Podcast: The impact and importance of ‘Welcome to Wrexham’

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney attend the FYC Red Carpet For FX's 'Welcome To Wrexham.' (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

On the latest episode of New England Soccer Journal’s “The Goal” podcast, host Matt Langone and producer David Yas discuss the television sports docuseries “Welcome to Wrexham.”

The series, which airs on FX and streams on Hulu, will debut its third season on Thursday. It chronicles the purchase and stewardship of Wrexham AFC, one of professional football’s oldest clubs, by two Hollywood actors, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Wrexham AFC was founded in 1864, making it Wales’ oldest professional Football Club and the third oldest in the world. The docuseries highlights how the proud club had fallen on hard times, and Reynolds and McElhenney make it their mission to help return the club to prominence and on-field success, and the hardships and emotions that come along with that process.

Langone and Yas discussed the impact of “Welcome to Wrexham” and why they feel it’s a must-watch for soccer fans, and even non-soccer fans. They also play numerous clips from the show, throughout the duration of the podcast, and react to them.

The full podcast can be accessed below and is available on all major platforms. If you enjoy it, please leave a rating and a review.

Here are a couple thoughts on “Welcome to Wrexham” from Langone and Yas:

Langone: “I think most people love this show, and it shows you what soccer is like — what football is like — overseas and how much it means, with even a struggling club in a little tiny town, the kind of town where the town kind of revolves around the soccer team and they rally for it, and and they’re so invested in it.”

Yas: “I think they figured we were going to go along on the ride with them, whether they were ultimately successful or not. But it’s just a tale with twists and turns that only real life could provide. Unless we’re talking about something like “Ted Lasso,” because we love that show as well, but that’s made up — it’s fiction. But it’s amazing how with Wrexham and watching it, it’s like, well, this is almost like a Ted Lasso come to life.”

“The Goal” podcast is brought to you by the International Development Academy.

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