McClean leads way as Hollywood fairytale takes new twist with the ‘Wrexham Irish’

One member of the strong Irish cohort who have taken Wrexham from the nonleague into League One says the Welsh club are “only getting started”.

A 6-0 win over Forest Green Rovers, combined with other results, means that the side – backed by Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney – are guaranteed promotion from League Two with two games to spare.

There was a strong Irish influence to their success as James McClean, Eoghan O’Connell and Tom O’Connor played in that win on Saturday, while Irish-born first-team players Anthony Forde and Luke McNicholas also played a part – as did Wrexham’s head of medical and sports science Kevin Mulholland.

It was not the only Irish-backed success in that league as veteran Paddy Madden didn’t score but still played a captain’s role for Stockport County as a 2-0 win for them at home to Morecambe also secured promotion.

Cork native O’Connell knew he was taking a gamble when he left League One side Charlton to join Wrexham, then non-league, in January 2023. Scoring the winning goal on his debut for Wrexham was a taste of what was to come with last season crowned by promotion to League Two.

“It’s an incredible achievement, these things only sink in after a few days or weeks,” O’Connell told the club’s YouTube channel. “Winning is tough, so to do it two years in a row is an incredible achievement for the team and the club,

“I’ve only been promoted once before, so to do it back-to-back is just incredible – it’s a great feeling being with this team knowing that we’re going to League One next year. The club is on a journey and it’s great to be part of it.

“When you move in football you get a feel for a club within days, whether you’re at the right club or not. When I signed here I knew I’d made a good decision. I’ve loved every minute of it but we are only getting started on this journey.

“It is important to enjoy these achievements over the last couple of years. When we are doing other things we will reflect on this success and these big wins. We have had two in a row, it’s a long career but they don’t come around too often, you have to enjoy them. We have a great group of people, players and staff, we will have some good days and weeks.

“It’s incredible – we never wavered in what we were doing and that makes it more special. We have people coming over from Ireland for the games and they can’t believe the atmosphere every week,” added the former Celtic academy graduate.

McClean started 35 of their 44 league games as boss Phil Parkinson admitted the Irishman’s decision to quit international football paid dividends for Wrexham. O’Connell and Kilkenny native O’Connor were also regulars though injury restricted Limerick-born winger Forde to just eight starts. Former Sligo Rovers ’keeper McNicholas is still awaiting his league debut.