As Wrexham’s lap of honour after clinching a second promotion in as many years reached the Tech End, where the Racecourse Ground’s most vociferous supporters can be found, Paul Mullin decided to take charge of the PA microphone.
“I saw my mate the other day,
He said to me he’d seen the ‘white Pele’,
So I asked, ‘Who is he?’
He goes by the name of Elliot Lee…”
Mullin’s voice may not quite match the standard of his finishing in front of goal. But the thousands of partying supporters didn’t care, as they joined in with a song that, like its subject, has become a real terrace favourite these past couple of years.
(Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)
Next up was a ditty in honour of Arthur Okonkwo, the on-loan Arsenal goalkeeper. By now, the microphone had been returned to its rightful owner but that didn’t matter as the 22-year-old danced along to the fans chanting his name.
Over the next 10 or so minutes, most of the squad received a name-check, including Mullin, James McClean, Steven Fletcher, Ollie Palmer and Max Cleworth, the clearly shy defender being touchingly nudged forward to bask in the adoration by captain Ben Tozer.
It felt fitting, because promotion had been a real team effort, from Lee’s early goals which helped make up for the absence of the injured Mullin in the early weeks of the season or how new arrivals Okonkwo, McClean and George Evans helped take Wrexham to the next level.
Then there was Cleworth, who made the right-sided centre-half position his own from Christmas onwards, despite his only starts in the opening months coming in the cups as manager Phil Parkinson rotated his squad.
Max Cleworth and Ryan Barnett celebrate promotion (Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)
All have a strong case to be named what has to be the most keenly-fought Player of the Year award in a long, long time, as does Mullin for hitting such a rich vein of form at just the right time.
The togetherness that has powered Wrexham to back-to-back promotions will be tested again next season, when the club returns to the third tier for the first time since 2005.
Parkinson admits the step up is likely to be a “bigger one” than last summer’s return to the EFL. But he also believes there’s plenty more to come from a club whose highest-ever position is 15th in the old Second Division (now the Championship).
“We have progressed quickly,” says the 56-year-old. “But I said last year when we won promotion (from the National League) that there’s a lot more chapters to be written. I firmly believe that’s still the case now.”
So, what can Wrexham expect next season? Are they equipped to thrive once again at a higher level? And what personnel changes will be needed?