“The stories have been written in the stars, it seems. Literally.”
While scathing of the effort of many of his own players, even Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche acknowledged something is stirring at Wrexham as they knocked his Premier League side out of the FA Cup.
In front of co-owner Ryan Reynolds, the Red Dragons’ class of 2025-26 etched themselves into cup folklore by taking a top-flight scalp at the Stok Cae Ras on penalties – and with drama befitting their modern-day Hollywood association.
Twice they were two goals clear against last year’s semi-finalists before being dragged, exhausted, into extra time, where they produced a dramatic climax.
For a club with FA Cup upsets stitched into their fabric, this win was up there with the most climactic – and the hero of the iconic win over Arsenal in 1992, Mickey Thomas, watched on.
Before the match manager Phil Parkinson said he had wished to take on a Premier League team since the club’s journey up from the fifth tier began five years ago.
“We highlighted to the lads some of the great moments in this club’s history in the FA Cup and could we make our own bit of history tonight. We’ve certainly done that,” Parkinson said.
They did, and then some – beating top-flight opposition for the first time since 1999 to progress into round four.
But Wrexham are getting used to writing their own scripts.
“It’s not just about the money, the fame and the people involved who have been amazing in the whole story, but to keep that edge and keep pushing as they’re doing is tremendous,” Dyche said.
And, with a nod to Wrexham’s position just outside the Championship play-offs, having been a non-league side as recently as 2023, he added: “They might well add to the story.”