Summary

  • Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney join players and staff on open bus tour

  • Thousands of fans are lining the streets of the city

  • Route switched due to volume of crowds

  • Wrexham returning to Football League after 15-year hiatus

  • Wrexham won National League with record 111-point haul

  1. Family excited to see Paul Mullinpublished at 18:20 British Summer Time 2 May 2023

    Vincent, 39 and his 10-year old son Alex are two of the thousands of people lining the streets in Wrexham.

    "I grew up in Wrexham. I've supported this club for 35-years. It’s amazing what Rob and Ryan have done for the club, just unbelievable.

    "There’s been some dark times along the way but great that it’s going so well now. I see us going up and up and up. There’s no reason we can’t make the Premier League one day." "It's amazing being here," Alex added.

    "I’m really hoping to see my favourite player Paul Mullin."

    Vincent and Alex
  2. We are off!published at 18:17 British Summer Time 2 May 2023

    BBC Journalist Aled Williams

    Everybody’s on board, the sound system is booming and the three buses in the red of Wrexham leave the Racecourse. We’re off!

    Media caption,

    The parade has started

  3. 'A big day for the club'published at 18:15 British Summer Time 2 May 2023

    Amelie Murt and her 64-year-old grandfather Brian Williamson wanted to get into the city centre early to get a good spot to applaud their heroes.

    “It’s a big day for the club, times haven’t always been this good and we wanted to say thank you so much,” said Brian.

    “The team have been fantastic and have done so much for this town, they’ve put a smile on all of our faces.”

    Amelie, 11, has never seen her beloved club in the Football league as she was born after their relegation in 2008 and can’t wait to until next season.

    “ It’s so good to get the chance to see Wrexham in the league,” she said.

    “My grandad has told me stories about Wrexham in the league and now I’m so glad I‘ll be able to experience that for myself.”

    Amelie Murt and her 64-year-old grandfather Brian Williamson
  4. 'Special night' says former playerpublished at 18:13 British Summer Time 2 May 2023

    Former Wrexham midfielder Waynne Phillips has been fortunate to have been involved in two previous open top bus parade.

    Phillips was a member of the promotion winning sides of 1993 and 2003.

    He is now a now a pundit on the Welsh language BBC Radio Cymru and has seen all but two of Wrexham’s games this season.

    “They were special moments but tonight will be even more special to what we sampled in our promotions because of the interest of the last two year,” he said.

    “The interest has always been there – the club had just been crying out for the owners that we’ve currently got.

    “We’ve had some rough times, a lot of difficult times but this last 12-18 months has been something special.

    “It’s going to be one of those special night’s that people will say ‘I was there’ after what has been a terrific season for the football club.”

    Waynne Phillips on the Wrexham open top bus arade in 1993
    Image caption,

    Waynne Phillips on the Wrexham open top bus arade in 1993

    Waynne Phillips at the Racecourse
    Image caption,

    Waynne Phillips had two spells with Wrexham

  5. Postpublished at 18:11 British Summer Time 2 May 2023

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  6. The owners get the loudest cheerpublished at 18:10 British Summer Time 2 May 2023

    BBC Journalist Aled Williams in Wrexham

    One by one the Wrexham players step on one of the three buses but the biggest cheer is for owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as they embark.

  7. “We’ve got Mullin”published at 18:09 British Summer Time 2 May 2023

    Young Wrexham fans in Paul Mullin masks outside the Turf
    Image caption,

    Young Wrexham fans in Paul Mullin masks outside the Turf

    ‘There’s only one Paul Mullin’ - not anymore.

    There will be plenty of Mullin doppleganger’s en-route today courtesy of local paper The Leader’s face masks.

    Mullin, 28, has been Wrexham’s talisman during the campaign with a total of 47 goals, 38 of them coming in the National League title winning season.

    “Super Paul Mullin!”

  8. Crowds line the streets in anticipationpublished at 18:07 British Summer Time 2 May 2023

    BBC Journalist George Herd at Town Hill

    Crowds are now really beginning to swell on Wrexham's Town Hill, with half hour to go before the parade leaves the Racecourse.

    The streets through the city centre are lined with red shirts emblazoned with sponsor logos, as the sounds of horns become deafening.

    Miranda Brennan is there to support family and friends of the Declan Swans, the band that features in the Welcome to Wrexham documentary. She leads a chorus of "Up the town", as flags fly around the crowds.

    Crowds
  9. And so have the players!published at 18:05 British Summer Time 2 May 2023

    The Wrexham players are ready to fill those buses...

    Media caption,

    The Wrexham players arrive

  10. The buses have arrivedpublished at 18:04 British Summer Time 2 May 2023

    The buses arrived earlier for Wrexham's promotion party...

    Media caption,

    The open-top buses arrive in Wrexham

  11. Always puns in BBC live pagespublished at 18:03 British Summer Time 2 May 2023

    So you waited an entire two minutes until Pete Shuttleworth basically used our pun allocation for the entire evening.

  12. Fans queue for hours in sunny Wrexhampublished at 18:02 British Summer Time 2 May 2023

    Peter Shuttleworth
    BBC Wales News

    Forget Philadelphia for a moment, it was a case of “It’s always sunny in Wrexham” for Rob McElhenney and his Wrexham promotion heroes as their fans started gathering three hours before the parade to bask in the glory of the team’s success.

    The streets of Wrexham on an otherwise relatively nondescript Tuesday have never been busier as long-suffering supporters of the world’s third oldest football club finally had titles to celebrate - and they wanted to show their men’s and women’s team some appreciation.

    There maybe little to ‘marvel’ for an hour or so yet but a warm May evening and the promised sight of Ryan Reynolds, McElhenney and the stars of Wrexham’s Hollywood ending of this season has certainly sprinkled a bit of stardust over Wales’ newest city.

    Fans waiting
    Fans waiting
  13. Bus parade will begin and end at The Racecoursepublished at 18:01 British Summer Time 2 May 2023

    In celebration of Wrexham winning the National League and their promotion back to the English Football League there will be an open top bus parade this evening, as we've told you.

    It will start at 18:15 BST and will start and end at The Racecourse.

    Here's the route.

    Map of route
    Image caption,

    Throngs of people will watch as an open top bus drives through the parade

  14. Welcome to Wrexhampublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 2 May 2023

    Good morning, good afternoon and good evening, depending on where you are following with us today.

    Wrexham's promotion has become a worldwide story and we will bring you coverage of their promotion celebration.

    An open-top bus parade, with the players, management AND the owners, will be utilised to celebrate Wrexham's National League title and return to the Football League.

    Our team in Wrexham will keep you updated with everything you need to know.

    It's time for a promotion party.

    Wrexham fansImage source, Reuters