02x12 - Hand of Foz

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Welcome to Wrexham". Aired: August 24, 2022 - present.*
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American documentary about the events of Welsh association football club Wrexham A.F.C., as told by the club’s owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.
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02x12 - Hand of Foz

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[light music]

♪ ♪

PAUL: They've been brilliant
all season, Notts County,


and, um, you can ask the lads,

I'd looked forward
to that game for months.

Um, I knew it was gonna be
a massive game.

And I knew I had
to be right for it.

PERSON:
Yeah. No, yeah.

PERSON:
No, yeah.

PERSON:
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[crowd chanting]

[rock music]

CROWD:
[clapping] Wrexham!

THOMAS WYNNE LEWIS:
I suppose from quite early on,


uh, I think everyone could see

that Notts County were gonna be
serious challengers

to Wrexham this year.

ANNOUNCER 1: They got runners
in, has pulled forwards,


and Palmer squares it.

Must be a goal, is a goal.

ANNOUNCER 2: And it's
Notts County who strike first.


WYNNE LEWIS: Uh,
I didn't expect Notts County


to... to be as... as good
as they are.


And how well they've done,
just unbelievable, really.


ANNOUNCER:
Langstaff!


SINGERS: ♪ So go ahead,
make my day ♪

It's a shame we got
such a good team

going side by side
with us all season

'cause normally, we'd have won

the league comfortably by now.

ANNOUNCER:
Mullin!


He's done it again.

He just can't stop
scoring goals.


SINGER:
♪ I think it's time to play ♪

We are relentless.
We keep picking up points.

It's brilliant.

But also, you've got
that you're always

looking over your shoulder
and you're checking.

And it's almost
deflating sometimes


when you think, yeah,
and Wrexham scored again.


And, oh, OK.

And it's... it's still there.

Best season we've had
in our history, 100 points.

And we both deserve
to go up at this stage.

ANNOUNCER:
What a fantastic finish.


b*at Notts County,
that's the biggest, uh...

The biggest issue at the moment.

Everybody knows that's
a massive game for both teams.

You know,
we've probably shown we're

the... the best side
in this division

and... and we're a team to b*at.

And you can't ask
for much more than that.

Well, we'd love
to have a win, obviously,

to keep up, uh, the pressure
on the... the County.

Putting pressure
on Notts County.

Pressure on Notts County.

PERSON 1: Notts County.
PERSON 2: Notts County.


PERSON 3: Notts County.
PERSON 4: County.


PERSON 5: County.
PERSON 6: County.


Notts County, if you're
watching, please lose.

[laughs]

SINGER: ♪ Hey, I'm gonna
do it my way ♪

♪ I think it's time to play ♪

SINGER: ♪ 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 ♪

[upbeat music]

HUMPHREY:
So the season is winding down,


and all eyes are turning

to Wrexham versus Notts County
at the Racecourse.

This is a titanic clash.

Whoever wins this game
is likely to end up


top of the tree, and that's
where we want to be,


because come
the end of the season,


we want to be champions
rather than going through


the whole rigmarole
in the playoffs,


which, as we know,

doesn't always turn out
the way you want it to.


Both leagues being on course
to break

the National League record
for points in a season,


is crazy.

And the fact there's still
a month to play in the season

and we're already on 100 points
each is insane.

It's like that saying,
you know, you wait, uh, forever

for a bus to come, and then
two turn up at the same time.

Except these buses have got

that sort of James Bond
type button

in the accelerator wheel

that kind of blows off
like a rocket.


But couple of days before that,

we just have the small matter
of Halifax away.


Boys, done up some TikToks.

HUMPHREY:
And, you know,


Halifax struggled a bit
this season.


So, you know, surely this
could be an opportunity for us


to just go and have a...
A pretty straightforward


three points there, you know,
get things wrapped up


so we can go into Monday

with a little bit less stress,
you know?

[laughter]

BAZ:
Well, it's Good Friday.


It's 6:30 in the morning,
which means only one thing.


Match day, baby.

We traveled to Halifax today,
taking 4,000 fans.


Notts County coming to the
Racecourse on Easter Monday.

ALL: ♪ Ryan Reynolds
and Rob McElhenney ♪

Up the Reds.

Let's go.

It's a massive weekend.
Two massive, massive fixtures.

Huge games.

I think it's gonna be
a 4-nil win.

A Paul Mullin hat trick and
a Elliot Lee 4-yard screamer.

PERSON 1: Uh, Wrexham
will win today 3-1.


Mullin will probably get 1,
get taken off.

Uh, Tozer 2.

PERSON 2: Ooh, Tozer.
- Yeah.


Paul Mullin brace.



PERSON: How long have you been
a Wrexham supporter, ma'am?


PERSON: Yeah!

[crowd chanting indistinctly]

♪ ♪

What a day this is,
Halifax away,

the next big game
that we need to win.

With 4,500 fans traveling,
plus the form we're in,

I can't see Halifax
getting anything.

Yeah, come at us now!

MARK:
So if we can win today


and then win at Notts County
on Monday,


we will have virtually won it.

So let's do it.

Come on!

MARK:
And away they go.


[Phil shouting indistinctly]

MARK: And he works it
over to the right.


Cook now can have a go at Mendy.

He tries to play
a cute through-ball.


Mendy read it well, intercepts.

It's lovely to see
Mendy playing again.


SHAUN HARVEY: It's been
a really difficult season.


We've got a group of players
who got injured...

ANNOUNCER:
Free header for Tunnicliffe.


Hits the bar.

HARVEY:
But are now coming back


at exactly the right time
to help us get promoted.


PHIL: Brilliant, Jacob.
PERSON: Hey!

JACOB: In the first half
of the season,


me getting injured,

it was a really frustrating
time for me

because all I wanted
when I signed here

was to play and, you know,
prove everyone


that I'm good enough
to play in this team.


But now I'm back, and I hope

to help the team
with my performances.

♪ ♪

MARK:
Driving over the top,


asking Dalby to get there.

Defender lets it bounce.

And Dalby tackles him
in the box.


Can he use this?
He pulls it back to the edge.


Lee takes on and beats his man.

Left-footed sh*t.

Yes!

Wrexham take the lead.

Elliot Lee,

after some fabulous work
by Dalby to win it back.


PHIL: Went a goal ahead
going into halftime.


I think there was a feeling
the job was done.

CROWD:
Wrexham!

PHIL: Was there one eye on...

On Monday's game
against Notts County?


We had been on such a good run,


Maybe there was that
little bit of complacency.


And we've got to make sure
we keep the lads grounded.


MARK: Wrexham lead
at the break 1-nil


through Elliot Lee's
superb goal.


Cannon.

Cut out there by Gilmour.

Alli in space.

And he's able to turn.

Milli Alli into the box,
hits it.


And it's a great finish again.

And Milli Alli
equalizes the count.


Yeah, Wrexham just gave Milli
too much time to turn there.


Foster at full crouch.

Couldn't do anything
about it that time.


It's all level within
two minutes of the restart.


[dramatic music]

Halifax had just qualified
for Wembley.

They knew they were safe.

They had, uh,
nothing to play for

other than bloodying our noses.

Very dangerous opponent to have.

♪ ♪

Just got their tails up

and just kind of
made it difficult for us.


MARK:
Mendy wins the header


and nods it into the box.

Held up well by Mullin,
who comes out wide


and gives it back to Mendy.

Mendy again to Mullin.

Mullin, lovely change of feet,
beats his man.


And a cute ball in the box.

Space now for Lee.

It is blocked.

[crowd groaning]

To be fair,
we just need to make sure

we get that second goal
pretty quickly here now.

Settle nerves a bit.

MARK: Barnett, who turns
and plays a great ball


to the feet of Mullin.

Mullin tried to be cute,

couldn't squeeze
between two men, though.


And now here comes Alli again.

He's got an overlap.

But Alli is gonna
drive inside again.


And he beats Cannon,
gets in the box,


step over, sh*t, scores!

Oh, Wrexham behind.

[yelling]

PHIL: We didn't start
the second half well.


We didn't respond
like we norm... normally would.

MARK: And Alli might latch on
to this again.


Finds Dieseruvwe.

f*cking hell, Johnson.

MARK:
Back to goalie, turns.


Oh, my goodness me.

♪ ♪

Makes it 3-1 for the Town!

Oh, my God! 3-1!

MARK: This is a disastrous
second half for Wrexham.


Mistakes there again.

Being penalized.

[whistle blows]
That's it.

Absolute disaster for Wrexham.

I don't think
I'm overstating that at all.


It's all gone sideways
over here.


Even Foster looked poor.

Makes you question whether
he's in condition right now


for this grueling league pace.

He was just on the couch
a couple of weeks ago.


BEN: When these goals go in,
sometimes you think,


can I still do this?

Like, I would have
saved that last year.

I know I would have
saved that last year.


Can I still do this?
Should I still be doing this?


Why don't you just give it up?
Just give it up. Just let go.


This is rubbish.
You don't need this.

Do you know what I mean?

MARK: Wrexham lose 3-1
at Halifax.


It was a big, big chance
for Wrexham


to tee things up beautifully
for Easter Monday.


And instead Easter Monday
becomes an even bigger game


than we thought it was.

We will go into that match

level on points
with Notts County.


I don't... yeah. Yeah.

That was... I did not expect that.

And... and why wouldn't I
expect that?

This is f*cking football.

We f*cking played
Oldham last week.

We f*cking dominated the game.

ELLIOT: It was probably one
of our worst performances


of the season.

I think you get that
in... in... in run-ins.

I think you...
There... there's high pressure.

And come in, 5,000 fans
is incredible,

but it's also, there...
There is more pressure.

PHIL: That's the first time
I've seen us

where we're under
a bit of pressure,

I think, hold up, me lads.

f*cking come on.

f*cking 20 f*cking
record-breaking amount of games

f*cking unbeaten
by showing f*cking courage

and f*cking bottle
to do the right things,

and all of a sudden,
we look like a f*cking team

who f*cking didn't want
to f*cking defend.

PERSON: Hey, we're not
too disappointed.


We're gonna do it.
We're gonna do it.


Keep the faith.

PHIL: First of all, for...
For Wrexham supporters...


See, the club's had a...
A history

of not getting
over the finishing line

in this division.

And you can imagine,
on the way back, it was,


here we go again.

PERSON: How you feeling?
- Rubbish.

Rubbish.

BEN:
Um, so yeah,


the... the game
was an absolute shambles.


Rightly so, came under
a bit of criticism.

Probably the worst I've seen.

They need to really pull
something out of the bag now


on Monday.

If they don't, playoffs
is the best we can hope for.

And we're not good
in the playoffs.

Removed social media
off my phone

because I was gonna say things
I'd live to regret.

You know, fans panic.

Fans... fans get nervous.

But to see some
of the absolute nonsense


that people are tweeting and
saying, after we'd just gone


28 games unbeaten,
I just had to bite my lip


and delete it
because that's just the way

the world is at the moment.

Everyone wants a rise.

And they weren't gonna get one
that night.

These are the times
where you need

to stay away
from your social media,

your Twitters and Instagram.

Um, you know, some
of the biggest sports outlets

are making, like, pictures
and thumbnails of me saying,


it's a disaster that you signed.

Today is a...
Is a real reminder for us, um,

that in... in any game
of football,

there's no divine right

that you're just gonna
turn up and win.

You have to be strong as a team,

um, and you have to be
resilient because in any game,

in any game, the opposition
are gonna have periods,

um, where they're on top.

And today is a bad day.

Um, but let's see what we're
all about on Monday.

PERSON: Cheers, Phil.
- Thank you.

[dramatic music]

MARK: Possibly
the biggest Easter weekend


in Wrexham AFC history.

It's a... it's a big one,
isn't it, Tim?


TIM:
Yes. It's seismic.


A lot could hinge on it.

Notts County, Easter Monday,


Exciting times.

MARK: And it's nervous times,
I think,


for, uh, every Wrexham fan

who knows, uh, how things
have gone for us.


♪ ♪

JULIE: I think we've perhaps
been a little bit,

you know,
resting on our laurels.

And we can't do that
against Notts County.

JACQUI:
Not against Notts County.

I mean, you know,
they are a brilliant side.

And, you know,
the two deserve to go up.

It's just a shame
that it's such a competition,

that this, you know...
JULIE: Yeah.

[sighs] So tight.

I've seen this so many times.

JACQUI:
I know, Dad.

They're gonna do it,
Dad, this time.

For your 99th year,
they're gonna do it.

Well...

We don't want
to hang on for your 100th.

We want it this year.

We're greedy.

[laughter]

I mean, look at the money
it's costing

to stay down in this league.

Yeah, I know.

And... and that's what I worry,

that they'll get fed up of,

you know, investing in the club.

I know they've said they're
here for the long term.

Yeah.

But when the bills
keep coming in...

You know, we made
a loss again this time.

You know, we need to get back
in the league

to try and claw some money back.

JACQUI:
Mm.


[upbeat percussive music]

ROB: Let's talk about how much
money we're losing.


Let's talk about
how much money we're losing.

HUMPHREY:
So it's loads, isn't it?

RYAN:
Yes.

HARVEY: It's expensive.
RYAN: Quantify loads for us.

Um, a... uh, very much.

Yeah. Cheers, everyone.

HARVEY: Ultimately, last...
Last financial year,

there was a ££4.8 million
cash introduction.

That sits on top
of the 2 million, obviously,


when you bought...
When you bought the club.


And obviously, you've
continued to fund the club


going... since then, you know,
to what will be the tune


of another ££4 million
this season.


You know, so, you know,
it's the big ten.


RYAN:
Yeah.


I'm gonna go throw up.

HUMPHREY: Well, thankfully,
your money paid

for some real nice, uh,
toilets back there

that you can go and throw up in.

RYAN:
It did, yeah.

So that's the sort of thing...
That's sort of where...

RYAN:
I was gonna use the urinal.

HARVEY: 10 million
is the headline figure.

Of course,
that's the snapshot in time

of how much it's cost,
not how much is it worth.

If you were to sell
the club today,

you know, you would get
far more than the ££10 million

you ever paid.

So I think that's
the actual realistic metric.

Let's just say we're in it
for the rest of our lives.

At what point...
At what point do I get paid?

HARVEY: Well, it's the...
It's the... it's the memories.

It's the... the memories
are what you get paid.

ROB: The memories.
HARVEY: Yeah.

You'll be able to leave it
to your children.

RYAN: Just put... just put
a dollar figure

on validation, Rob McElhenney.

Do that for me.

I've been trying
to do that for... that's my...

My entire career
is based on that.

You can't start to make
money until you get promoted.

Now, there's lots
of owners in League One

and League Two
will tell you, you can't

make money there either.
RYAN: Yeah.

HARVEY:
But the value that's coming

from the global appeal
that we've been able to create

is going to offset
those additional costs

that we've... that we've created.

The biggest thing that's
gonna change on promotion

is not actually we're gonna
play in League Two,

which does bring more money,

gets us into the mainstream.

But actually, also, people
can see the value

of Welcome to Wrexham.

They can see the value of
the profile that's being built.

And that's when the additional
sponsorship revenue can be

generated on the back of that,
which will give us

what everybody else
in the EFL will moan

like buggery about next year,
an unfair advantage.

RYAN:
Yeah.

And my message
to them is, sod 'em.

[laughter]
HUMPHREY: Hmm.

I have different words,
but I like that.

HARVEY: Yeah.
- I like that a lot.

[Bach's
Brandenburg Concerto Number 2]


♪ ♪

When do we see the new kits?

HARVEY:
About three weeks.

RYAN:
Uh, it's obviously red home.

Is it black away or white away?

HARVEY:
Red home. White away.

Black third choice.
RYAN: Uh-huh.

HARVEY: Now,
in the National League,

you can't have a black
or a navy shirt,

as things stand.
RYAN: Uh-huh.

HARVEY: So we took a bit
of a punt on getting promoted.

Let's just say,
theoretically, we don't get...

We don't get promoted.

How... how much money do we...
Will we have in sunk costs?

HARVEY: We've got about 10,000
black shirts coming.

The black... the black shirts...

I like taking the gamble
on the black

because they're cool.

Rob, all you've ever
talked to me about

is wanting a black kit.

Yeah.
HUMPHREY: Yes.

I... I love the black kit.
It's my favorite one I've seen.

HARVEY: Absolutely, I just hope
we can bloody wear it now.

We've also proposed
a rule change

to the National League...
- Right, right.

HARVEY: That, uh, you know,
these referees need two

or three
different colored shirts.

We could pay for the
referees, though, couldn't we?

Pay for the referees' jerseys.

I don't mean buy them off.
Can we do that?

ROB:
Is that an option?

HARVEY: Not on camera.
- OK.

HARVEY: Rob and Ryan
are fully committed to making


the business of the club
financially sustainable.

But for us to be successful,

we need to get out
of the National League.


And as the end
of the season closes in

and the pressure begins
to grow with, you know,

Notts County's
unbelievable form,


that will become
even more intense.

I have never in my f*cking life

been this wound up for a match.

Leading up to the Notts game,

what happened before
with Halifax


created a kind of a...

For me, a kind of vortex
vise grip of anxiety and dread.

For all intents and purposes,
whoever wins this game

is going to win the league.

Now, there's a mathematical possibility,

regardless of the outcome
of today,

that either one
of the two teams could win.

But it is highly unlikely.

[sighs]
RYAN: Yeah, f*ck.

You couldn't have found
a better way

to, um, um, increase tension

and agony in my body, at least,

uh, leading up to the biggest...

Quite literally,
the biggest game

or match for Wrexham
in, what, decades?

- Mm-hmm.
- I don't know.

Is it too late to actually
switch allegiances to...

For our docuseries
to just cover Notts?

ROB:
It's a pretty good story.

It's an amazing story.

ROB:
It's an amazing story.

Macaulay Langstaff,
he can f*ck off.


RYAN:
Yeah. God, that guy's good.


ROB: Handsome too.
RYAN: Handsome as f*ck.


Looks like he's
in Peaky Blinders.

ROB: It's bull...
It's some bullshit.

I'm not going to enjoy
watching him play.

Nope.

He's gonna be right there.

[tense music]

[bells tolling]

PERSON: Lord God,
we thank you for the city


in which we live and work,

for the diversity
of its population,

its visitors, and supporters.

For by their lives, they make
Wrexham the place it is

and a good place too.

So the morning
of the Notts game,

we were awarded the
Freedom of the Borough award

from, uh, Wrexham Council,
um, which is quite an honor.


Which, if I'm not mistaken,
grants us certain privileges...

It does.

In the town
that we have yet to exploit.

Or have we?

We thank you for the opportunity

that the football club
brings this city.

Amen.
ALL: Amen.

RYAN: I don't think
I was actually present


or spiritually in the room.

I was just thinking
about Notts County.

[applause]

ROB:
Uh, thank you.

Obviously, it's... it's, uh,
an incredible honor to be here.

One of the great things
about football

is that it's a great unifier.

I've been able
to forge these connections

between people who live
all the way across the world.

The point is that no matter
how different you might feel

than someone else,
you know that when you sit

and you watch that game
at the Racecourse

that we're all united
and we're all together.

And, uh, I'm... I'm truly
honored and blessed

to... to have been
accepted into this community.

Thank you. This is just
an... an incredible honor.

Thank you.

[applause]

The thing that kept me present
throughout that experience


was, um, thinking
about the bigger picture:


so many people
who went through the struggle

to get us to this point
that we're at right now.


Rob and I, we don't really
look at running this club

as ownership
or even as cochairmen.

We believe that we're stewards
to this club

and this community.

And we believe that we are
stewards to the story.

I heard a woman say, well,
why can't it ever be us?

- Yeah.
- Why can't we ever win?

And she was talking
about the football club,

but she was talking
about so much more.

And I don't pretend to believe
that just winning

a football game
or winning the football league

is going to bring people

everything
that they've ever wanted.

But I think if... if...
If it brings them


just at least a feeling
of hope and optimism,


then I'm... I'm very proud
of that.

In a sense,
I'm embarrassed to say

there's a "fake it
till you make it" moment there

that suddenly,
like in a romantic comedy,

you... you find yourself
in the third act going,

but then I actually did
fall in love.

[laughter]
And... and we did.

We are head over heels.

And I would say
that the only real

pain points, uh, for me
and, I know, for Rob

are that we feel
this whole community

in our hearts
and on our shoulders

as we go into games like today.

When... when it doesn't go
our way,

it's the community
that we worry about.

All I can really say is,
I'm just so grateful

to each and every one of you
for, uh, this incredible honor,

uh, which I will hold with me
for the rest of my days,

uh, but also just for
welcoming us into your club,

your community, and this story
the way you have.

Um, it's an honor and
a privilege to be a part of it.

So thank you very much.

[applause]

[indistinct chatter]

That is... that is the thing.

Even Ben Foster said
this is the hardest league.

[light music]

♪ ♪

Oh, you're taking the mick.

PERSON:
♪ We're on our way ♪

♪ We're on our way
to the football league ♪

♪ We're on our way ♪

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

Goodbye! Goodbye!

[people chanting indistinctly]

♪ ♪

[crowd cheering]

♪ ♪

PERSON: Just a few short days
after the devastating loss


to Halifax,
Wrexham are at home today


for the biggest match
of the season


against fierce rivals
Notts County.


ELLIOT: It's not just two
teams having a good season.


It's two teams having
record-breaking seasons.

And it is a... it is a shame
that we both don't go up

automatically in this league.

But, um, yeah, it should...
It should be a great game

and... and victory well earned.

And... and I'm hoping
that's for us.

PERSON: Whoever wins today
will go on and take the title,


and with a match
of such importance,


everyone will be watching.

The Racecourse will be packed,

and the football world
will be tuning in


from Wales, the UK, and beyond.

It's the only show in town.

[crowd chanting indistinctly]

The rest of the world
has jumped on my train.

They've jumped
on the Wrexham Express

And you're about to feel
what it's like.


You know, Hollywood watching,
ESPN watching,

America, Australia,

everyone around the world
who are Reds.

I don't care if you've just
been watching


for five minutes;
I don't care


if you've been watching
all your life.


But we're all
in this together, man.

And this whole world

is coming with us
on this journey.

[light music]

ROHAN: So I'm out here
in Los Angeles,


about to leave for Wrexham
to watch the Reds play.


And I'm also gonna see
my best friend, Ani, there.

We haven't met
in a very long time


because he lives in India
and I moved to the U.S.

♪ ♪

But when the documentary
came out,


we both started reconnecting

through watching Wrexham games.

And so we made a pact
that, all right,

the next time we meet,

it's got to be at the Racecourse

watching the Reds play.

So we went to Expedia,
and we booked our trips.


♪ ♪

And hopefully, we're gonna
see them make history.

♪ ♪

And we're here.

♪ ♪

Oh, my God.

Dude.

How's it going, man?

ANI:
It's been a f*cking while, huh?

♪ ♪

WAYNE: One pour in.
One pour in. Spirits.

We got a security guard
stood over there

where Darren is, so they're...

They're not gonna all
crowd upon you.

He'll tell them to wait.
You've just got to shout, next.

Any questions?
PERSON: No.

WAYNE: After Halifax,
we'll tell you,


Wrexham's has had its doubters,
still has its doubters.

Um, well, obviously,
you will have disappointments

if the worst was to happen.

But I don't really want
to give that a thought.

I'm not... not worried
in the slightest.

We can't do anything
about that game.


I mean, ultimately, we have
to move forward as a club.


This journey
that the football club is on,


there's nothing like it.

It's literally the b*ating
heartbeat of the town.


It just feels like we've been
working towards this season


for 15 seasons.

And I've never been more
confident about anything.

We'll... we'll win this league.

Thank you very much.

Good luck.

PERSON:
Enjoy your day.

I'm still confident.

End of the day, you know,
we've lost, what, 1 in 26?

And I think
it's an overreaction.

I think, you know,
they're human.

We all... they've lost one game.

[The Declan Swans' "It's Always
Sunny in Wrexham" playing]

♪ Less than a mile
from the center of town ♪

♪ A famous old stadium's
crumbling down ♪

♪ No one's invested
so much as a penny ♪

♪ Bring on the Deadpool ♪

♪ And Rob McElhenney ♪

♪ ♪

Thank you very much.

[cheers and applause]

CROWD: Wrexham! Wrexham!
Wrexham! Wrexham!

I believe in this team.
And I always do.

And I'll never stop believing.

And I believe in this manager.

And I believe in everyone
around the club.

It's our turn.



Now it's our turn.

It's got to be our turn.

It's time to... to believe.

Put Friday... Friday's gone.

It's happened.

Put it behind us.

Move on.

Let's get behind the boys.

ANNOUNCER: The first time in
any of the top five divisions


that two teams have reached


County lead the way
on goal difference,


which of course makes today's
meeting even more crucial


to the outcome of this
National League season.


From the final whistle
at Halifax, I was excited.

I could not wait.
I couldn't sleep.

I had adrenaline
coursing through my body


for the full two days beforehand

'cause I could not wait
to play that game.


[indistinct chatter]
PHIL: Hello.

HUMPHREY: We only had
that short turnaround.


I mean, there wasn't time
to wallow.

There wasn't time
for recriminations.

It was just,
right, let's get on with it.

Like, they're so keyed up.

They want to take it out
on someone.


The only people
they can take it out on


are... are Notts County, really.

We're better than what
they f*cking are, right?

When we get it,
we go for the fucker today, OK?

PERSON: Yeah.
BEN: f*ck them, all right?

Make them sh*t themselves
when they got the ball.

PHIL:
Going into the game,


there was excitement

because it'd been built up
for this game for so long.

And I think everyone was saying

it is the title decider, almost,

of the biggest
National League game in...

In the history
of... of the division.

OK, boys,
just... just a couple of things.

Key points for us today,
performance level.

We know kind of the...
The occasion of the day.

Get control of the game.

Can we come out of tight areas?

These aren't like Halifax,
where the two number 10s

will drop in
and f*cking make it tight.

They'll be f*cking high,
and there'll be space to play.

We've... we've lost
an important game.

Um, however,
from our point of view

as a staff and the players,

we need to use that game
to galvanize us


for... for the last few games
of the season.


Sometimes, yeah,
things do go against you,


but one thing, you know,
we've always done

is... is respond.

You can see the goal, reset.

Bad decision, just reset
as a group and get going again.

What we're all about as a team
and what we always f*cking do.

Remember what I said to you yesterday,

not just the Sheff United game,

but loads of games
where we've rattled

f*cking teams' cages here,
haven't we?

We've f*cking upset them

by f*cking
pure f*cking intensity.

Let's f*cking do it to these.

Let's f*cking be right on it,

full on f*cking pressing
all over the pitch.

Come on.

[people shouting, applause]

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[crowd chanting indistinctly]

CROWD: Wrexham!

ANNOUNCER:
So the day has finally come.


Come on, Wrexham!

ANNOUNCER: A key date
in a titanic struggle.


A title race for the ages.

And it could hardly
be better poised.


100 points each.

They're about to come
out of that f*cking tunnel.

[dramatic music]

ANNOUNCER:
Two outstanding teams


both chasing one precious prize.

a*t*matic promotion for one,

the peril of the playoffs
for the other.


The stakes at this level

don't get any higher than this.

Biggest game of the season.

Come on, Wrexham.

MARK:
Never has there been a season


where two teams
in the same league


have reached 100 points.

And here we are.

So much in the way
of nerves and tension


coming into this match.

Come on, Paul!

ANNOUNCER: And the atmosphere,
I have to say,


is absolutely electric,
both sets of fans.


Wrexham!

CROWD: Wrexham! Wrexham!
Wrexham! Wrexham!

MARK: This is gonna be


as away we go,
and Notts County try


a surprise kickoff.

And Ollie Palmer commits
an immediate foul.


And that was
a very unexpected kickoff.

They just played it square.

Switched play, ball pickup
to Mullin, who helps it on.


Palmer is pulled down
to the floor.


Is he... no.

Ref says no.
Wrexham not happy with that.


PHIL:
Hey, f*cking hell!

ANNOUNCER: Palmer seeming
to be booed out there,


but there's a wag of
the finger from the referee.


So they call that on Ollie
to begin the game

but not that there.

- What's up, Phil?
- It's like they're dumb.

ANNOUNCER: So the first call
of the game


goes the way of Notts County.

Ref is tough.

ANNOUNCER:
Mendy will get to this.


He's got Mullin
arriving in the box.


Jones is in there too.

It's towards Mullin.

PHIL:
Hey!

ANNOUNCER: The referee
had a very good view of that.


Palmer is leading the protests.

I think that's a penalty.

It's a push.

I do not understand
the thinking there.


That's not good enough.

♪ ♪

Throws down the line, Palmer,

having his shirt pulled
all over the place, but...


How are they not calling it?
I don't understand.

Palmer there had his
shirt pulled up so high,

you can see his sports bra.

But nothing given.

And the referee
was on the right side


to see it then,
so I don't get that.

Right in front of the ref.

It's weird.
It's a hard job,

'cause they're not...
They don't get paid well.

No, it's a brutal job.

ROB: I know.
RYAN: And thankless.

ANNOUNCER:
O'Connell leads it out


as Bostock
puts him under pressure.


Lee under pressure again.

Laser off.
Mendy great ball now.


Oh, that side.
[whistle blows]

PERSON: I'd like to see
a replay on that.


MARK: That's... mm,
I don't know about that.


To me, yeah, that looks level.

PHIL:
Ref!

MARK: The, uh,
referee's getting grief.


To be fair,
it's a linesman's call, but...


PHIL:
f*cking hell.

[crowd booing]

ANNOUNCER:
To O'Connell, [indistinct].


Now Palmer does look outside.

He's given off.
[whistle blows]

He's on side again there.

PHIL:
Oh, what the f*ck?

ANNOUNCER: I think
the linesman in the middle


is just on autopilot,
just sticking his flag up.


PHIL:
Can you not see that?

[person speaking indistinctly]

Did you tell him, though?
PERSON: Yeah.

ANNOUNCER: I think
Phil Parkinson can have


every right to be aggrieved.

We've counted four or five times

that Wrexham players
have been onside


and they've been given offside.

PHIL:
Mulls, Ollie, stay cool.

Ref!

That was one of the poorest
performances I've seen


from the referees
for a game of that importance.

The frustration for us,
we'd worked on how we felt


we could exploit Notts County.

And the linesman,
time after time,


kept getting
the decisions wrong.


He's nowhere near offside.

ROB:
Is that six? Five or six.

We're not the guys
to talk about offside,

all right?
- No.

ANNOUNCER:
As we move into added time


at the end of this first half,

a minimum of three minutes.

Nemane with a good header.

O'Brien, can he
get his pass away?


He did to Rodriguez, who
seemed to be clipped there.


[whistles blow]

And Notts County get the free
kick in a great position.


ROB:
No. No way.

PHIL:
No.

f*ck off.

ANNOUNCER: See how much
contact Jones gets here.


Almost feels like Rodriguez
tripped himself up.


MARK: Rodriguez
has lost a tooth here.


And a really good chance
here for Notts


right at the end of the half.
PHIL: Hey! Ref!

Ref!

Ref, they need f*cking shirts.

And this is definitely
a sh**ting position.

♪ ♪

ANNOUNCER: This is a real
tester now for Ben Foster


to get his rule right.

He'll certainly be expecting
this to go towards his goal.


MARK:
Could be a really big moment


in this game and in the season.

Let's see.

Well, fourth minute
of added time.


This is...

Please don't let them score.

ANNOUNCER:
It's Bostock.


♪ ♪

It's absolutely brilliant.

MARK:
Great goal by Bostock.


Tore it into
the top right corner.


ANNOUNCER: Sensational strike
to give Notts County


the lead in the biggest
game of the season.


They are shell-shocked, Wrexham.

And this is a huge, huge goal.

MARK: Notts County
take the lead in added time


at the end of the first half.

That's a f*cking joke.

ANNOUNCER:
Wrexham trail at halftime


of with this massive,
massive match.


♪ ♪

Have a seat, boys.
Have a seat. Have a seat.

Whether the refs got
a few f*cking wrong or not,

the pressing's
been f*cking great.

We've had opportunities.

If we keep going the same way,

there'll be more
f*cking chances for us.

Just keep doing it.

But make sure... make sure

that goal doesn't
f*cking knock us.

Make sure it doesn't,
because honestly, lads,

you've f*cking done well.

You've f*cking done well.
We look f*cking dangerous.

Look like we can
f*cking get goals here.

Keep resetting
as a f*cking team.

There's 49 f*cking minutes
to go, isn't there?

Come on. Let's f*cking go.
PERSON 1: Come on!

PERSON 2: Come on.
PERSON 3: Come on.

Come on, let's go get
that next f*cking goal.

[crowd chanting indistinctly]

We're gonna do this, Wrexham!

Come on and do this!

ANNOUNCER: Notts County had
to be patient for that chance


and opportunity.
[whistle blows]

Going to have to really
see what Wrexham


are made of in this second half.

MARK: This is Cannon.
Mullin's on the move.


Jones.

Jones had continued his run.

He is right to do so.

On Mullin's end.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

And he scores!

[crowd roaring]

What a start in the second half.

There's the Wrexham reaction.

f*ck yeah!

ANNOUNCER: What a start
to this second half.


And it's their go-to man
for goals,


Paul Mullin.

CROWD:
♪ Super Paul Mullin ♪

♪ I just don't think
you understand ♪

♪ He plays in red and white ♪

♪ He's f*cking dynamite ♪

♪ We've got super Paul Mullin ♪

That's one.

ANNOUNCER: His 44th goal
of the season


in all competitions.

He's even outscored Langstaff.

MARK: And surely, Williams
will want to see Langstaff


get much more into the game.

PHIL: Defensively, we know
they've got Langstaff.


Very good players
for this level.

Um, but I felt we dealt
with them incredibly well

and we're back into the game.

MARK: Macaulay Langstaff
hasn't touched


the ball yet, Adam.

The ball inside.
Barnett sets himself.


Throws it to the far post.

[crowd yells]

Oh, hit the pole.
What a strike.


ANNOUNCER:
Very nearly scored.


[crowd yells]

O'Connell with a free kick.

Mullin makes a curve draw.

And O'Connell plays it in.

Brilliant Paul Mullin
down the right side.


Squares it.

Mendy is there.

[crowd cheering]

There's that
Racecourse roar again.


They turned it all around.

Mendy arriving at the back post.

ROB: Mendy, buddy!
- Mendy!

[crowd chanting indistinctly]

CROWD: Wrexham!

The euphoria in the ground
was... was something else.

Um, but obviously, my mind was
thinking, we're not there yet.


We've still got work to do.

MARK:
Here's Austin.


Austin weaving his way through.

Austin!

Notts County
have reacted well here.


ANNOUNCER: A brilliant save as
well as a good reaction save


from Ben Foster.

Oh, corner, corner,
right-hand side there.

Look out for the quit.

ANNOUNCER:
Thomas pull over.


Cameron!

Notts County have leveled it!

Captain's goal from Cameron.

All square now
at the Racecourse.


And this is some game.

MARK: I'm gonna give up
guessing now


what's gonna happen because
what a second half


we've had, Adam.

BEN: The lads,
they are just relentless.


They don't whine.
They don't moan.

Um, they just get on with it.

Just keep doing
what you're doing.


It's as simple as that.

Just keep doing
what you're doing,


like, you know what I mean?

You're gonna get
back into this game.

ANNOUNCER: O'Connell now
in space at the right.


[indistinct]
attacking the far post.


MARK: Oh.
It's come here to Mullin.


Oh, it's blocked by Mullin.

Squares it low.

[crowd cheering]

It's Elliot Lee this time.

But Notts County only
have themselves to blame.


It's a gift.

ANNOUNCER:
Elliot Lee.


Elliot Lee.
Elliot Lee.


MARK: Just when Notts County
had got themselves level.


Yes, you do, baby.

MARK: Luke Young
is gonna be coming on.


[crowd cheering]

Listen to that cheer
for Luke Young.


Wrexham fans delighted
to see him back.


He takes the armband from Tozer.

[crowd cheering]

A minimum of six minutes
added time.


ROB:
Way too much time.


We got to score again.

MARK: The title is very much
within Wrexham's grasp,


if they can see this through.

Bajrami.
Oh, Mullin's got away.


ANNOUNCER:
They can finish it here!


[crowd gasps]

Brilliant save.

He's kept them in the game.

Into a seventh minute
of added time.


On what is the biggest
day of the season,


is there to be more drama
at the Racecourse?


Wrexham under pressure.

It's now or never.

They're appealing Notts County.

He's given a bounty, is he?
He's given a bounty.

ROB:
That was a penalty sh*t?


ANNOUNCER:
Incredible.


Oh, no.

ANNOUNCER:
Such a massive call.


No way.

MARK: I think the fans
don't realize


what's going on out there.

ANNOUNCER: Notts County fans
have only just realized


that he's given a penalty.

SHAUN WINTER:
He's given it.


What?

He... he's given it.

MARK:
It seemed to hit a hand, yeah?


It's gonna bounce
to Notts County.


ANNOUNCER:
He's right to give it.


MARK:
That's a good call.


[tense music]

ANNOUNCER: We've seen
everything in this game.


It's unbelievable.

Oh, I can't bear this.

Oh, I can't...

ANNOUNCER:
What an end to the game.


RYAN: It felt like
such a classic Wrexham moment.


Like, let's find
some f*cking way to extract


the maximum amount
of... of terror and anxiety


and edge-of-your-seat sh*t
out of this thing.


MARK: They have been through
everything, as fans, Wrexham,


for a long, long time
in the National League.


They have suffered
their heartache along the way.


This, their 15th season.

There's no side
in the division right now


who's been in it longer.

ELLIOT:
I thought, surely, not again.


Surely, not again.

MARK:
They watch on with hope.


[gasps]

And then all the feelings,

it's all coming back.

Luton away, bit of a comeback,
but we still lose.


Wembley, Brett Ormerod missing.

Eastleigh, playoffs,
in extra time,


he scores a volley from nowhere.

Grimsby.

Oh, God, it's just...
It's flooding back.

ANNOUNCER:
So it's Cedwyn Scott.


♪ ♪

A real pressure penalty.

Can he b*at Foster?

♪ ♪

So much tension.

Keep it up, Ben.

Come on, Ben!

ANNOUNCER: Massive moment
in the title race.


♪ ♪

Time's gone still.

I've just got my head
on the barrier.

Can't watch.

I can't watch.

ANNOUNCER: So now it all
comes down to this.


♪ ♪

[crowd cheers]
Saved!

Oh!

Oh, my God!

[crowd roaring]

ANNOUNCER:
Saved by Foster.


[crowd cheering]

[exciting music]

♪ ♪

ROB:
f*cking yes!

ANNOUNCER: Just a brilliant
end to this game.


Foster gets the right way.

That is some save.

CROWD:
♪ Super Ben Foster in goal ♪

BEN:
That moment there, what...


Feel like
I'm getting goose bumps.

Can you see the goose bumps
there? Look.

Um, genuinely, one of the best
feelings in my career

was that moment.

CROWD:
♪ Super Ben Foster in goal ♪

PERSON:
Yes!

Big man just earned his wage.

This is what it f*cking means!

Don't you ever question
my love of this town!

CROWD:
♪ Super Ben Foster in goal ♪

Yeah!

[crowd cheering]

CROWD:
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

♪ ♪

Yeah! Go, Foster!

Wow, you may never ever
see him this close to tears.

♪ ♪

[sighs]

One of the greatest moments
of my entire life.

I have been characterizing it
the exact same way.

Um, aside from my family,
which I'm required to say...

- Mm-hmm.
- Uh, that was

the greatest moment
of my entire life.

Hey, we're the best
in the league.

ROB:
Sure are.

We're the best in the league.

Now we know.
ROB: Now we know.

RYAN: I'm gonna f*cking
go crazy in that locker room.


I'm gonna kiss Ben Foster
on the mouth.

Me too.
ROB: On the mouth.

Yeah.
Me too.

Let's line it up.

Oh, my God.

PHIL: Listen. Listen in, boys.
Listen in. Listen in.

First... first of all,
we know we haven't won

anything yet, have we,
you know what I'm saying?

We've got to make sure
we keep a lid on it

because it's great to win,
but we've done f*ck all yet.

This is just a step
in the right direction.

However,
I can't tell you how proud

I am of that performance.

I can't f*cking tell you.

You stuck to the game plan brilliantly.

f*cking responded
to the defeat at Halifax,

which f*cking knocked us.

The way you played
was f*cking outstanding,

out-f*cking-standing.

That's called turning up.

Turning up
when the pressure's on.

The biggest non-league game
in history.

And you've turned up
and f*cking produced.

And that f*cking means a lot,
let me f*cking tell you.

PERSON 1:
Yeah, well done, boys.

f*cking top drawer.

PERSON 2:
Brilliant, boys.

RYAN: Ben Foster,
get in my arms now.

Mwah. Mwah. Mwah.

[uplifting music]

Oh, my God.

It don't get better, does it?

You son of a bitch.

[laughter]

What was that about?

You're too old for that.

- I got a cramp when I got up.
- I bet you did.

My calf cramped.
I said, no, don't do that.

I have so much arthritis
medicine up in my bag.

I'm not even kidding.
- It will get you through.

It'll be all right.
- What the f*ck?

That was just bananas.
- You couldn't write it.

You can't write that.

You couldn't write it, honestly.

Have a good one.

ROB: I think
that's kind of the beauty


of this entire experience
is that we don't have


any control over
what happens on that pitch.


It just unfolds the way it does.

And you see
that the people who are


put in place to thrive
in difficult situations


tend to thrive.

CROWD:
♪ Super Ben Foster in goal ♪

HUMPHREY: This win puts us
firmly in pole position


to go on and win the league outright

and avoid the nightmare scenario

of going into the playoffs.

But of course, we still have
to go and finish the job now.


This is Wrexham.

Nothing ever comes easily.

[triumphant music]

♪ ♪

[child giggles, seagull cries]
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