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A year ago, Wrexham AFC stole the hearts and minds of soccer fans across the globe.
The club, which is owned by Hollywood superstars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, even made some new soccer fans along the way.
By finishing atop the National League in the 2022-23 season, the Red Dragons were promoted back to the English Football League for the first time in 15 years.
It was a momentous occasion for the Welsh club, and even moved its star co-owners to tears.
“I’m not sure I can actually process what happened tonight. I’m still a little speechless,” Reynolds told BT Sport after Wrexham clinched promotion. “The one thing that’s running through my head over and over again is people said at the beginning, ‘Why Wrexham?’ This is exactly why Wrexham! What’s happening right now is exactly why.”
But promotion into a new league comes with new challenges. It’s a step up in competition, and a stark one at that.
Wrexham learned that the hard way in its EFL League Two return on Saturday.
Wrexham Gets Trounced In Return To English Football League
The Red Dragons fell 5-3 to MK Dons, who had been relegated from EFL League One the year prior. And a late consolation goal from Anthony Forde kept it from being an even more embarrassing 5-2 scoreline.
“In all departments of the game we were a long way off it today…We were below the standards you need to be to win games at this higher level,” Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson said in an interview with the club’s media team after the final whistle.
Wrexham has plenty of time to rebound. The EFL League Two season consists of a grueling 46 games. But getting off to a good start is important. And that’s certainly not what happened on Saturday.
The Red Dragons must fine a little more magic if they hope to continue their ascent up the English football ladder this season.