Wrexham‘s promotion won’t come with silverware in tow after the Welsh side were pipped to the League Two crown by Stockport County, who sealed the title with a 5-2 win over Notts County on Tuesday.
The Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney owned side had sealed promotion to League One — English football’s third-tier — on Saturday with a 6-0 win over Forest Green.
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Stockport, who also secured their promotion on Saturday with a win over Morecambe, wrapped up the league title at Meadow Lane with two games to spare. A first half hat trick by Paddy Madden and further strikes by Antoni Sarcevic and Ethan Pye overpowered Notts County on the night and saw Stockport win their first English Football League title since 1967.
Wrexham are scheduled to host Stockport on the final day of the season but Tuesday’s result means the fixture now loses its billing as a potential title decider.
The top three sides win automatic promotion and Mansfield Town’s win over Accrington Stanley on Tuesday night will see them join Wrexham and Stockport in League One next season.
Losing the league title to Stockport won’t quell Wrexham’s celebrations, with the Welsh side set to return to League One for the first time in 19 years. This is their second successive promotion, following last season National League triumph that ended their 15-year exile in non-league football.
“A few years ago, if you told me I would be crying tears of joy over a football match taking place in North Wales, you would be Rob McElhenney,” Reynolds wrote on X on Saturday.
“Double up the town! This is the ride of our lives.”
