American Wrexham fan’s reaction to getting a ticket to Stockport County goes viral
Let's be clear: being that emotional to go and see your club is quite sweet — the fact she flew all the way over to experience Edgeley, of all places, is just a bit jarring.
An American Wrexham AFC fan who managed to get her hands on a first-ever ticket to see The Red Dragons in person has gone viral on social media, not only because of her emotional reaction but because the destination she flew over for was none other than Stockport.
Wrexham have gained a massive influx of fans over the past couple of years following their blockbuster buyout at the hands of celebrities Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, with even more coming along for the ride after watching the accompanying Welcome to Wrexham documentary.
That being said, most Americans who still might be relatively new football fans certainly wouldn’t have been expected to be spending their hard-earned cash travelling over to Britain to watch their side in Wales, let alone away here in Greater Manchester. Then again, not every fan is Dana Burkey.
As much as she was clearly excited and seemingly very emotional to receive a ticket for her first game, footy fans obviously found it hilarious that this poor lady paid what we can only assume was an obscene amount to travel to Edgeley in Stockport, only to watch her team get battered by County 5-0.
americans crying with happiness because they get to go to stockport is actually mental https://t.co/XwiEd2OQUA
Can’t beat that view when you’re coming into the station Stockport.
Yes, unfortunately for this recently converted Wrexham supporter and avid fan of the FX documentary series, after travelling to none other than Stockport to watch her beloved Dragons, she received the full hospitality of Edgeley Park in the form of an absolute thumping by the home side.
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As if this mini-tragicomedy wasn’t already poetic enough, for many it was even funnier that the heavy defeat came against the same team that denied them promotion from the National League two seasons prior and whom so much of the series’ drama and heartache centred around to begin with.
There were nearly 10,000 in attendance for the League Two match on Saturday as Dave Challinor‘s side recorded their biggest win since the 6-0 against Wycombe Wanders in 2007, thanks to a hattrick from Isaac Olaofe, a goal and assist from high-flying loanee Louie Barry, and a finishing touch from captain Paddy Madden.
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It’s safe to say the fixture has struck up somewhat of a rivalry between the two clubs of late, so once Hatters and neutrals alike caught wind of Burkey flying over from the US to watch the game in person, they were having a field-day even before they saw the score at full-time.
As many noted online, while it won’t have been the day out in Stockport Dana was hoping for, at least she was part of a real football experience; there’s nothing that tests your resolve as a fan more than travelling to an away game and paying all that money only to see your team get battered.
To be fair, whatever she spent flying over here probably isn’t far off how much a train to Euston from Piccadilly sets us back these days.
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You can see the highlights of Stockport 5-0 Wrexham down below — though we’re sure this particular fan won’t want to watch it back anytime soon.
An American Wrexham Fan in Stockport > An American Werewolf in London.
Featured Image — Dana Burkey/Stockport County/Gaz Drinkwater (via Twitter)
Sport
Former Manchester City player Joey Barton found guilty of assaulting his wife
Danny Jones
Ex-footballer Joey Barton has officially been found guilty of assaulting his wife following his two-day trial in the capital this week.
Barton, who played for Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and a number of other clubs, was convicted at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 25 March, following an incident back in June 2021.
The former midfielder left his wife, 37-year-old Georgia Barton (McNeil), with a bleeding nose and a bruise on her forehead following a drunken row at their home in London.
Barton is said to have grabbed and pushed her to the floor before kicking her in the head. Married in 2019, the two have four children and are thought to still be together.
The 42-year-old was still employed in professional football as the manager of Bristol Rovers at the time, but he was ultimately sacked in October 2023.
His wife called 999 at the time, telling police that he had hit her, but later retracted her statement.
Born in Huyton, Merseyside, the chief magistrate Paul Goldspring recognised that the one-time England has a history of violence.
He was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence, meaning he won’t serve time unless he commits another offence and has been ordered to pay £2,138.
Since dropping out of mainstream football, in particular, Barton has come under heavy criticism for allegations of racism, sexism and controversial right-wing politics; he even started an ‘anti-woke’ podcast called Common Sense with Joey Barton.
Back in June of last year, he was ordered to pay £35,000 in damages to settle a libel claim with presenter Jeremy Vine after a series of inflammatory comments made online.
The Radio 2 presenter sued Mr Barton earlier this year, after the former footballer wrote a series of posts suggesting Mr Vine had a sexual interest in children.
He also accused of threatening fellow former pro, Eni Aluko, after a torrent of abuse regarding her punditry online – the ex-England international even went so far as to say she no longer felt safe staying in the country.
The Hundred is calling for up-and-coming presenters to co-host this year’s tournament
Danny Jones
The Hundred 2025 is fast approaching and cricket’s fastest-growing tournament is once again asking for aspiring presenters to join their roster of co-hosts and help cover the action.
The fast-paced 100-ball format is entering its fifth year and next to T20, you find a more accessible and thrilling form of cricket, so it’s no wonder the competition is gaining a greater audience each year.
With that in mind, the need for a top-notch broadcast team is more crucial than ever but just like those who backed The Hundred in its infancy, they’re looking to invest in future creatives and on-screen talent.
Are you someone looking to get into presenting or know someone who is? Keep reading.
For the fifth year in a row, we want you to be part of #TheHundredRising! 🎤
So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty straightforward: The Hundred is looking for eight up-and-coming presenters to join their team of main venue hosts up and down the country.
Tasked with guiding and talking fans through an action-packed five weeks across all host cities, successful applicants will be responsible for building excitement and atmosphere inside the seven cricket grounds on each match day.
From player and pundit interviews to crowd engagement and interactive other activations with partnered brands, not to mention members of this year’s live music lineup, you’ll be a key part of putting out the top-quality sports and entertainment product they promise every year.
The best part of all is that no prior hosting experience is necessary – this is all about platforming you and The Hundred as a whole.
Successful applicants will be mentored by the main hosts at their respective venues and will attend a two-day workshop with special guests to get them ready to hit the stage this summer.
The ‘Rising Hosts’ scheme has been set up in tandem with their dedicated event production agency, Progress Productions, which will be in charge throughout the application and selection process.
Shortlisted applicants will then have their details shared with the ECB (English Cricket Board) who will be involved when it comes to making their final decisions.
It goes without saying that even if you just love sports or just want to find a way into the industry, this is an opportunity that is not to be missed.
Danny Jones -
24th September 2023 
