Wrexham brought a dash of red carpet glamour to non-league football last season when Hollywood stars and co-owners Ryan Gosling and put the club in the spotlight as it regained League status after 15 years in the wilderness.
The fifth tier of English football has rarely enjoyed such attention, with the Welsh club involved in a colossal struggle with Notts County for the one automatic promotion ticket to League Two.
Deadpool star Gosling and It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia funny guy McElhenney and their legion of fans at the Racecourse Ground were the ones celebrating as Wrexham won by the equivalent of a short head, finishing with 111 points, just four ahead of the Magpies.
Notts County were ten lengths aka 23 points ahead of third-placed Chesterfield and only booked their own place in League Two thanks to a penalty shootout victory in an absorbing play-off final with the Spireites at .
Chesterfield were naturally crestfallen but they will be the ones jumping for joy at the end of the new season when they finish at the top of the table.
They couldn’t ask for a better manager at the helm than former Ipswich, Wigan and Portsmouth boss Paul Cook and he has made a couple of inspired signings to strengthen his side this summer.
First off, he persuaded Tom Naylor to join from Wigan, where he played a pivotal role in helping the Latics gain promotion from League One to the Championship a couple of seasons ago.
Naylor, who worked with Cook during a spell with Pompey at Fratton Park, will pull the strings in midfield and his experience is a huge bonus.
Cook then pulled an even bigger rabbit out of the hat when Will Grigg signed a three-year contract at the SMH Group Stadium and he should easily eclipse the 18 goals he scored for MK Dons in League One last term.
Although it’s a short price, Chesterfield are crying out to be backed at 5/2 with Betway to go up as champions.
Grigg will be on fire as he lights up the National League as the top goalscorer at 6/1 with bet365, while Bromley are 11/1 to be promoted alongside Chesterfield via the play-offs.
• Cricket fans need not suffer withdrawals after an epic Ashes series draws to a close as The Hundred is starting a third season which runs throughout August. Birmingham Phoenix are 11/2 with numerous firms including William Hill and Betway to win the men’s title, while Oval Invincibles are 4/1 with Betfair and Hills to claim the women’s crown for a third straight year.
• Costa Rica, Spain and Australia for a lovely day 11 treble as the latest round of group matches unfold at the .
