Wrexham’s Hollywood season ends in tears after final-day heartbreak in 2021

Wrexham missed out on the National League play-offs in 2021 after a 1-1 draw at Dagenham, with midfielder Paul Rutherford sent off in the second half.

Hollywood spotlight on Wrexham The attention on Wrexham in Los Angeles was back under the lights as the club’s celebrity co-chairmen, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, took center stage for the premiere of the latest season of the documentary. The series had thrust the north Wales club into the global spotlight, but with a pivotal match approaching, the final episodes still lacked a resolution. A victory against Middlesbrough would guarantee a play-off berth, while any other outcome would leave their fate uncertain. This was something Paul Rutherford knew all too well, as his own memories of a heartbreaking final day remained fresh. ## Redemption denied in Dagenham dressing room Five years earlier, Rutherford’s tears in a Dagenham dressing room became a stark reminder that even a Hollywood-backed club couldn’t control every outcome. Just ten minutes into the second half, he was dismissed with a straight red card for a rash challenge as Wrexham fell to a 1-1 draw, missing out on the play-offs by a single point. "It felt like my world was imploding, that I'd let a lot of good people down," he recalled, watching as the cameras captured his shift from anger to despair. The moment was broadcast to the world, keeping Wrexham in non-league for another season. ## Manager’s exit and mass departures The disappointment extended beyond the pitch, as manager Dean Keates was dismissed the very next day, followed by Rutherford’s release along with nine other players. "And the rest is history," Rutherford remarked with a touch of dry humor, now 38 and having made nearly 200 appearances for the club. His final game in a Wrexham shirt came that day in 2021, just as his wife gave birth to their third son in the maternity ward. He missed the rapid rise through the divisions that followed under the celebrity owners’ guidance. ## Rumors of a star-studded takeover The whispers of a famous new owner began swirling in September 2020, even as games were played behind closed doors due to Covid. "We actually thought it was going to be Russell Crowe," Rutherford laughed, recalling a pre-match chat before a friendly against Cefn Druids. "I can remember the talk before the game and someone mentioned he had a grandfather from Wrexham—so we were getting bought by Gladiator." A few weeks later, the players were informed of the secret takeover process, aware of the potential changes it could bring. ## A rollercoaster of near-misses and setbacks Rutherford described the years leading up to the takeover as a series of ups and downs for the squad. "As a group, we'd been close to promotions a couple of times, then close to relegation to the Conference North before Dean came in and got us organized," he explained. The looming financial worries from Covid made the future uncertain until the takeover was finalized. Despite rumors that players feared the new ownership would prioritize the club over them, Rutherford insisted that wasn’t the case. "We weren’t resigned to our fate," he said. "As a squad, 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." ## Accepting the end of a playing career Rutherford admitted he had been realistic about his future, acknowledging that age and recurring hip issues were limiting his contributions. "I was good value for money, but as soon as they could raise the wage ceiling, they could find better players," he reflected. "That’s football." His departure opened the door for talents like Paul Mullin, and despite an early play-off defeat, the club’s ascent continued with promotions year after year, culminating in a push for promotion from the Championship. ## Life after Wrexham’s rise to fame Following his release, Rutherford spent time playing in the Welsh leagues before transitioning to coaching, driving his sons to training, and working at a hardware store showroom. His middle son now plays in the club’s academy, keeping him connected to the team. "But even though it's very different, it's also the same club," he noted. "I’ve been fortunate enough to go back now and then and you see some of the same faces, good people, people who gave up their time for free to keep the club afloat." The club’s global fame hadn’t overshadowed its community roots. ## Wrexham’s global transformation and Rutherford’s return Rutherford got a firsthand look at Wrexham’s growing fanbase when he was invited to join an exhibition squad in a tournament in North Carolina, playing alongside 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 said, reflecting on the club’s rapid growth. At the time, he predicted Wrexham would reach the Premier League in 11 years, though their actual rise has been even faster. "To think they could do it in four is just phenomenal," he admitted. "I don’t want to say it would be a Hollywood story, it’ll be more like something out of Football Manager." ## A bittersweet legacy and hope for the future While Rutherford’s final season ended in disappointment, he takes pride in his role in the club’s journey. "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 reflected. "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." Though a promotion this season would only slow the club’s incredible momentum, Wrexham remains on an unstoppable path.