The women’s team have three games too, starting with SoCal FC at Drake Stadium, sited at UCLA, which has a capacity in excess of 14,000.
For context, in 2019, Wrexham counted non-league AFC Telford United and Curzon Ashton amongst their pre-season opponents. Their women’s team used to play on a park pitch.
Five years ago, anyone suggesting Wrexham’s pre-season would involve attending a red carpet event at the hotel where the prestigious Golden Globes ceremony has been held for over six decades could easily have been accused of living in dreamland.
“It’s crazy we have been invited out here,” said Wrexham WAFC midfielder Lili Jones. “Two seasons ago we were playing on the local park field. They put some changing rooms in for us, but they were really small, like a cabin, like you get at school.
“The pitch was boggy and there was a hill in the corner. To be playing in the Drake Stadium in LA is absolutely ridiculous.”
Not as ridiculous, it could be argued, as being interviewed on a red carpet for someone who, as the Emmy nominated docuseries ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ recorded, washes dishes in cafes.
After successive promotions, Wrexham’s ascent from the National League to League One has left them at risk of outgrowing their surroundings. Even with record revenues, fuelled by the TV fame, the club lost £5m last year.
New chief executive Michael Williamson, formerly of Inter Milan amongst others, managed to get an academy proposal together in a matter of days to allow them club to secure Category Three status on Wednesday.
Yet, according to executive director Humphrey Ker, this is where the plot gets interesting.
“I have always thought the story we are telling is much more interesting than football results,” he said.
“It is about what a football club means to a community. It means a lot in good times, which we have enjoyed. But there will be difficult times for us and that is when a football club becomes so important, when we are not dishing out sweets.
“We became a huge scalp from the moment we came in. Everyone wants to beat Deadpool’s football team. So far it has gone quite well for us, so bring it on.”
Those are bold words from the club who are fifth favourites for promotion, behind, amongst others, Birmingham, who have NFL legend Tom Brady as one of their co-owners.
