Wrexham AFC earned a massive three points to put themselves back at the top of the National League against title rivals Notts County, and they wouldn’t have won were it not for Ben Foster’s crucial penalty save in the final minute of the game.
Safe to say, fans inside the Racecourse Ground and celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were left breathless as they looked on helplessly at the late drama.
The home side found themselves a goal down right at the end of the first half through an impressive free-kick from John Bostock, but got back on top in the 69th minute and went on to make it three thanks to Elliot Lee just 10 minutes later.
However, after giving away a penalty in the dying embers of added time, it was all down to former Man United keeper Foster to keep the three points and their title hopes alive. 40 years old, only just back out of retirement and he does this.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 10, 2023
Ben Foster’s save is great but you have to wait till the end for Ryan Reynolds’ reaction…
I believe the word you’re looking for is limbs.
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Wrexham are now back at the top of the National League on 103 points and with a game in hand on Notts County sat just below them. Regardless, every remaining fixture is just as huge if their dreams of automatic promotion are to come true.
All that being said, it wasn’t lost on Reynolds and McElhenney how big this match was and speaking to BT Sport’s reporter Becky Ives after the full-time whistle, the former summed up the thoughts of those in the stadium in a way only he could.
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“This beautiful, torturous game” — couldn’t have put it any better ourselves.
"That was unlike anything I've ever seen before!!" 🔥
Ryan Reynolds reacts to the unbelievable scenes in the National League today after Wrexham beat Notts County!
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 10, 2023
Watching Ryan Reynolds react to Wrexham results will never not be funny to us; the same goes for McElhenney too, who simply shared a picture of him and his co-owner wide-eyed in disbelief and happiness, along with the tweet: “I can’t believe there was a time when I thought football was boring.”
The 46-year-old Canadian-American actor went on to say, “I’m actually grateful in this moment that I didn’t actually care about this years ago because it would have just eaten me alive”.
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After showering his team and everyone involved with praise, including Notts County — adding that he believes two teams should be able to secure automatic promotion like in the EFL — he also joked that he was going to hug Ben Foster so hard that he was “going to break ribs”.
And he wasn’t lying, as was proved when they bumped into each other in the tunnel afterwards:
Moments like this 🤌
Ryan Reynolds embraces @BenFoster in the tunnel after his 97th minute heroics for @Wrexham_AFC ❤️
In typical Deadpool fashion, despite previously insisting he was “lost for words” he couldn’t help but rattle off a few more jokes, quipping that Foster was “too old for that [kind of save]”.
There were obviously a lot of expletives thrown in there too but why wouldn’t there be? We don’t suppose he’s ever sat through what could potentially be a title-deciding game packed with five goals and a last-minute penalty save at a club which he literally owns.
Football is mint and were glad these two owners are clearly well and truly aware of that fact.
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You can watch the highlights from Wrexham vs Notts County down below:
While this new venture is focused on youth football, it’s their second in the United States after New York City FC and could help create new pro pathways into the sport at a grassroots level.
Introducing CFG franchise number 13: Man City North Texas FC.
As per an official statement on their website, “Man City North Texas FC delivers youth soccer programs for boys and girls aged 8–19, led by Manchester City coaches and built on the same coaching methodology developed within the Club.
“Every session is designed to help players become better soccer players, technically, tactically, and mentally, through modern, enjoyable training that builds confidence on and off the pitch.”
Basically serving as another academy setup across the pond, North Texas FC will no doubt help not only develop and create opportunities for aspiring young footballers over in the US, but likely serve as yet another feeder programme/outlet for tapping up the latest American talents.
We’ve already seen fairly recently examples such as ex-players Jack Harrison and Zack Steffen coming through the likes of New York and remaining on City’s wider books and either making the move over for a taste of first-team football or being loaned out to other teams.
Even if they ultimately go on to be sold, the aim is to help nurture youngsters and promise three main takeaways: an “authentic Manchester City methodology”, delivered by actual MCFC coaches, and a clear development pathway.
CITYCOACH gives coaches around the world access to the Manchester City methodology – sharing the knowledge, practices, and philosophy that shape how we develop players at every level ⚽️
This most recent ‘youth soccer club’ is just the latest in a long line of fresh Manchester City Football Programs created over the past decade or so, with coaching now being provided to children of all ages across a total of 38 cities in 14 countries.
At present, more than 40,000 kids are estimated to participate in these schemes every year, and thanks to Man City North Texas FC, that number is set to climb even further.
So, if you or someone you know happens to be based in or near the ‘Mean Green’ sporting hub of the ‘Lone Star State’, you can register interest HERE.
Meanwhile, in news closer to home, there are plenty of other big developments happening over at the Etihad Campus. Find out more down below.
The Premier League is keeping its crucial cap on away game ticket prices – for now
Danny Jones
The Premier League has announced it is extending its crucial price cap for away games, as the general cost of match tickets continues to creep up all over the country.
Most season card holders, be they here in Greater Manchester or elsewhere, are likely looking at their annual spending going up simply, so steps like these are key in keeping first division football as affordable as possible.
And that’s just the ongoing cost of living, let alone the clubs that are continuing the trend of charging more each year and, unfortunately, even pricing some supporters out entirely.
With that in mind, the news of England’s top-flight sides voting unanimously to keep the £30 cap intact for at least another two years comes as relief to those who spend most of the year putting their hard-earned cash towards following their team home and away.
BREAKING: The Premier League extend £30 cap on away tickets for another two seasons 🚨 pic.twitter.com/L336aZwmn3
Now confirmed to remain in place until the end of the 2027/28 campaign, travelling fans obviously still spend plenty of money on transport and so on every year, but at least they don’t have to worry about rising general admissions.
At least not for the time being…
Writing in a statement, the Premier League said: “Away fans help create the incredible atmosphere Premier League matches are renowned for. Since the cap’s implementation in 2016, it has contributed to attendance at away games increasing from 82% to 91%.”
They also acknowledged the significant and regular funds that supporters still spend on these trips, with plenty of people online also praising the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), which helped spearhead the campaign over a decade ago.
With so many other obstacles still getting in the way of fans making it to games either at their usual stadium or on an away day – not least of all the constant and increasingly frustrating rescheduling of fixtures – it’s good to see this isn’t an area the Prem are trying to target.
As always, the multi-billion-pound business can always seek out other, newer money spinners, and we’re absolutley certain they will. For instance, there’s at least one happening over in Spain that we’d happily see carried over here.
Following the news, this now means that fans will ultimately have enjoyed 12 back-to-back seasons of the benefit, and long may it continue.
Nevertheless, the biggest barrier for people to watch the beautiful game at its highest level in the UK remains the cost of standard tickets.
The likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Leeds and more have already let matchgoers know that their season ticket prices will be going up, and the likes of Man City have already seen backlash for increasing rates amid the expansion of the Etihad Campus.
Danny Jones -
11th April 2023 
