1 00:00:08,182 --> 00:00:09,618 JACQUI: How old are you now? ARTHUR: 96. 2 00:00:09,748 --> 00:00:10,749 JACQUI: Yeah, 96. 3 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,840 I'll be 97 next March. 4 00:00:14,971 --> 00:00:16,538 First match I went to 5 00:00:16,668 --> 00:00:21,108 was 1931. 6 00:00:21,238 --> 00:00:23,110 I was seven. 7 00:00:23,284 --> 00:00:25,677 JULIE: So 90 years of following them? 8 00:00:25,851 --> 00:00:27,679 - Up and down. - [laughs] 9 00:00:27,853 --> 00:00:30,421 Up and down. 10 00:00:30,552 --> 00:00:35,339 SPENCER: A football team is not just a football team. 11 00:00:35,426 --> 00:00:38,995 It is something that really brings together 12 00:00:39,169 --> 00:00:42,346 the community in a way that nothing else does. 13 00:00:42,477 --> 00:00:43,913 SHAUN: There's a magic about football... 14 00:00:55,794 --> 00:00:57,187 JACQUI: That's it. - [Julie laughs] 15 00:01:01,452 --> 00:01:03,846 SPENCER: It gives people a real sense of community 16 00:01:03,933 --> 00:01:06,022 and camaraderie 17 00:01:06,196 --> 00:01:09,808 and belonging to something in a way that, without it, 18 00:01:09,939 --> 00:01:12,115 they just wouldn't have. 19 00:01:12,246 --> 00:01:16,380 And-and-and how dare somebody come from outside the area 20 00:01:16,511 --> 00:01:19,166 and-and try to take that away from people? 21 00:01:23,039 --> 00:01:24,606 [Buddy Holly's "Everyday"] 22 00:01:24,736 --> 00:01:26,738 BUDDY: [singing] Every day, it's a-getting closer 23 00:01:26,825 --> 00:01:30,177 Going faster than a roller coaster 24 00:01:30,264 --> 00:01:34,833 Love like yours will surely come my way 25 00:01:34,964 --> 00:01:37,314 A-hey, a-hey-hey 26 00:01:37,401 --> 00:01:41,144 Every day, it's a-getting faster 27 00:01:41,275 --> 00:01:44,626 Everyone said, "Go ahead and ask her" 28 00:01:44,756 --> 00:01:48,978 Love like yours will surely come my way 29 00:01:49,152 --> 00:01:51,633 A-hey, a-hey-hey 30 00:01:51,763 --> 00:01:57,552 Love like yours will surely come my way 31 00:02:06,865 --> 00:02:09,216 PERSON: Is it teatime for you now? 32 00:02:09,346 --> 00:02:11,000 Oh-ho-ho-ho. 33 00:02:11,174 --> 00:02:12,741 Are you hungry? 34 00:02:12,871 --> 00:02:15,135 Are you ready for your tea? [gasps] 35 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:21,097 Right, buddy, after we finish this... 36 00:02:21,271 --> 00:02:23,360 you're not going to be able to sit and watch telly. 37 00:02:23,447 --> 00:02:24,709 Mommy and Daddy have got to watch something 38 00:02:24,796 --> 00:02:26,537 on the telly. 39 00:02:26,668 --> 00:02:28,148 And it's about the football. 40 00:02:28,235 --> 00:02:29,584 PERSON: Some people are worried 41 00:02:29,671 --> 00:02:31,977 that Ryan Reynolds and his friend 42 00:02:32,108 --> 00:02:33,327 are just doing it to make money. 43 00:02:33,457 --> 00:02:36,243 [bright classical music] 44 00:02:39,333 --> 00:02:40,682 So that's what people want to know: 45 00:02:40,812 --> 00:02:42,336 why have they chosen Wrexham? 46 00:02:42,466 --> 00:02:44,555 Just to make sure that they're-- 47 00:02:44,729 --> 00:02:46,818 they're doing it for a reason that's a good reason. 48 00:02:46,992 --> 00:02:48,472 There were some people 49 00:02:48,603 --> 00:02:51,823 who bought Wrexham Football Club who didn't want it. 50 00:02:51,910 --> 00:02:53,825 They wanted to knock the football stadium down. 51 00:02:53,999 --> 00:02:56,001 They wanted to knock? 52 00:02:56,132 --> 00:02:57,742 So that they could make money. 53 00:02:57,829 --> 00:02:59,048 [light music] 54 00:02:59,179 --> 00:03:03,183 [static crackling] 55 00:03:03,270 --> 00:03:04,967 LOUISE: These are turbulent times 56 00:03:05,054 --> 00:03:07,274 for Wrexham Football Club. 57 00:03:07,361 --> 00:03:10,494 Its future is on a knife-edge amid talks of debts amounting 58 00:03:10,625 --> 00:03:13,932 to millions and asset stripping. 59 00:03:14,063 --> 00:03:16,935 SPENCER: Going back to the early 2000s, 60 00:03:17,066 --> 00:03:19,721 the football club had a number of challenges. 61 00:03:19,851 --> 00:03:23,420 It had owners who, eh, who-who frankly that-that 62 00:03:23,507 --> 00:03:25,509 their sole reason for ownership 63 00:03:25,596 --> 00:03:27,598 was not for the betterment of the football club, 64 00:03:27,729 --> 00:03:29,513 and the football club was in danger. 65 00:03:29,644 --> 00:03:31,515 LOUISE: For the last two years, 66 00:03:31,646 --> 00:03:33,517 this club has been owned by one man, 67 00:03:33,648 --> 00:03:36,085 and tonight we unravel the truth 68 00:03:36,172 --> 00:03:38,348 behind rumors surrounding Alex Hamilton. 69 00:03:40,263 --> 00:03:42,613 Alex Hamilton was actually the-the owner 70 00:03:42,787 --> 00:03:45,442 of the football club, but another gentleman, eh, 71 00:03:45,529 --> 00:03:47,966 was, eh, was-was sort of fronting the ownership 72 00:03:48,140 --> 00:03:49,838 for a while, and-and we didn't know 73 00:03:49,968 --> 00:03:52,971 Alex Hamilton was in-in the background. 74 00:03:53,102 --> 00:03:54,930 LOUISE: Two years ago, Alex Hamilton 75 00:03:55,060 --> 00:03:57,628 bought the controlling share of Wrexham Football Club. 76 00:03:57,759 --> 00:03:59,543 Keeping his own identity secret, 77 00:03:59,674 --> 00:04:02,329 he installed a business associate as chairman. 78 00:04:02,503 --> 00:04:04,331 Mark Guterman was a controversial choice 79 00:04:04,461 --> 00:04:05,897 among fans. 80 00:04:05,984 --> 00:04:07,769 He'd already taken local rivals Chester 81 00:04:07,943 --> 00:04:09,553 into administration and relegated 82 00:04:09,727 --> 00:04:11,555 from the football league. 83 00:04:11,642 --> 00:04:13,862 BRYN: The club was sold to those two people, 84 00:04:14,036 --> 00:04:17,779 and their, uh, idea of what the value of this football club 85 00:04:17,953 --> 00:04:21,870 didn't really revolve around it being a football club. 86 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:23,785 LOUISE: A former solicitor who lives here in Cheshire, 87 00:04:23,915 --> 00:04:26,222 Alex Hamilton was struck off by the Law Society 88 00:04:26,353 --> 00:04:27,789 two years ago for charges 89 00:04:27,919 --> 00:04:30,226 including allegations of mortgage fraud. 90 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:32,576 He appealed, and most of the charges against him, 91 00:04:32,707 --> 00:04:34,578 including the mortgage fraud, were withdrawn. 92 00:04:34,752 --> 00:04:36,754 Reinstated last year, 93 00:04:36,885 --> 00:04:39,801 Hamilton now describes himself as a property developer. 94 00:04:39,931 --> 00:04:41,455 BRYN: This was a time of, you know, 95 00:04:41,585 --> 00:04:43,935 a lot of redevelopment work going on around the UK. 96 00:04:44,022 --> 00:04:45,894 There was a bit more money flowing around again 97 00:04:46,068 --> 00:04:49,898 in the economy and people were looking for opportunities. 98 00:04:50,072 --> 00:04:51,943 Small football clubs are always financially vulnerable, 99 00:04:52,030 --> 00:04:54,294 and this has long been the case in England and Wales. 100 00:04:54,381 --> 00:04:55,599 Wrexham were in that position now. 101 00:04:55,773 --> 00:04:57,471 They were vulnerable, 102 00:04:57,601 --> 00:04:59,603 and I think these guys spotted that vulnerability 103 00:04:59,690 --> 00:05:01,605 and recognized that in this big stadium site 104 00:05:01,779 --> 00:05:03,825 that you have here, which is on the edge of town, 105 00:05:03,999 --> 00:05:06,610 it's a prime position potentially for redevelopment. 106 00:05:06,784 --> 00:05:08,960 LOUISE: The Racecourse is the premier sports ground 107 00:05:09,134 --> 00:05:11,267 in North Wales. 108 00:05:11,441 --> 00:05:14,270 The Ground has a long history, and fans recently invested 109 00:05:14,401 --> 00:05:17,578 in its future by buying bricks in the new stand. 110 00:05:17,708 --> 00:05:19,710 There's lots of building work going on here. 111 00:05:19,884 --> 00:05:22,496 It's a prime site at the main gateway to the town. 112 00:05:22,626 --> 00:05:24,628 If it had planning permission, 113 00:05:24,715 --> 00:05:27,544 the Racecourse could be worth at least £10 million... 114 00:05:27,631 --> 00:05:29,633 just the kind of land a property developer 115 00:05:29,807 --> 00:05:31,635 might dream of finding. 116 00:05:31,766 --> 00:05:34,464 [dark music] 117 00:05:36,858 --> 00:05:38,425 SPENCER: The history, the present, 118 00:05:38,599 --> 00:05:40,862 and the future of Wrexham Football Club 119 00:05:41,036 --> 00:05:43,212 is interwoven with the Racecourse stadium. 120 00:05:43,299 --> 00:05:44,648 Without the Racecourse stadium, 121 00:05:44,779 --> 00:05:47,434 there is no Wrexham AFC. 122 00:05:47,521 --> 00:05:50,088 If the stadium goes, the football team goes. 123 00:05:50,219 --> 00:05:52,874 [Spiro's "We Will Be Absorbed"] 124 00:05:53,048 --> 00:05:56,617 ROB: So the club doesn't currently own the Racecourse. 125 00:05:56,747 --> 00:06:01,535 We pay approximately $150,000 a year to lease the stadium. 126 00:06:01,665 --> 00:06:03,885 Moreover, the club is also on the hook for any updates, 127 00:06:04,059 --> 00:06:05,887 refurbishments, enhancements that we wanna do, 128 00:06:06,061 --> 00:06:07,758 and we've been able to do a few of those. 129 00:06:07,889 --> 00:06:10,326 But what we really wanna do is return the stadium 130 00:06:10,457 --> 00:06:13,895 to being the crown jewel of North Wales. 131 00:06:14,069 --> 00:06:16,114 But sadly, we have an entire stand called "the Kop" 132 00:06:16,245 --> 00:06:18,203 that is, for all intents and purposes, condemned, 133 00:06:18,334 --> 00:06:20,118 and we can't do anything with that 134 00:06:20,249 --> 00:06:24,253 until the club once again owns the Racecourse... 135 00:06:24,384 --> 00:06:27,038 which is proving to be... 136 00:06:27,212 --> 00:06:29,258 difficult? 137 00:06:31,260 --> 00:06:33,131 [beep beep] Hey, Shaun? 138 00:06:33,305 --> 00:06:37,484 Can we get an update on, um, where we are with the purchase 139 00:06:37,614 --> 00:06:39,703 of the, uh, freehold for the Racecourse? 140 00:06:39,877 --> 00:06:43,359 Um, it's proving to be, uh, a challenge. 141 00:06:43,490 --> 00:06:45,796 The-the title deeds are old. 142 00:06:45,970 --> 00:06:49,365 The Land Registry plans aren't as clear as you'd hope. 143 00:06:49,539 --> 00:06:52,150 Um, we're just reviewing them all to get them all together, 144 00:06:52,324 --> 00:06:54,501 and we're gonna get there as quick as we can. 145 00:06:54,588 --> 00:06:55,937 RYAN: There's nothing that we can do to-- 146 00:06:56,111 --> 00:06:58,722 to maybe to help speed it up or-or expedite in some way? 147 00:06:58,809 --> 00:07:02,073 Well, some of these laws were drawn up in the 1400s, 148 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:04,946 so they-they didn't anticipate 149 00:07:05,076 --> 00:07:07,035 the pace at which people would want to do things. 150 00:07:07,165 --> 00:07:09,298 It is frustrating, and it's annoying 151 00:07:09,385 --> 00:07:12,649 and, uh, it's hard to-- it's hard to give you a-- 152 00:07:12,736 --> 00:07:16,174 a rationale as to why it should take this long 153 00:07:16,305 --> 00:07:18,263 other than these things do. 154 00:07:18,394 --> 00:07:19,874 I mean, I-I'm all for due process, 155 00:07:19,961 --> 00:07:23,051 but we-we made a promise. 156 00:07:23,181 --> 00:07:25,096 It's in our original mission statement. 157 00:07:25,183 --> 00:07:27,316 The Racecourse needs to be back in club hands. 158 00:07:27,403 --> 00:07:29,536 Everybody wants it to be back in club hands. 159 00:07:29,666 --> 00:07:31,451 And yet months and months and months go by. 160 00:07:31,538 --> 00:07:33,409 And the-I-look, my frustration 161 00:07:33,540 --> 00:07:37,282 is that we can't start on the development process. 162 00:07:37,413 --> 00:07:39,328 Do we have a rough estimate as to when we'll have 163 00:07:39,459 --> 00:07:41,896 some kind of answer? 164 00:07:41,983 --> 00:07:46,640 No, other than it can't take that much longer. 165 00:07:46,770 --> 00:07:48,555 RYAN: Holy... - [laughs] I mean, it's just-- 166 00:07:48,685 --> 00:07:50,078 it's Kafkaesque. 167 00:07:50,208 --> 00:07:52,341 Like, we are-- we're-we're trapped. 168 00:07:52,428 --> 00:07:54,778 And what-and what's worse is we're even on record 169 00:07:54,865 --> 00:07:56,780 since we promised it that-that we're actually 170 00:07:56,867 --> 00:07:59,130 on with it and we've got everything in place. 171 00:07:59,217 --> 00:08:01,872 I'm amazed we've not had any-- had any more questions 172 00:08:02,003 --> 00:08:05,093 from the public and the fans as to why it's taking-- 173 00:08:05,223 --> 00:08:06,921 why it's taking this length of time. 174 00:08:07,008 --> 00:08:10,054 Okay, well, I guess we'll talk later. 175 00:08:10,141 --> 00:08:11,360 Uh, bye, guys. 176 00:08:11,534 --> 00:08:12,448 [beep beep] 177 00:08:16,670 --> 00:08:17,235 ANNOUNCER: Oh, he's all on his own. 178 00:08:17,366 --> 00:08:19,020 Can he make it five? 179 00:08:19,150 --> 00:08:21,152 GERAINT: We are, uh, one of the oldest clubs 180 00:08:21,239 --> 00:08:22,153 in the world. 181 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:24,895 [dramatic music] 182 00:08:25,069 --> 00:08:27,681 Uh, and that's quite impressive in itself. 183 00:08:27,855 --> 00:08:30,031 ANNOUNCER: No doubt about that in terms of Wrexham. 184 00:08:30,205 --> 00:08:32,555 GERAINT: The Racecourse itself is the oldest existing 185 00:08:32,686 --> 00:08:36,385 international venue that still hosts football. 186 00:08:36,472 --> 00:08:39,388 HUGHIE: Better football, better prospects 187 00:08:39,475 --> 00:08:41,608 to get what we so desire in Wrexham. 188 00:08:41,738 --> 00:08:43,261 GERAINT: The name "the Racecourse" 189 00:08:43,392 --> 00:08:45,699 was 'cause the venue was a racecourse. 190 00:08:53,620 --> 00:08:56,057 ANNOUNCER: Can he make it five? 191 00:08:56,231 --> 00:08:57,754 And Jones makes it five! 192 00:08:57,841 --> 00:09:00,017 [cheering] 193 00:09:00,148 --> 00:09:02,411 GERAINT: It's just been our home for all our existence. 194 00:09:02,542 --> 00:09:03,847 [cheering, chanting] 195 00:09:03,978 --> 00:09:05,545 [echo fades] 196 00:09:05,632 --> 00:09:08,939 [static crackling] 197 00:09:09,113 --> 00:09:10,419 LOUISE: When Alex Hamilton took over the club, 198 00:09:10,550 --> 00:09:11,725 the Ground was owned 199 00:09:11,855 --> 00:09:14,728 by Wolverhampton & Dudley Brewery. 200 00:09:14,858 --> 00:09:17,861 They leased it to the club for £1 a year. 201 00:09:18,035 --> 00:09:20,429 The club approached the brewery to buy the freehold. 202 00:09:20,560 --> 00:09:21,996 And the very same day 203 00:09:22,083 --> 00:09:23,563 that the brewery sold the Ground 204 00:09:23,650 --> 00:09:25,303 to Wrexham Football Club, 205 00:09:25,477 --> 00:09:27,871 it was immediately transferred to another company, 206 00:09:28,002 --> 00:09:29,438 Damens Limited. 207 00:09:29,525 --> 00:09:32,789 Damens is wholly owned by Alex Hamilton. 208 00:09:32,876 --> 00:09:34,748 So the Ground belonged to one company 209 00:09:34,878 --> 00:09:36,880 and the club belonged to another. 210 00:09:37,011 --> 00:09:40,797 But both were controlled by Alex Hamilton. 211 00:09:41,755 --> 00:09:44,975 SPENCER: Their idea was to separate the club 212 00:09:45,106 --> 00:09:47,543 from the stadium and then bulldoze the stadium 213 00:09:47,674 --> 00:09:50,328 and turn it into, um, into a profit. 214 00:09:50,459 --> 00:09:52,896 [Spiro's "Wolves"] 215 00:09:53,070 --> 00:09:57,248 BRYN: So they had, um, a plan, and it was a plan 216 00:09:57,335 --> 00:10:01,557 to basically kill the football club, effectively. 217 00:10:01,688 --> 00:10:03,690 They took all the investment out over a period 218 00:10:03,864 --> 00:10:06,562 so it wasn't overt initially. 219 00:10:06,693 --> 00:10:08,129 But it became apparent that things weren't-- 220 00:10:08,303 --> 00:10:10,348 bills weren't getting paid effectively. 221 00:10:10,479 --> 00:10:12,437 LOUISE: The Inland Revenue is currently charging the club 222 00:10:12,568 --> 00:10:15,353 £150 a day in interest 223 00:10:15,484 --> 00:10:18,269 on a debt of more than £800,000. 224 00:10:20,141 --> 00:10:22,491 Earlier this year, things got so bad 225 00:10:22,578 --> 00:10:24,580 the bailiffs were called in. 226 00:10:24,711 --> 00:10:26,147 They assessed the club's assets 227 00:10:26,321 --> 00:10:27,844 down to the last plastic seat, 228 00:10:27,931 --> 00:10:30,934 floodlight, and lawn mower. 229 00:10:31,065 --> 00:10:33,371 If the tax bill remains unpaid, 230 00:10:33,502 --> 00:10:35,504 those assets will be seized. 231 00:10:35,635 --> 00:10:37,158 You know, I couldn't believe 232 00:10:37,288 --> 00:10:40,161 that they would treat the fans like that. 233 00:10:40,291 --> 00:10:41,510 It's a-- 234 00:10:41,684 --> 00:10:43,686 Sorry. - [crew member laughs] 235 00:10:43,817 --> 00:10:45,383 You know, 'cause we loved it so much 236 00:10:45,557 --> 00:10:48,299 and they were just destroying it for money. 237 00:10:48,386 --> 00:10:52,913 And it was just so frustrating. 238 00:10:53,043 --> 00:10:56,438 LOUISE: Mr. Hamilton refused our requests for an interview. 239 00:10:56,525 --> 00:10:57,961 We went to the Racecourse, 240 00:10:58,135 --> 00:10:59,876 where he was attending a board meeting. 241 00:10:59,963 --> 00:11:01,661 Wales' Week In Week Out program. 242 00:11:07,405 --> 00:11:08,624 We came here... 243 00:11:12,454 --> 00:11:13,673 Asset stripping as well. 244 00:11:28,862 --> 00:11:29,863 Gop. 245 00:11:42,963 --> 00:11:44,573 LOUISE: Please stop and talk to us, Mr. Hamilton. 246 00:11:44,660 --> 00:11:45,792 These are really important issues 247 00:11:45,966 --> 00:11:48,882 we want to discuss with you. 248 00:11:49,012 --> 00:11:51,232 Mr. Hamilton was not at the funeral. 249 00:11:51,406 --> 00:11:53,582 He was attending a directors' meeting at the club. 250 00:11:55,105 --> 00:11:57,412 Fans were getting worried. 251 00:11:57,542 --> 00:12:00,589 They organized mass opposition to Alex Hamilton's plans. 252 00:12:00,676 --> 00:12:02,547 He had dropped a bombshell. 253 00:12:02,678 --> 00:12:04,462 He said the Racecourse would have to be sold 254 00:12:04,636 --> 00:12:06,682 if the club was to survive. 255 00:12:06,856 --> 00:12:08,945 Last July, he served a legal notice on the club 256 00:12:09,032 --> 00:12:11,121 to leave the Racecourse within a year. 257 00:12:11,252 --> 00:12:12,166 [crowd chanting] 258 00:12:12,253 --> 00:12:15,212 After 130 years, 259 00:12:15,343 --> 00:12:17,780 this season could be the last that Wrexham play there. 260 00:12:17,911 --> 00:12:18,607 CROWD: We will not surrender! 261 00:12:18,781 --> 00:12:20,478 [chanting indistinctly] 262 00:12:21,566 --> 00:12:22,393 SPENCER: The supporters rallied round 263 00:12:22,567 --> 00:12:25,005 and really fought hard. 264 00:12:25,135 --> 00:12:26,397 And I was only a kid and we were walking round the Ground 265 00:12:26,484 --> 00:12:28,269 with-with banners and, you know, 266 00:12:28,399 --> 00:12:29,749 just anything to save your club. 267 00:12:29,836 --> 00:12:32,055 SPENCER: There was a lot of-- 268 00:12:32,186 --> 00:12:34,318 you could call it guerilla warfare really. 269 00:12:34,405 --> 00:12:36,494 BRYN: It was a-- 270 00:12:36,625 --> 00:12:38,758 a campaign that was taken to their front doorsteps. 271 00:12:47,854 --> 00:12:49,203 JACQUI: Yeah, we did. JULIE: Mm. 272 00:12:49,377 --> 00:12:51,074 And so we did. 273 00:12:51,205 --> 00:12:53,947 BRYN: The fans gathered in the town in Cheshire 274 00:12:54,121 --> 00:12:55,862 just over the border, where Alex Hamilton lived, 275 00:12:55,992 --> 00:12:57,646 and they marched through the town 276 00:12:57,733 --> 00:12:58,865 protesting against his ownership 277 00:12:59,039 --> 00:13:00,954 of the football club. 278 00:13:01,128 --> 00:13:02,607 LOUISE: It signaled a declaration of war 279 00:13:02,738 --> 00:13:03,957 against the chairman. 280 00:13:04,087 --> 00:13:05,872 [crowd chanting] 281 00:13:06,046 --> 00:13:08,788 The very same day, Alex Hamilton responded. 282 00:13:20,451 --> 00:13:23,106 [crowd chanting] 283 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:24,542 LOUISE: Fans thought his actions 284 00:13:24,673 --> 00:13:26,588 were an attempt to incite trouble. 285 00:13:37,686 --> 00:13:40,428 [crowd chanting] 286 00:13:40,558 --> 00:13:42,778 LOUISE: Hamilton has since been advised by the police 287 00:13:42,909 --> 00:13:45,694 not to attend home matches at his own club. 288 00:13:53,833 --> 00:13:55,791 BRYN: In a fit of rage, 289 00:13:55,922 --> 00:13:58,141 he decided that he was gonna resign. 290 00:13:58,272 --> 00:14:00,709 And he scrawled it down on a napkin. 291 00:14:00,796 --> 00:14:02,580 Basically, I think, wrote, "I resign" 292 00:14:02,754 --> 00:14:05,366 and signed it "Alex Hamilton." 293 00:14:05,496 --> 00:14:07,237 That was him saying, "I want out," 294 00:14:07,411 --> 00:14:09,283 and that was them saying, "Great. Fine. Off you go." 295 00:14:09,413 --> 00:14:11,589 [tense music] 296 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:13,722 [dramatic musical sting] 297 00:14:13,853 --> 00:14:16,029 ROB: Hey, hi, hi, hi, hi. 298 00:14:16,159 --> 00:14:19,597 Have you heard from Shaun recently 299 00:14:19,728 --> 00:14:21,382 about the Racecourse purchase? 300 00:14:21,512 --> 00:14:22,818 RYAN: Yeah. 301 00:14:22,949 --> 00:14:25,081 Yeah, it is taking a long, long, 302 00:14:25,168 --> 00:14:27,040 long, long, long fucking time. 303 00:14:27,214 --> 00:14:30,304 Um, but I also, you know, I also recognize 304 00:14:30,391 --> 00:14:33,176 that this is not a simple thing. 305 00:14:33,350 --> 00:14:34,743 ROB: I think the thing that drives me crazy 306 00:14:34,917 --> 00:14:37,702 is that this is not a process 307 00:14:37,833 --> 00:14:39,182 that is in place to protect people. 308 00:14:39,313 --> 00:14:41,489 In fact, the people that are getting fucked 309 00:14:41,619 --> 00:14:43,056 are the people that are marginalized 310 00:14:43,186 --> 00:14:44,709 that are the ones that get fucked over 311 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:45,972 always in these kinds of... RYAN: Rob tends to be 312 00:14:46,146 --> 00:14:47,495 a bit of a hothead. 313 00:14:47,625 --> 00:14:48,975 Rob's like-if you were in a burning building, 314 00:14:49,149 --> 00:14:51,107 Rob is-Rob is the first guy 315 00:14:51,194 --> 00:14:52,630 who's gonna run into that building 316 00:14:52,804 --> 00:14:54,981 and-and pull you out. 317 00:14:55,111 --> 00:14:56,547 I might look at, like, the version 318 00:14:56,634 --> 00:14:57,548 where we all get out. 319 00:14:57,679 --> 00:14:59,333 [laughs] Like, okay. 320 00:14:59,420 --> 00:15:01,509 Like... [laughs] 321 00:15:01,639 --> 00:15:03,641 That window is molten lava. 322 00:15:03,772 --> 00:15:04,947 I'm not gonna run through there 323 00:15:05,078 --> 00:15:06,296 because I won't make it to the person. 324 00:15:06,427 --> 00:15:07,994 [laughing] Like, wait, let's just take a second 325 00:15:08,124 --> 00:15:09,212 and think about this. 326 00:15:09,386 --> 00:15:10,953 So yeah. So what I'm saying is, 327 00:15:11,084 --> 00:15:11,998 everyone would die in my version. 328 00:15:12,172 --> 00:15:13,738 [both laugh] 329 00:15:13,869 --> 00:15:16,524 Just Rob would die in his. 330 00:15:16,654 --> 00:15:18,787 You're so much more patient than me--you're so patient. 331 00:15:18,874 --> 00:15:21,007 I'm not so much more patient. I just drink more. 332 00:15:21,137 --> 00:15:22,573 ROB: [laughs] Is that what I need to do? 333 00:15:22,747 --> 00:15:23,792 I should just drink. 334 00:15:23,966 --> 00:15:25,359 And if you need any, uh, any gin, 335 00:15:25,489 --> 00:15:28,710 I-I got a guy. 336 00:15:28,797 --> 00:15:31,452 ROB: Oh, okay. All right. 337 00:15:31,539 --> 00:15:34,803 Well... all right, I guess we'll just keep waiting. 338 00:15:34,890 --> 00:15:36,544 We'll just keep waiting. Um, yeah. 339 00:15:36,674 --> 00:15:38,372 Waiting is, uh, my favorite color. 340 00:15:38,459 --> 00:15:40,548 I will, uh, I will talk to you very, very soon 341 00:15:40,678 --> 00:15:42,245 and uh, miss ya, love ya. - [sighs] 342 00:15:42,376 --> 00:15:44,944 Miss you, love you, miss you, love you, bye. 343 00:15:45,031 --> 00:15:46,162 He's too nice. 344 00:15:47,947 --> 00:15:50,123 He's too nice. 345 00:15:50,253 --> 00:15:52,038 It just-it drives me crazy. 346 00:15:53,996 --> 00:15:56,129 Not him being nice. That doesn't drive me crazy. 347 00:15:56,259 --> 00:15:59,480 It drives me crazy that we have to... 348 00:15:59,610 --> 00:16:01,482 just keep waiting. 349 00:16:01,656 --> 00:16:02,962 We're past the due process 350 00:16:03,049 --> 00:16:05,268 of-of protecting everybody involved. 351 00:16:05,399 --> 00:16:07,923 We're-we're, uh, we're months past that. 352 00:16:08,054 --> 00:16:10,839 It's-it's literally waiting for some lawyer 353 00:16:10,926 --> 00:16:12,493 to call another lawyer 354 00:16:12,667 --> 00:16:14,364 who's then gotta call a committee 355 00:16:14,495 --> 00:16:17,498 and the committee meets once every three months. 356 00:16:17,585 --> 00:16:20,153 And if they miss that because someone's got the flu, 357 00:16:20,283 --> 00:16:22,285 then it gets kicked to the bottom of the pile 358 00:16:22,416 --> 00:16:24,853 and another lawyer has to call another lawyer, 359 00:16:24,984 --> 00:16:27,856 and in-and in the interim, 360 00:16:27,943 --> 00:16:31,033 it's the team and the town that get fucked over 361 00:16:31,164 --> 00:16:35,951 because in-under the auspices of protecting the club, 362 00:16:36,082 --> 00:16:38,084 it's hurting the club because we can't do 363 00:16:38,214 --> 00:16:39,172 any renovation. 364 00:16:39,302 --> 00:16:41,391 We can't do any real updating 365 00:16:41,565 --> 00:16:42,827 because everything has to go through this process. 366 00:16:42,958 --> 00:16:46,440 And so we have this plan to-to revitalize 367 00:16:46,527 --> 00:16:49,399 the-the-the stadium, and we can't do anything 368 00:16:49,530 --> 00:16:51,097 until we get this information, 369 00:16:51,184 --> 00:16:54,187 so needless to say, I'm a little bit frustrated 370 00:16:54,317 --> 00:16:58,147 and Ryan is not because he's drunk or whatever. 371 00:17:03,761 --> 00:17:04,675 [Spiro's "I Fear You Just as I Fear Ghosts"] 372 00:17:26,871 --> 00:17:28,090 JACQUI: But we survived. ARTHUR: Yeah. 373 00:17:28,221 --> 00:17:28,917 JACQUI: We survived. JULIE: We did. 374 00:17:29,091 --> 00:17:29,918 JACQUI: We survived. 375 00:18:09,523 --> 00:18:11,525 Oh, gosh. [laughs] 376 00:18:11,655 --> 00:18:14,354 [soft music] 377 00:18:14,484 --> 00:18:17,705 BRYN: On one hand, the club was in safe hands again now, 378 00:18:17,879 --> 00:18:19,881 but on the other, it's actually quite an expensive business 379 00:18:19,968 --> 00:18:21,404 running a football club. 380 00:18:21,578 --> 00:18:23,624 SPENCER: It's ordinary Joes 381 00:18:23,798 --> 00:18:25,843 with whatever they can afford. 382 00:18:26,017 --> 00:18:27,410 You know, the minimum some people are putting in it 383 00:18:27,584 --> 00:18:29,978 is £12 a year. 384 00:18:30,152 --> 00:18:31,980 You know, some people contribute 385 00:18:32,067 --> 00:18:33,634 a lot more than that. 386 00:18:33,808 --> 00:18:36,289 Some people only put in the minimum amount 387 00:18:36,419 --> 00:18:38,943 but then do lots of volunteering 388 00:18:39,074 --> 00:18:41,250 and-and-and contributing in other ways. 389 00:18:44,993 --> 00:18:47,474 JULIE: Yes. Yes. Yeah. 390 00:18:52,957 --> 00:18:55,438 [overlapping chatter] 391 00:18:55,525 --> 00:18:56,222 Yeah, pulled together to pay wages. 392 00:18:58,615 --> 00:19:00,226 JULIE: Kenny Pemberton, locked in his house. 393 00:19:15,023 --> 00:19:16,372 JACQUI: Gosh, yeah. - Gosh. 394 00:19:16,459 --> 00:19:18,331 Frankly, the club has been struggling 395 00:19:18,461 --> 00:19:22,378 from that point onwards to this very day. 396 00:19:22,465 --> 00:19:24,163 If the club doesn't do so well 397 00:19:24,250 --> 00:19:26,469 and the attendance goes down, 398 00:19:26,643 --> 00:19:28,689 then the manager doesn't get as much money 399 00:19:28,863 --> 00:19:32,258 as he was expecting to get to invest in his football side, 400 00:19:32,345 --> 00:19:35,130 and so the football team isn't quite as good again. 401 00:19:35,261 --> 00:19:37,263 So it's been an issue that's followed the club 402 00:19:37,437 --> 00:19:38,786 through all the years 403 00:19:38,916 --> 00:19:41,005 that the fans have been in control. 404 00:19:41,136 --> 00:19:43,269 [melancholic music] 405 00:19:57,283 --> 00:19:58,327 Oh, God. It's all leaking, isn't it? 406 00:20:07,945 --> 00:20:09,512 BRYN: The club lost control of the stadium 407 00:20:09,686 --> 00:20:12,646 and the club began this inexorable slide down 408 00:20:12,733 --> 00:20:14,604 through the tiers into this position 409 00:20:14,735 --> 00:20:17,607 that it now finds itself in, in this fifth tier. 410 00:20:17,738 --> 00:20:20,958 So it had a-it had a seismic impact on the club. 411 00:20:21,132 --> 00:20:23,178 I didn't see a lot of hope under the Trust ownership 412 00:20:23,352 --> 00:20:25,180 and that's not a dig at them because, you know, 413 00:20:25,311 --> 00:20:27,400 they've put their time in and I respect them for it. 414 00:20:27,530 --> 00:20:29,402 So it's not a dig at them in the slightest. 415 00:20:29,576 --> 00:20:30,620 I just didn't see an out for the club. 416 00:20:30,751 --> 00:20:32,448 I didn't see a-- I didn't see a way forward. 417 00:20:32,535 --> 00:20:35,756 Um, a lot of fans didn't see a way forward. 418 00:20:35,886 --> 00:20:38,846 You know, those times were real bad, real low, 419 00:20:39,020 --> 00:20:41,022 really low because you--you knew we didn't have the money 420 00:20:41,109 --> 00:20:42,545 to get players. 421 00:20:42,676 --> 00:20:44,852 You knew players weren't getting paid on time. 422 00:20:44,982 --> 00:20:47,289 So it was just a knock-on effect 423 00:20:47,420 --> 00:20:49,552 and it was-it was a terrible time to be a fan. 424 00:20:49,726 --> 00:20:51,337 It's been... [laughs] it's been a terrible time 425 00:20:51,424 --> 00:20:52,686 to be a fan for a long time now 426 00:20:52,773 --> 00:20:54,340 to say the truth. 427 00:20:54,427 --> 00:20:55,863 Sam walked in and he said, "You'll never guess 428 00:20:55,993 --> 00:20:57,778 who's bought Wrexham Football Club." 429 00:20:57,952 --> 00:20:59,432 And I said, "Who?" 430 00:20:59,562 --> 00:21:00,781 He said, "Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney." 431 00:21:00,911 --> 00:21:02,261 I said... 432 00:21:02,348 --> 00:21:04,915 "As in Ryan Reynolds 433 00:21:05,002 --> 00:21:07,788 as in actor and Rob"-- I said, "I don't know him." 434 00:21:07,918 --> 00:21:09,703 He said, "Oh, yeah, you wouldn't know him. 435 00:21:09,790 --> 00:21:11,139 Always Sunny in Philadelphia." I said, 436 00:21:11,270 --> 00:21:12,793 "Oh, yes. Right, okay." 437 00:21:12,967 --> 00:21:14,360 Uh, I said, "You're joking." 438 00:21:14,490 --> 00:21:15,926 "Nope, that's right," he said. 439 00:21:16,013 --> 00:21:16,927 "They've bought it." [laughing] I said, 440 00:21:17,014 --> 00:21:18,494 "I can't believe it." 441 00:21:23,456 --> 00:21:25,719 Rubs off. Rubs off. 442 00:21:25,806 --> 00:21:26,415 Yeah. 443 00:21:28,678 --> 00:21:29,810 What's happening now for me 444 00:21:29,984 --> 00:21:33,030 is reward, um, 445 00:21:33,161 --> 00:21:35,032 for the-the effort and the sacrifices 446 00:21:35,163 --> 00:21:36,382 that supporters have put into football club over the years. 447 00:21:57,620 --> 00:21:59,056 - They better not. - Yeah. 448 00:21:59,230 --> 00:22:00,623 You-you wouldn't cross a Wrexham fan. 449 00:22:00,754 --> 00:22:02,930 No, 'cause Wrexham-- Wrexham fans don't forgive... 450 00:22:03,060 --> 00:22:04,540 - They don't forgive easily. - Very easily. 451 00:22:04,627 --> 00:22:10,503 [light music] 452 00:22:16,291 --> 00:22:17,423 [phone chimes] ROB: You have some news 453 00:22:17,553 --> 00:22:19,294 for us? 454 00:22:19,468 --> 00:22:21,383 Is it good news? - Well, it is. 455 00:22:21,514 --> 00:22:23,994 After, uh, many months of trying 456 00:22:24,168 --> 00:22:26,432 and, uh, frustration, 457 00:22:26,562 --> 00:22:28,085 I would like to congratulate you. 458 00:22:28,259 --> 00:22:30,349 You are now the proud owners of the Racecourse Ground. 459 00:22:30,436 --> 00:22:32,655 - Whoa! - Yes! 460 00:22:32,829 --> 00:22:34,788 Oh, my God! RYAN: Come on! 461 00:22:34,962 --> 00:22:36,616 There we go! 462 00:22:36,746 --> 00:22:38,792 Wrexham AFC owns the Racecourse Ground 463 00:22:38,879 --> 00:22:40,750 and, uh, you've made it possible 464 00:22:40,924 --> 00:22:43,405 and, you know, and keeping-- and keeping true to your words 465 00:22:43,536 --> 00:22:46,190 in the mission statement, so congratulations. 466 00:22:46,321 --> 00:22:47,801 Truly, you have made it possible-- 467 00:22:47,888 --> 00:22:52,327 you, um, HK and Shaun and-and-and Ryan. 468 00:22:52,458 --> 00:22:54,677 Like, I-I've just-- I-I hadn't-- 469 00:22:54,764 --> 00:22:56,810 I lost my patience with it so long ago 470 00:22:56,897 --> 00:22:58,464 that I had to check out of it completely 471 00:22:58,594 --> 00:23:00,117 and I just appreciate you guys. 472 00:23:00,291 --> 00:23:01,597 This is why Shaun wanted to do it over Zoom 473 00:23:01,684 --> 00:23:03,904 is he-he wanted to see your angry, 474 00:23:04,034 --> 00:23:05,906 scrunched-up, sad little face, Rob, 475 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:08,343 blossom into a smile. 476 00:23:08,474 --> 00:23:10,650 RYAN: Having the oldest international 477 00:23:10,780 --> 00:23:13,217 football stadium on the planet under our stewardship 478 00:23:13,348 --> 00:23:15,045 is, like, both elation 479 00:23:15,132 --> 00:23:17,483 and weirdly, I can feel an ulcer growing 480 00:23:17,657 --> 00:23:19,485 as we speak. - [laughs] 481 00:23:19,572 --> 00:23:21,138 Oh, have you got the email I've just sent you? 482 00:23:21,312 --> 00:23:23,053 'Cause there is a second bit of news today. 483 00:23:23,140 --> 00:23:24,272 Oh! SHAUN: If you open-- 484 00:23:24,446 --> 00:23:25,360 If you-so there you go. 485 00:23:25,491 --> 00:23:26,622 So if you want to open it up, 486 00:23:26,709 --> 00:23:29,712 they are your first rendered images 487 00:23:29,886 --> 00:23:31,714 of the new stand 488 00:23:31,845 --> 00:23:33,716 the AFL architects have put together for us. 489 00:23:33,847 --> 00:23:34,717 - Wow! - Oh. 490 00:23:34,848 --> 00:23:36,589 Wow. 491 00:23:36,719 --> 00:23:40,157 That is a big-time football stadium right there. 492 00:23:40,288 --> 00:23:42,159 That is a-- - And that's just one stand. 493 00:23:42,290 --> 00:23:43,596 That's just "the Kop" stand. - Yeah. 494 00:23:43,726 --> 00:23:45,162 So-so what would be the next stand 495 00:23:45,336 --> 00:23:46,076 that we would do? - Ugh, give him an inch, 496 00:23:46,207 --> 00:23:47,382 he'll take a mile, Shaun. 497 00:23:47,513 --> 00:23:49,079 I'm so sorry about-- 498 00:23:49,166 --> 00:23:51,168 Wait, when can we--when can we show this to the public? 499 00:23:51,342 --> 00:23:54,650 Uh, I need to go through the Council with Levelling Up Fund. 500 00:23:54,737 --> 00:23:57,523 We probably need to warn a couple of people 501 00:23:57,697 --> 00:23:59,742 at the Council it's coming out, 502 00:23:59,829 --> 00:24:01,962 and then we can arrange a public launch 503 00:24:02,092 --> 00:24:04,530 and I think it'd be really useful to do that 504 00:24:04,704 --> 00:24:05,966 because you have to have a pre-- 505 00:24:06,140 --> 00:24:08,838 uh, a pre-application consultation period-- 506 00:24:08,969 --> 00:24:11,406 ROB: A pre-application consultation period? 507 00:24:11,537 --> 00:24:12,625 SHAUN: More bureaucracy, I know. 508 00:24:12,755 --> 00:24:14,888 But at least-- - It's incredible. 509 00:24:14,975 --> 00:24:16,846 Let's just put it out. Let's just put it out. 510 00:24:16,977 --> 00:24:17,978 Let's just put it out. SHAUN: At least, at least-- 511 00:24:18,152 --> 00:24:19,762 no, don't just put it out yet. 512 00:24:19,893 --> 00:24:22,069 We-I'll-I'll give you the-- I'll give you the nod 513 00:24:22,199 --> 00:24:23,636 when you can put it out. - Incredible. 514 00:24:23,810 --> 00:24:24,898 Thank you, Shaun. Thank you for that great news. 515 00:24:24,985 --> 00:24:25,899 Pleasure. RYAN: That is so neat. 516 00:24:25,986 --> 00:24:27,640 We're putting out the video. 517 00:24:27,814 --> 00:24:28,554 We're putting out the video, we're putting out the video. 518 00:24:28,684 --> 00:24:29,685 Bye, love you, love you, bye. - Oh, boy. 519 00:24:29,772 --> 00:24:31,339 - Okay, bye. - Bye, bye, bye, bye. 520 00:24:31,470 --> 00:24:37,214 [grand orchestral music] 521 00:25:42,192 --> 00:25:43,280 [child giggles, seagull cries]