This starts next week on Hulu. Can’t wait to watch it.
Didn’t know they’d made a show about this, looks good.
Added to my watch list - thanks!
I’ll be watching.
for those not familiar with the “english” football league. Wrexham were in the football league (usually the 4th tier) for decades; but were relegated to the National League (5th tier, and not really part of the football league) about 15 years ago. This is far from elite football.
A while ago my son told me they were selling special edition kit with “It’s always sunny in Wrexham” on; but it sold out quickly. Lots of copycat stuff available now.
For anyone not that familiar with this bit of Wales - it isn’t the green valleys of the south, or the rugged Pembrokeshire coastline…it is right on the north eastern edge of wales - a bit industrial like the english towns in the same general area.
So what’s compelling about it? A documentary about the community and passion of football at the local level?
Edit: My knowledge of the sport comes to a halt not long after my understanding that the use of hands is somewhat frowned upon.
ooh
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So what’s compelling about it? A documentary about the community and passion of football at the local level?
Edit: My knowledge of the sport comes to a halt not long after my understanding that the use of hands is somewhat frowned upon.
Good article in The Athletic today about it.
While the series does focus on Wrexham’s on-field exploits, it feels more like an exploration of the town of Wrexham itself, and an ode to the place’s undying affection for their football club. “Welcome to Wrexham†premieres on Disney+, Hulu and FX on August 24.
TA: One theme you guys go to lengths to educate the viewer on in the first few episodes is just the system of promotion and relegation that exists overseas, something that’s entirely foreign to many American viewers. Was that system of pro/rel a driving force in your acquisition of the club?
McElhenney: Yes, because that is the ultimate underdog story. It’s one thing to suggest that the (NFL’s Cleveland) Browns or the (Cincinnati) Bengals or the Tampa Bay Rays (of Major League Baseball) or whatever could ascend through the ranks, but the stakes aren’t as high if you’re not getting kicked out of the league if you finish in last. What happens is this precipitous fall all the way down, you can tumble very quickly and it can destroy a franchise. We just don’t have anything like that. The stakes may be high emotionally (in the United States), and certainly economically, but not in the way that it is in the English football system. So that was a very clear way in. I’ll say that the show, at its core, is more of a love letter to working class people and their devotion and love for the beating heart that is the club that’s associated with their town or community, and I think everybody can identify with that.
I’ll be watching.
for those not familiar with the “english” football league. Wrexham were in the football league (usually the 4th tier) for decades; but were relegated to the National League (5th tier, and not really part of the football league) about 15 years ago. This is far from elite football.
A while ago my son told me they were selling special edition kit with “It’s always sunny in Wrexham” on; but it sold out quickly. Lots of copycat stuff available now.
For anyone not that familiar with this bit of Wales - it isn’t the green valleys of the south, or the rugged Pembrokeshire coastline…it is right on the north eastern edge of wales - a bit industrial like the english towns in the same general area.
“English” !?! 
Totally looking forward to this. Can’t wait.
i know Wrexham is in Wales - but they play in the english football league system don’t they.
the Welsh league is full of real part-timers playing for teams like Balla town and Llanelli, and as far as i know isn’t connected to the english football league pyramid.
I went to Wrexham once to evaluate a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. For most of my trips to the UK i can think of something memorable, something i liked about the town, or made it different. On the same trip from the US i visited a facility in Copenhagen and another in Kent. i can remember loads of memorable things about Denmark and Kent - but Wrexham was just a generic industrial town that left no impression on me whatsoever. Not even that Welsh. it is the sort of place that needs their football team to get back in the league.
i know Wrexham is in Wales - but they play in the english football league system don’t they.
the Welsh league is full of real part-timers playing for teams like Balla town and Llanelli, and as far as i know isn’t connected to the english football league pyramid.
I went to Wrexham once to evaluate a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. For most of my trips to the UK i can think of something memorable, something i liked about the town, or made it different. On the same trip from the US i visited a facility in Copenhagen and another in Kent. i can remember loads of memorable things about Denmark and Kent - but Wrexham was just a generic industrial town that left no impression on me whatsoever. Not even that Welsh. it is the sort of place that needs their football team to get back in the league.
Yes, I was just joking. Even the big Welsh teams, like Swansea and Cardiff, play in the Championships.
I grew up in England. When I was in college here in the U.S. my parents moved back over there and lived about 30 minutes north of Wrexham. That is certainly an industrial part of the island.
So what’s compelling about it? A documentary about the community and passion of football at the local level?
Because Ryan Reynolds got involved and the is a ton of promotional videos about it and some are pretty funny. He’s having a blast.
Edit: My knowledge of the sport comes to a halt not long after my understanding that the use of hands is somewhat frowned upon.
That is why it’s called FOOTball, no hands allowed for 90 minutes as opposed to American Football, a no foot balling game played with a rugby ball for an average of 8 minutes a game. You pays your money and takes your choice.
This starts next week on Hulu. Can’t wait to watch it.
Looks interesting. Have you seen the doco on Salford city? Beckham, Neville bros, Giggs and Schofield are all co-owners of it and are pumping millions into it. I think they’ve moved up at least 3 leagues. Although I guess that they need to be careful the club doesn’t lose it’s identity. Is it really best for the club to keep on going till it reaches the EPL? Similarly with Wrexham. I think a bit of money pumped into the club and some success would be great, but how far do they want to go?
it’s 25 years since i lived in the UK so anyone living there may have a more current perspective.
i think there is a big difference between clubs like Wrexham, that were traditionally in the football league, and clubs like Salford City, (or Harrogate for example) that weren’t. There would have been thousands of passionate supporters in Wrexham, people who lived and breathed the team. Then they were relegated and put in the same league as the part-timers. Just getting Wrexham back into League 2, then maybe League 1, and staying there would be transformative for the town.
In places where there wasn’t traditionally a league club, such as Salford, it will be different. i bet most football fans in Salford are not that invested in Salford City as they already had different football teams they supported before the Man U guys arrived.
After the first two episodes, I’m hooked.
ETA: My Morgan people are from Wales. At the end of episode two, I know how they felt. That’s how I felt in January at the end of the Chiefs-Cincinnati game.
After the first two episodes, I’m hooked.
ETA: My Morgan people are from Wales. At the end of episode two, I know how they felt. That’s how I felt in January at the end of the Chiefs-Cincinnati game.
Same here. Really like it.
Apparently, I’m the only one who read the title and thought “Wrexham? Damn near kills him”.
“So I met this girl from Maine …”
“Bangor?”
“NO!!! I just met her”
Thanks Cathy, enjoyed both episodes last night.
As God is my witness, I still cannot believe the Chiefs lost that game.
As God is my witness, I still cannot believe the Chiefs lost that game.
Dude! I was there and was ready to book a flight to LA.
Arrogance was their undoing. Kick a dang field goal heading into halftime.
Worse part of the whole deal was my future now son in law. Grew up near Cincinnati and is a huge Bengals fan. He slept on the couch the whole first half, only to awaken and become very vocal in the second half.