularity, which is only partially down to success on the pitch but also apportioned to the hugely successful Disney Plus TV series ‘Welcome to Wrexham’, is not lost on goalkeeper Ben Foster.
The former England international has spoken to the BBC about the tour and how the itinerary has shocked some of his friends.
Foster said: “How mad is it? Some of my friends who don’t really follow football are like ‘What are you going to America for?’ I say ‘Ah we’re playing some pre-season games’. They’re like ‘Who are you playing out there?’
Man United and [LA] Galaxy and Chelsea, they’re like ‘What? But you’re Wrexham.’ I’m like, I know, this is where this club is at the minute. It sounds mad but it doesn’t surprise does it? It doesn’t surprise that we’re playing these sort of teams.
“That’s the way this club’s going these days. It’s brilliant to see and long may it continue as well.”
Wrexham kick off their Stateside tour on Thursday, July 20, with a match against Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues in North Carolina before facing an LA Galaxy team in California on Suday, July 23.
Phil Parkinson’s team will then head down the coast to San Diego, where they will take on Manchester United on Wednesday, July 26, before finishing the tour back on the East Coast with a match against Philadelphia Union II on Saturday, July 29.
Wrexham’s first Football League match in over 15 years is on Saturday, August 5 when they face MK Dons at home in League Two.
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