Final Day Disappointment
Wrexham's 2020-21 National League season concluded with a 1-1 draw at Dagenham, extinguishing their hopes of reaching the play-offs. The match was marred by the sending off of substitute Paul Rutherford just ten minutes into the second half.
Hollywood Spotlight Returns
The club once again found itself in the limelight in Los Angeles, where celebrity co-chairmen Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were featured prominently at the launch of the latest series of the documentary that has brought international attention to the North Wales club.
With the decisive match against Middlesbrough approaching, the final episodes of the documentary remain unfinished. A victory over Middlesbrough would guarantee a play-off spot, while any other result would leave Wrexham’s fate uncertain.
Paul Rutherford’s Emotional Moment
Paul Rutherford, who experienced the heartbreak of that 2020-21 season firsthand, recalls the emotional toll of the final game. His tears in the Dagenham dressing room serve as a poignant reminder that even a club with Hollywood ownership cannot control every outcome.
Five years ago, Rutherford was sent off during that crucial final match as Wrexham failed to secure a win, allowing rivals to claim the play-off position by a single point.
"It felt like my world was imploding, that I'd let a lot of good people down," Rutherford reflects on the moment captured by cameras, showing him alone in the changing room, first angry and then anguished after receiving a straight red card for a rash challenge.
The 1-1 draw meant Wrexham remained outside the English Football League (EFL) for another year, this time with the world watching.
Aftermath and Changes
At the time, Rutherford was one of the club's longest-serving players. The consequences of that day extended beyond the pitch: manager Dean Keates was dismissed the following day, and Rutherford, along with ten other players, was released shortly thereafter.
"And the rest is history," Rutherford says with a touch of hindsight humor. Now 38, that match marked his final appearance for Wrexham, concluding nearly 200 games over five years with the club.
He recalls being in the maternity ward awaiting the birth of his third son when he learned he would not be returning to the team, missing out on the rapid rise through the divisions that followed under the ownership of the Hollywood stars.
Rumors of a Film Star Takeover
Rutherford remembers the early speculation about the club’s new owners. Initially, there was talk that Russell Crowe might be involved.
"We actually thought it was going to be Russell Crowe," he laughs, recalling the rumors that circulated in September 2020 while matches were still played behind closed doors due to Covid-19 restrictions.
He recounts a conversation before a friendly against Cefn Druids at the Racecourse Ground, where someone mentioned Crowe’s Welsh heritage, fueling the belief that the club was about to be purchased by the Gladiator star.
Transition and Takeover
Weeks later, the squad was informed of the identities of the new owners as the process to transfer control from the supporters’ trust began. Everyone understood the potential significance of this change.
"We'd been on a bit of a rollercoaster," Rutherford explains. "As a squad, we'd been close to promotions a couple of times, then close to going to the Conference North before Dean came in and got us organised."
He describes the uncertainty caused by the pandemic and concerns about the club’s financial future, followed by the takeover.
"There was a narrative that as players we knew it was good for the town and the club but not for the players but it wasn't quite like that. We weren't resigned to our fate.
As a group, it actually galvanised us, we wanted to be part of the story, we wanted even more to be successful and get that first promotion but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be."
Personal Realism and Club Evolution
Rutherford admits he had been realistic about his own career trajectory, recognizing a decline in his performance and the onset of hip problems that now require replacement.
"I was good value for money but as soon as they could raise the wage ceiling, they could find better players," he states. "That's football."
This paved the way for players like Paul Mullin and a series of promotions following a play-off defeat in Parkinson’s first year, culminating in the opportunity for a fourth promotion from the Championship.
Life After Wrexham
After his release, Rutherford played in the Welsh leagues and now divides his time between coaching, transporting two of his sons to football training, and working in a hardware store showroom.
This life contrasts sharply with the millions invested in the current squad, which includes internationals targeting the Premier League. The team has been rebuilt season after season, with over £30 million spent in the previous summer alone.
"But even though it's very different, it's also the same club," Rutherford says, noting that his middle son is part of the club’s academy.
He has been fortunate to visit occasionally and sees familiar faces—dedicated individuals who volunteer their time to sustain the club.
"It's a global brand but the football club is still at the heart of it. It's kept its soul."
Recognition and Future Prospects
Although the co-owners did not contact him after his release, Rutherford was invited to participate in a tournament in North Carolina as part of an invitational Wrexham side alongside notable former players such as Mark Howard, Lee Trundle, and Andy Morrell.
"Honestly, it's hard to put it into words how big it's become unless you see it," he says of Wrexham’s expanded fanbase. "It was just after the club got into League Two, and I actually said when I was out there that they would be in the Premier League in 11 years.
"I don't know why I didn't say 10, but I thought they would land in League One for a few years and then take five or six years to get out of the Championship.
To think they could do it in four is just phenomenal. I don't want to say it would be a Hollywood story, it'll be more like something out of Football Manager."
Looking Ahead
As the final day approaches, Rutherford’s experience serves as a reminder that not all conclusions are joyful.
"It's bittersweet that we couldn't get that promotion to the league and what happened, but I can look back now and say I was one of those who played a small part in the story and be proud of that," he reflects.
"It was difficult at the time but hindsight gives you that context and I hope people keep that context if it doesn't happen this time.
It would only be a tiny applying of the brakes on an unbelievable journey – they're still on their way."
