Wrexham Get The Star Treatment In LA With Paul Mullin As The Leading Man
Wrexham are already big news in the USA thanks to their Hollywood owners and the series, “Welcome to Wrexham” but now some of their new fans have seen them in the flesh.
The club are currently on a pre-season tour in the States and although they began with a heavy 5-0 defeat to Chelsea, at the weekend they celebrated a famous win.
Fans sporting red Wrexham shirts outnumbered those backing MLS reserve team LA Galaxy II at the friendly in Carson, which was won 4-0 by the League Two club in the second game of the four-match ‘USA Invasion’ tour.
Paul Mullin was once again the key man for Wrexham, providing two assists and a goal of his own.
After a goalless opening half, Mullin laid on two goals in the first 10 minutes of the second period to help his team ease to victory against a young Galaxy second team.
First Mullin found Andrew Cannon with a fine pass behind the Galaxy II defence to put Wrexham in front in the 47th minute.
Eight minutes later, he calmly laid off a cross into the path of Elliott Lee to slot home with a low first-time finish.
Mullin, scorer of 38 goals last season to help Wrexham reach League Two, then found the net himself in the 65th minute after sliding in to force the ball home from close range.
Three minutes later, substitute Anthony Forde rounded out the scoring after following up on a saved shot.
Wrexham face Manchester United on Tuesday in San Diego before wrapping up their tour with a visit to Chester, Pennsylvania for a match against Bethlehem Steel on Saturday.
Season two of “Welcome to Wrexham” is set to begin streaming in the U.S. on Sept. 12.
Wayne Jones – owner of The Turf pub and a breakout star of “Welcome to Wrexham,” which chronicles Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s takeover of the club since November 2020 – has been one of the fans who made the trip.
“We’ve had an incredible welcome and we’re absolutely stoked to be here. It’s such a brilliant city and massive compared to what we’re used to,” Jones said.
“Every day Wrexham fans wake up and pinch themselves because we’ve had a real rough ride in the past two or three decades, so to be where we are now is incredible.
“Everywhere we go, there seems to be a Wrexham fan. That’s how it feels. Once they find out where we’re from, that’s it — they all want to talk about Paul Mullin or the show or what The Turf is like.”
Cardiff City were also involved in a pre-season game with a 4-0 scoreline – although this one was a defeat.
The Bluebirds were beaten by Porto in the Algarve, where Aaron Ramsey made his first appearance in club colours since the Wales captain rejoined the club where he began his career.
Cardiff manager Erol Bulut said: “The last game he played was three-and-a-half weeks ago [for Wales] against Turkey.
“He played two [international] games and then had three weeks off. He hasn’t lost much of his physical condition. It was a good 45 minutes, so we have to build on it.”
Swansea City also lost in their latest pre-season game at the weekend – going down 1-0 away to Oxford United.
Marcus Browne struck the only goal of the game in the seventh minute.
New Swans head coach Michael Duff said: “I thought we were sloppy at times in possession, which I hope is not going to be like us as the one thing we can do is pass the ball.
“But this is about minutes and being asked some questions we had not faced so far in pre-season. That’s good because it is something to work on.”