WEBVTT 00:00:02.799 --> 00:00:04.134 - How old are you now? - 96. 00:00:04.175 --> 00:00:05.427 Yeah, 96. 00:00:05.468 --> 00:00:09.305 - I'll be 97 next March. 00:00:09.305 --> 00:00:11.307 First match I went to 00:00:11.307 --> 00:00:13.351 was 1931. 00:00:15.687 --> 00:00:17.689 I was seven. 00:00:17.689 --> 00:00:20.400 So 90 years of following them? 00:00:20.442 --> 00:00:22.402 Up and down. 00:00:22.444 --> 00:00:25.071 - Up and down. 00:00:25.071 --> 00:00:27.323 And a football team 00:00:27.365 --> 00:00:29.617 is not just a football team. 00:00:29.617 --> 00:00:31.494 It is something 00:00:31.536 --> 00:00:33.413 that really brings together 00:00:33.455 --> 00:00:36.750 the community in a way that nothing else does. 00:00:36.791 --> 00:00:38.585 There's a magic about football 00:00:38.626 --> 00:00:40.503 that not everyone will get, 00:00:40.545 --> 00:00:43.381 but the die-hard Wrexham fans I know certainly get it. 00:00:43.423 --> 00:00:45.216 "Three brothers who will be going to Wembley 00:00:45.216 --> 00:00:50.221 to support Wrexham AFC with a combined age of 254 years." 00:00:50.221 --> 00:00:52.098 That's it. 00:00:52.140 --> 00:00:53.641 - Had, uh, highs. 00:00:53.683 --> 00:00:55.643 I've had very lows. 00:00:55.685 --> 00:00:58.480 It gives people a real sense of community 00:00:58.521 --> 00:01:00.440 and camaraderie 00:01:00.440 --> 00:01:04.277 and belonging to something in a way that, without it, 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:06.488 they just wouldn't have. 00:01:06.488 --> 00:01:09.032 And-and-and how dare somebody 00:01:09.074 --> 00:01:11.034 come from outside the area 00:01:11.034 --> 00:01:13.661 and-and try to take that away from people? 00:02:01.334 --> 00:02:03.711 Is it teatime for you now? 00:02:05.630 --> 00:02:07.215 Are you hungry? 00:02:07.257 --> 00:02:09.801 Are you ready for your tea? 00:02:11.136 --> 00:02:12.762 - Right, buddy, 00:02:12.762 --> 00:02:14.347 after we finish this... 00:02:15.515 --> 00:02:17.809 you're not going to be able to sit and watch telly. 00:02:17.851 --> 00:02:19.435 Mommy and Daddy have got to watch something 00:02:19.435 --> 00:02:20.812 on the telly. 00:02:20.854 --> 00:02:22.689 And it's about the football. 00:02:22.730 --> 00:02:24.149 Some people are worried 00:02:24.190 --> 00:02:26.401 that Ryan Reynolds and his friend 00:02:26.442 --> 00:02:27.986 are just doing it to make money. 00:02:33.575 --> 00:02:35.201 - So that's what people want to know: 00:02:35.243 --> 00:02:36.828 why have they chosen Wrexham? 00:02:36.870 --> 00:02:38.746 Just to make sure that they're-- 00:02:38.788 --> 00:02:40.290 they're doing it for a reason 00:02:40.498 --> 00:02:41.499 that's a good reason. 00:02:41.541 --> 00:02:42.876 There were some people 00:02:42.917 --> 00:02:44.919 who bought Wrexham Football 00:02:45.420 --> 00:02:46.296 Club who didn't want it. 00:02:46.337 --> 00:02:48.506 They wanted to knock the football stadium down. 00:02:48.590 --> 00:02:50.425 - They wanted to knock? 00:02:50.466 --> 00:02:52.468 - So that they could make money. 00:02:57.765 --> 00:02:59.601 These are turbulent times 00:02:59.642 --> 00:03:00.727 for Wrexham Football Club. 00:03:01.644 --> 00:03:04.898 Its future is on a knife-edge amid talks of debts amounting 00:03:04.939 --> 00:03:08.401 to millions and asset stripping. 00:03:08.401 --> 00:03:11.362 Going back to the early 2000s, 00:03:11.404 --> 00:03:14.240 the football club had a number of challenges. 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:17.869 It had owners who, eh, who-who frankly that-that 00:03:17.911 --> 00:03:19.746 their sole reason for ownership 00:03:19.787 --> 00:03:22.165 was not for the betterment of the football club, 00:03:22.207 --> 00:03:23.917 and the football club was in danger. 00:03:23.958 --> 00:03:25.919 For the last two years, 00:03:25.960 --> 00:03:27.921 this club has been owned by one man, 00:03:27.962 --> 00:03:30.506 and tonight we unravel the truth 00:03:30.506 --> 00:03:33.218 behind rumors surrounding Alex Hamilton. 00:03:34.552 --> 00:03:36.846 - Alex Hamilton was actually the-the owner 00:03:36.888 --> 00:03:39.933 of the football club, but another gentleman, eh, 00:03:39.933 --> 00:03:42.435 was, eh, was-was sort of fronting the ownership 00:03:42.477 --> 00:03:44.312 for a while, and-and we didn't know 00:03:44.354 --> 00:03:47.398 Alex Hamilton was in-in the background. 00:03:47.440 --> 00:03:49.192 Two years ago, Alex Hamilton 00:03:49.234 --> 00:03:52.195 bought the controlling share of Wrexham Football Club. 00:03:52.237 --> 00:03:53.947 Keeping his own identity secret, 00:03:53.988 --> 00:03:56.866 he installed a business associate as chairman. 00:03:56.866 --> 00:03:58.826 Mark Guterman was a controversial choice 00:03:58.868 --> 00:04:00.370 among fans. 00:04:00.411 --> 00:04:02.330 He'd already taken local rivals Chester 00:04:02.372 --> 00:04:04.207 into administration and relegated 00:04:04.207 --> 00:04:05.792 from the football league. 00:04:05.833 --> 00:04:08.211 The club was sold to those two people, 00:04:08.253 --> 00:04:11.089 and their, uh, idea of what the value of this football club 00:04:12.382 --> 00:04:15.969 didn't really revolve around it being a football club. 00:04:16.010 --> 00:04:18.304 A former solicitor who lives here in Cheshire, 00:04:18.304 --> 00:04:20.556 Alex Hamilton was struck off by the Law Society 00:04:20.598 --> 00:04:22.308 two years ago for charges 00:04:22.350 --> 00:04:24.602 including allegations of mortgage fraud. 00:04:24.644 --> 00:04:26.980 He appealed, and most of the charges against him, 00:04:27.021 --> 00:04:29.190 including the mortgage fraud, were withdrawn. 00:04:29.440 --> 00:04:31.276 Reinstated last year, 00:04:31.317 --> 00:04:34.320 Hamilton now describes himself as a property developer. 00:04:34.362 --> 00:04:35.613 This was a time of, you know, 00:04:35.655 --> 00:04:38.449 a lot of redevelopment work going on around the UK. 00:04:38.449 --> 00:04:40.368 There was a bit more money flowing around again 00:04:40.493 --> 00:04:44.247 in the economy and people were looking for opportunities. 00:04:44.289 --> 00:04:46.457 Small football clubs are always financially vulnerable, 00:04:46.499 --> 00:04:48.835 and this has long been the case in England and Wales. 00:04:48.876 --> 00:04:50.253 Wrexham were in that position now. 00:04:50.295 --> 00:04:51.713 They were vulnerable, 00:04:51.754 --> 00:04:53.840 and I think these guys spotted that vulnerability 00:04:53.840 --> 00:04:56.384 and recognized that in this big stadium site 00:04:56.384 --> 00:04:58.386 that you have here, which is on the edge of town, 00:04:58.386 --> 00:05:01.222 it's a prime position potentially for redevelopment. 00:05:01.264 --> 00:05:03.641 The Racecourse is the premier sports ground 00:05:03.683 --> 00:05:05.643 in North Wales. 00:05:05.685 --> 00:05:08.604 The Ground has a long history, and fans recently invested 00:05:08.646 --> 00:05:11.816 in its future by buying bricks in the new stand. 00:05:11.858 --> 00:05:13.943 There's lots of building work going on here. 00:05:13.985 --> 00:05:16.988 It's a prime site at the main gateway to the town. 00:05:16.988 --> 00:05:18.865 If it had planning permission, 00:05:18.906 --> 00:05:22.035 the Racecourse could be worth at least £10 million... 00:05:22.035 --> 00:05:24.245 just the kind of land a property developer 00:05:24.287 --> 00:05:26.039 might dream of finding. 00:05:31.377 --> 00:05:32.920 Well, the history, the present, 00:05:32.962 --> 00:05:35.423 and the future of Wrexham Football Club 00:05:35.465 --> 00:05:37.633 is interwoven with the Racecourse stadium. 00:05:37.633 --> 00:05:39.052 Without the Racecourse stadium, 00:05:39.093 --> 00:05:41.763 there is no Wrexham AFC. 00:05:41.804 --> 00:05:43.139 If the stadium goes, 00:05:43.181 --> 00:05:44.515 the football team goes. 00:05:47.477 --> 00:05:50.855 So the club doesn't currently own the Racecourse. 00:05:50.897 --> 00:05:55.818 We pay approximately $150,000 a year to lease the stadium. 00:05:55.860 --> 00:05:58.404 Moreover, the club is also on the hook for any updates, 00:05:58.446 --> 00:06:00.406 refurbishments, enhancements that we wanna do, 00:06:00.448 --> 00:06:02.658 and we've been able to do a few of those. 00:06:02.742 --> 00:06:04.660 But what we really wanna do is return the stadium 00:06:04.702 --> 00:06:06.579 to being the crown jewel 00:06:06.579 --> 00:06:08.456 of North Wales. 00:06:08.456 --> 00:06:10.541 But sadly, we have an entire stand called "the Kop" 00:06:10.583 --> 00:06:12.627 that is, for all intents and purposes, condemned, 00:06:12.668 --> 00:06:14.545 and we can't do anything with that 00:06:14.587 --> 00:06:16.422 until the club once again 00:06:16.506 --> 00:06:18.633 owns the Racecourse... 00:06:18.883 --> 00:06:21.719 which is proving to be... 00:06:21.761 --> 00:06:23.805 difficult? 00:06:26.307 --> 00:06:27.600 Hey, Shaun? 00:06:27.642 --> 00:06:31.938 Can we get an update on, um, where we are with the purchase 00:06:31.979 --> 00:06:34.315 of the, uh, freehold for the Racecourse? 00:06:34.357 --> 00:06:37.693 - Um, it's proving to be, uh, a challenge. 00:06:37.735 --> 00:06:39.987 The-the title deeds are old. 00:06:40.029 --> 00:06:43.741 The Land Registry plans aren't as clear as you'd hope. 00:06:43.783 --> 00:06:46.619 Um, we're just reviewing them all to get them all together, 00:06:46.661 --> 00:06:48.830 and we're gonna get there as quick as we can. 00:06:48.871 --> 00:06:50.498 There's nothing that we can do to-- 00:06:50.540 --> 00:06:52.959 to maybe to help speed it up or-or expedite in some way? 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:56.587 - Well, some of these laws were drawn up in the 1400s, 00:06:56.587 --> 00:06:59.465 so they-they didn't anticipate 00:06:59.507 --> 00:07:01.551 the pace at which people would want to do things. 00:07:01.592 --> 00:07:03.719 - It is frustrating, and it's annoying 00:07:03.761 --> 00:07:07.098 and, uh, it's hard to-- it's hard to give you a-- 00:07:07.140 --> 00:07:10.601 a rationale as to why it should take this long 00:07:10.643 --> 00:07:12.687 other than these things do. 00:07:12.687 --> 00:07:14.439 I mean, I-I'm all for due process, 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:15.606 but we- 00:07:15.690 --> 00:07:17.233 we made a promise. 00:07:17.567 --> 00:07:19.569 It's in our original mission statement. 00:07:19.610 --> 00:07:21.737 The Racecourse needs to be back in club hands. 00:07:21.737 --> 00:07:24.031 Everybody wants it to be back in club hands. 00:07:24.073 --> 00:07:25.992 And yet months and months and months go by. 00:07:26.033 --> 00:07:27.785 And the-I-look, my frustration 00:07:27.785 --> 00:07:31.706 is that we can't start on the development process. 00:07:31.747 --> 00:07:33.916 - Do we have a rough estimate as to when we'll have 00:07:33.958 --> 00:07:36.502 some kind of answer? 00:07:36.502 --> 00:07:38.296 - No, other than 00:07:38.337 --> 00:07:40.506 it can't take that much longer. 00:07:40.923 --> 00:07:43.050 - Holy... - I mean, it's just-- 00:07:43.050 --> 00:07:44.552 it's Kafkaesque. 00:07:44.594 --> 00:07:46.721 Like, we are-- we're-we're trapped. 00:07:46.762 --> 00:07:49.015 - And what-and what's worse is we're even on record 00:07:49.056 --> 00:07:51.017 since we promised it that-that we're actually 00:07:51.058 --> 00:07:53.603 on with it and we've got everything in place. 00:07:53.644 --> 00:07:56.439 I'm amazed we've not had any-- had any more questions 00:07:56.481 --> 00:07:59.609 from the public and the fans as to why it's taking-- 00:07:59.650 --> 00:08:01.486 why it's taking this length of time. 00:08:01.527 --> 00:08:04.780 - Okay, well, I guess we'll talk later. 00:08:04.822 --> 00:08:05.990 - Uh, bye, guys. 00:08:10.912 --> 00:08:11.871 Oh, he's all on his own. 00:08:11.871 --> 00:08:13.498 Can he make it five? 00:08:13.539 --> 00:08:15.583 We are, uh, one of the oldest clubs 00:08:15.625 --> 00:08:16.918 in the world. 00:08:19.086 --> 00:08:21.923 Uh, and that's quite impressive in itself. 00:08:21.964 --> 00:08:24.550 No doubt about that in terms of Wrexham. 00:08:24.592 --> 00:08:26.886 The Racecourse itself is the oldest existing 00:08:26.928 --> 00:08:30.765 international venue that still hosts football. 00:08:30.806 --> 00:08:32.266 Better football, 00:08:32.308 --> 00:08:33.768 better prospects 00:08:33.809 --> 00:08:35.436 to get what we so desire in Wrexham. 00:08:36.103 --> 00:08:37.688 The name "the Racecourse" 00:08:37.688 --> 00:08:40.816 was 'cause the venue was a racecourse. 00:08:40.858 --> 00:08:43.694 The local authorities wouldn't allow betting, 00:08:43.736 --> 00:08:45.905 and-and so the tenancy dropped off 00:08:45.905 --> 00:08:48.032 and-and the football took over...kept the name. 00:08:48.074 --> 00:08:50.576 Can he make it five? 00:08:50.618 --> 00:08:52.161 And Jones makes it five! 00:08:53.829 --> 00:08:55.373 It's just been our 00:08:55.581 --> 00:08:57.124 home for all our existence. 00:09:03.172 --> 00:09:04.966 When Alex Hamilton took over the club, 00:09:05.007 --> 00:09:05.967 the Ground was owned 00:09:06.008 --> 00:09:08.970 by Wolverhampton & Dudley Brewery. 00:09:09.011 --> 00:09:12.265 They leased it to the club for £1 a year. 00:09:12.306 --> 00:09:14.976 The club approached the brewery to buy the freehold. 00:09:15.017 --> 00:09:16.561 And the very same day 00:09:16.602 --> 00:09:18.062 that the brewery sold the Ground 00:09:18.104 --> 00:09:19.730 to Wrexham Football Club, 00:09:19.772 --> 00:09:22.233 it was immediately transferred to another company, 00:09:22.275 --> 00:09:23.818 Damens Limited. 00:09:23.818 --> 00:09:27.196 Damens is wholly owned by Alex Hamilton. 00:09:27.238 --> 00:09:29.198 So the Ground belonged to one company 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:31.242 and the club belonged to another. 00:09:31.284 --> 00:09:35.204 But both were controlled by Alex Hamilton. 00:09:35.997 --> 00:09:39.125 Their idea was to separate the club 00:09:39.166 --> 00:09:42.086 from the stadium and then bulldoze the stadium 00:09:42.128 --> 00:09:44.964 and turn it into, um, into a profit. 00:09:47.341 --> 00:09:49.510 So they had, um, a plan, 00:09:49.510 --> 00:09:51.679 and it was a plan 00:09:51.721 --> 00:09:55.850 to basically kill the football club, effectively. 00:09:55.891 --> 00:09:58.185 They took all the investment out over a period 00:09:58.185 --> 00:10:00.855 so it wasn't overt initially. 00:10:00.896 --> 00:10:02.648 But it became apparent that things weren't-- 00:10:02.690 --> 00:10:04.734 bills weren't getting paid effectively. 00:10:04.775 --> 00:10:06.861 The Inland Revenue is currently charging the club 00:10:06.902 --> 00:10:09.739 £150 a day in interest 00:10:09.780 --> 00:10:12.908 on a debt of more than £800,000. 00:10:14.619 --> 00:10:16.871 Earlier this year, things got so bad 00:10:16.912 --> 00:10:19.123 the bailiffs were called in. 00:10:19.165 --> 00:10:20.666 They assessed the club's assets 00:10:20.708 --> 00:10:22.293 down to the last plastic seat, 00:10:22.335 --> 00:10:25.296 floodlight, and lawn mower. 00:10:25.338 --> 00:10:27.757 If the tax bill remains unpaid, 00:10:27.798 --> 00:10:30.051 those assets will be seized. 00:10:30.051 --> 00:10:31.636 - You know, I couldn't believe 00:10:31.677 --> 00:10:34.889 that they would treat the fans like that. 00:10:34.889 --> 00:10:36.057 It's a-- 00:10:36.098 --> 00:10:38.017 Sorry. 00:10:38.059 --> 00:10:39.810 - You know, 'cause we loved it so much 00:10:39.852 --> 00:10:42.772 and they were just destroying it for money. 00:10:42.772 --> 00:10:47.151 And it was just so frustrating. 00:10:47.485 --> 00:10:51.030 Mr. Hamilton refused our requests for an interview. 00:10:51.072 --> 00:10:52.365 We went to the Racecourse, 00:10:52.406 --> 00:10:54.325 where he was attending a board meeting. 00:10:54.367 --> 00:10:56.661 Wales' Week In Week Out program. 00:10:56.702 --> 00:10:58.746 I wanted to ask you, are you sure that the transfer 00:10:58.788 --> 00:11:02.083 of the Racecourse Ground into your private campaign is legal? 00:11:02.083 --> 00:11:04.085 - We came here... - Can you answer that question? 00:11:04.126 --> 00:11:06.087 - We came here to deal with 00:11:06.087 --> 00:11:08.756 a son passing away. - Asset stripping as well. 00:11:09.882 --> 00:11:11.801 Mr. Hamilton, please answer my questions. 00:11:11.801 --> 00:11:13.302 - I came here to deal with one topic, 00:11:13.344 --> 00:11:16.681 which is a personal one of irregular support-- 00:11:16.722 --> 00:11:18.683 You've been in a board meeting. 00:11:18.683 --> 00:11:20.184 You've been in a board meeting. Mr. Hamilton, 00:11:20.226 --> 00:11:22.103 you are being accused of asset stripping this club. 00:11:22.144 --> 00:11:23.396 What do you have to say about that? 00:11:24.146 --> 00:11:25.981 - Total rubbish. - It's not rubbish. 00:11:26.023 --> 00:11:27.233 Why have you transferred 00:11:27.233 --> 00:11:28.859 the freehold of this club into your own-- 00:11:28.901 --> 00:11:30.403 why have you transferred... - Excuse me a moment. 00:11:30.403 --> 00:11:32.822 - The freehold of this club... - Excuse me. 00:11:32.863 --> 00:11:34.115 Into your own company? Why have you done that? 00:11:34.156 --> 00:11:37.118 I had to deal with passing away. 00:11:37.118 --> 00:11:38.953 Please stop and talk to us, Mr. Hamilton. 00:11:38.953 --> 00:11:40.287 These are really important issues 00:11:40.287 --> 00:11:43.124 we want to discuss with you. 00:11:43.165 --> 00:11:45.751 Mr. Hamilton was not at the funeral. 00:11:45.793 --> 00:11:48.129 He was attending a directors' meeting at the club. 00:11:49.422 --> 00:11:51.716 Fans were getting worried. 00:11:51.716 --> 00:11:54.969 They organized mass opposition to Alex Hamilton's plans. 00:11:55.010 --> 00:11:56.971 He had dropped a bombshell. 00:11:57.012 --> 00:11:58.889 He said the Racecourse would have to be sold 00:11:58.931 --> 00:12:01.058 if the club was to survive. 00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:03.394 Last July, he served a legal notice on the club 00:12:03.436 --> 00:12:05.688 to leave the Racecourse within a year. 00:12:06.731 --> 00:12:09.358 After 130 years, 00:12:09.400 --> 00:12:12.111 this season could be the last that Wrexham play there. 00:12:12.153 --> 00:12:13.154 We will not surrender! 00:12:15.906 --> 00:12:17.032 The supporters rallied round 00:12:17.074 --> 00:12:19.243 and really fought hard. 00:12:19.285 --> 00:12:20.870 - And I was only a kid and we were walking round the Ground 00:12:20.870 --> 00:12:22.747 with-with banners and, you know, 00:12:22.788 --> 00:12:24.582 just anything to save your club. 00:12:24.623 --> 00:12:26.417 There was a lot of-- 00:12:26.459 --> 00:12:29.003 you could call it guerilla warfare really. 00:12:29.754 --> 00:12:30.921 It was a-- 00:12:30.921 --> 00:12:33.257 a campaign that was taken to their front doorsteps. 00:12:36.927 --> 00:12:38.763 - The fans got together. - Mm, yep. 00:12:38.804 --> 00:12:39.889 - Yeah. - And said, "We'll have 00:12:39.930 --> 00:12:42.266 to do something drastic." 00:12:42.308 --> 00:12:43.934 - Yeah, we did. - Mm. 00:12:43.976 --> 00:12:45.436 - And so we did. 00:12:45.478 --> 00:12:48.189 The fans gathered in the town in Cheshire 00:12:48.230 --> 00:12:50.316 just over the border, where Alex Hamilton lived, 00:12:50.357 --> 00:12:52.026 and they marched through the town 00:12:52.067 --> 00:12:53.360 protesting against his ownership 00:12:53.402 --> 00:12:55.237 of the football club. 00:12:55.237 --> 00:12:57.031 It signaled a declaration of war 00:12:57.072 --> 00:12:58.449 against the chairman. 00:13:00.409 --> 00:13:02.036 The very same day, 00:13:02.119 --> 00:13:03.621 He'd walked up 00:13:03.662 --> 00:13:07.249 and started talking to a few people there. 00:13:07.291 --> 00:13:10.377 And this-this was in a week where he'd described the fans 00:13:10.419 --> 00:13:13.297 as lowlife scum, and there he was in the middle of 'em. 00:13:15.883 --> 00:13:17.259 Fans thought his actions 00:13:17.301 --> 00:13:20.221 were an attempt to incite trouble. 00:13:20.262 --> 00:13:22.264 We-we think he went on there 00:13:22.306 --> 00:13:24.433 in the hope that somebody would hit him, 00:13:24.433 --> 00:13:28.270 so that he could, uh, make a great political capital 00:13:28.270 --> 00:13:29.730 out of the fact that we were football hooligans 00:13:29.772 --> 00:13:30.648 and what have you. 00:13:32.274 --> 00:13:34.401 Hamilton has since been advised by the police 00:13:34.443 --> 00:13:37.530 not to attend home matches at his own club. 00:13:46.121 --> 00:13:47.373 In a fit of rage, 00:13:47.414 --> 00:13:49.792 he decided that he was gonna resign. 00:13:49.834 --> 00:13:52.378 And he scrawled it down on a napkin. 00:13:52.378 --> 00:13:54.296 Basically, I think, wrote, "I resign" 00:13:54.338 --> 00:13:57.132 and signed it "Alex Hamilton." 00:13:57.174 --> 00:13:58.717 That was him saying, "I want out," 00:13:58.759 --> 00:14:01.262 and that was them saying, "Great. Fine. Off you go." 00:14:06.433 --> 00:14:07.810 Hey, hi, hi, hi, hi. 00:14:07.810 --> 00:14:09.562 Have you heard 00:14:10.271 --> 00:14:11.313 from Shaun recently 00:14:11.355 --> 00:14:13.399 about the Racecourse purchase? 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:14.692 Yeah. 00:14:14.692 --> 00:14:16.777 Yeah, it is taking a long, long, 00:14:16.819 --> 00:14:18.571 long, long, long * time. 00:14:18.612 --> 00:14:19.905 Um, 00:14:19.947 --> 00:14:22.116 but I also, you know, I also recognize 00:14:22.157 --> 00:14:24.869 that this is not a simple thing. 00:14:24.910 --> 00:14:26.579 I think the thing that drives me crazy 00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:27.788 is that 00:14:27.830 --> 00:14:29.206 this is not a process 00:14:29.456 --> 00:14:30.833 that is in place to protect people. 00:14:30.875 --> 00:14:33.294 In fact, the people that are getting * 00:14:33.294 --> 00:14:34.587 are the people that are marginalized 00:14:34.628 --> 00:14:36.422 that are the ones that get * over 00:14:36.463 --> 00:14:37.756 - always in these kinds of... - Rob tends to be 00:14:37.798 --> 00:14:39.300 a bit of a hothead. 00:14:39.341 --> 00:14:40.759 Rob's like-if you were in a burning building, 00:14:40.801 --> 00:14:42.845 Rob is-Rob is the first guy 00:14:42.845 --> 00:14:44.388 who's gonna run into that building 00:14:44.388 --> 00:14:46.724 and-and pull you out. 00:14:46.765 --> 00:14:48.309 I might look at, like, the version 00:14:48.350 --> 00:14:49.435 where we all get out. 00:14:49.685 --> 00:14:51.145 Like, okay. 00:14:51.186 --> 00:14:53.272 Like... 00:14:53.314 --> 00:14:55.316 That window is molten lava. 00:14:55.357 --> 00:14:56.567 I'm not gonna run through there 00:14:56.609 --> 00:14:58.152 because I won't make it to the person. 00:14:58.193 --> 00:14:59.737 Like, wait, let's just take a second 00:14:59.778 --> 00:15:00.905 and think about this. 00:15:00.946 --> 00:15:02.573 So yeah. So what I'm saying is, 00:15:02.615 --> 00:15:04.074 everyone would die in my version. 00:15:05.492 --> 00:15:07.870 Just Rob would die in his. 00:15:07.912 --> 00:15:10.456 - You're so much more patient than me--you're so patient. 00:15:10.497 --> 00:15:12.750 - I'm not so much more patient. I just drink more. 00:15:12.791 --> 00:15:14.543 Is that what I need to do? 00:15:14.543 --> 00:15:15.669 I should just drink. 00:15:15.711 --> 00:15:17.379 - And if you need any, uh, any gin, 00:15:17.421 --> 00:15:19.048 I-I got a guy. 00:15:20.633 --> 00:15:23.135 Oh, okay. All right. 00:15:23.177 --> 00:15:24.803 Well... 00:15:24.845 --> 00:15:26.472 all right, I guess we'll just keep waiting. 00:15:26.472 --> 00:15:28.307 - We'll just keep waiting. Um, yeah. 00:15:28.349 --> 00:15:30.184 Waiting is, uh, my favorite color. 00:15:30.225 --> 00:15:32.311 I will, uh, I will talk to you very, very soon 00:15:32.353 --> 00:15:33.896 and uh, miss ya, love ya. 00:15:33.938 --> 00:15:36.732 - Miss you, love you, miss you, love you, bye. 00:15:37.066 --> 00:15:38.525 He's too nice. 00:15:39.693 --> 00:15:41.862 He's too nice. 00:15:41.904 --> 00:15:43.781 It just-it drives me crazy. 00:15:45.574 --> 00:15:47.910 Not him being nice. That doesn't drive me crazy. 00:15:47.910 --> 00:15:51.288 It drives me crazy that we have to... 00:15:51.288 --> 00:15:53.290 just keep waiting. 00:15:53.332 --> 00:15:54.792 We're past the due process 00:15:54.792 --> 00:15:56.919 of-of protecting everybody involved. 00:15:56.961 --> 00:15:59.505 We're-we're, uh, we're months past that. 00:15:59.546 --> 00:16:02.508 It's-it's literally waiting for some lawyer 00:16:02.508 --> 00:16:04.301 to call another lawyer 00:16:04.343 --> 00:16:05.803 who's then gotta call a committee 00:16:05.844 --> 00:16:08.889 and the committee meets once every three months. 00:16:08.931 --> 00:16:11.684 And if they miss that because someone's got the flu, 00:16:11.725 --> 00:16:13.936 then it gets kicked to the bottom of the pile 00:16:13.978 --> 00:16:15.312 and another lawyer 00:16:15.354 --> 00:16:16.689 has to call another lawyer, 00:16:16.730 --> 00:16:19.525 and in-and in the interim, 00:16:19.566 --> 00:16:22.653 it's the team and the town that get * over 00:16:22.695 --> 00:16:27.574 because in-under the auspices of protecting the club, 00:16:27.616 --> 00:16:29.827 it's hurting the club because we can't do 00:16:29.827 --> 00:16:30.911 any renovation. 00:16:30.953 --> 00:16:32.871 We can't do any real updating 00:16:32.871 --> 00:16:34.540 because everything has to go through this process. 00:16:34.540 --> 00:16:38.252 And so we have this plan to-to revitalize 00:16:38.293 --> 00:16:41.255 the-the-the stadium, and we can't do anything 00:16:41.296 --> 00:16:42.673 until we get this information, 00:16:42.715 --> 00:16:45.718 so needless to say, I'm a little bit frustrated 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:47.594 and Ryan is not 00:16:47.636 --> 00:16:50.264 because he's drunk or whatever. 00:16:56.103 --> 00:16:58.689 So Wrexham is a small town. 00:16:58.731 --> 00:17:01.316 We had the mines starting to close down. 00:17:01.358 --> 00:17:04.278 We had the Steelworks, and that was closing down as well. 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:06.405 And that has an effect with the football club. 00:17:06.405 --> 00:17:08.407 The rent became too much. 00:17:08.407 --> 00:17:13.579 So in 2014, the supporters got together and saved the club. 00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:16.540 We had to raise £100,000. It was just amazing. 00:17:16.582 --> 00:17:18.459 Kids were bringing piggy banks. 00:17:18.459 --> 00:17:19.460 - But we survived. - Yeah. 00:17:19.501 --> 00:17:20.502 - We survived. - We did. 00:17:20.544 --> 00:17:21.420 - We survived. - We did. 00:17:21.837 --> 00:17:23.422 We rose again like a phoenix 00:17:23.464 --> 00:17:24.673 of the ashes. 00:17:24.715 --> 00:17:25.507 - You know, this is how-- this is how bully 00:17:25.507 --> 00:17:27.342 Wrexham fans are. We come together 00:17:27.342 --> 00:17:31.430 and we raised £127,000 in one day to save the club. 00:17:31.472 --> 00:17:32.890 And Chester didn't when they were-- 00:17:32.890 --> 00:17:34.475 when they were going bust. 00:17:34.516 --> 00:17:35.851 Their fans didn't rally round. 00:17:35.893 --> 00:17:37.478 They went dead. Boomf. 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:39.605 Wrexham fans wouldn't allow that to happen. 00:17:39.605 --> 00:17:42.441 Oh, that's when-- that's when we took over. 00:17:42.441 --> 00:17:44.443 When we managed to get control 00:17:44.693 --> 00:17:46.445 of it, 00:17:46.445 --> 00:17:48.530 that really was one 00:17:48.572 --> 00:17:50.657 of the highlights for me. 00:17:50.657 --> 00:17:53.911 Regardless of what we won with-with trophies and things. 00:17:53.952 --> 00:17:55.662 That was marvelous, but to think 00:17:55.662 --> 00:17:57.873 that we could safeguard the club, 00:17:57.873 --> 00:17:59.708 that was just fantastic, you know? 00:17:59.750 --> 00:18:01.376 And-and... 00:18:01.418 --> 00:18:03.504 oh, gosh. 00:18:05.923 --> 00:18:09.093 On one hand, the club was in safe hands again now, 00:18:09.093 --> 00:18:11.762 but on the other, it's actually quite an expensive business 00:18:11.804 --> 00:18:13.055 running a football club. 00:18:13.097 --> 00:18:15.390 It's ordinary Joes 00:18:15.432 --> 00:18:17.518 with whatever they can afford. 00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:19.061 You know, the minimum some people are putting in it 00:18:19.103 --> 00:18:21.814 is £12 a year. 00:18:21.855 --> 00:18:23.649 You know, some people contribute 00:18:23.690 --> 00:18:25.400 a lot more than that. 00:18:25.442 --> 00:18:28.028 Some people only put in the minimum amount 00:18:28.028 --> 00:18:30.614 but then do lots of volunteering 00:18:30.656 --> 00:18:33.534 and-and-and contributing in other ways. 00:18:33.575 --> 00:18:35.410 Walked up mountains literally. 00:18:35.410 --> 00:18:37.079 - Walked up Snowdon, didn't they? - Yes. 00:18:37.121 --> 00:18:38.539 - To raise money... - Yes. 00:18:38.580 --> 00:18:39.581 - For the club. - Yeah. 00:18:39.623 --> 00:18:41.708 And didn't we do a-a collection 00:18:41.750 --> 00:18:43.085 - for the wages once? - Yep. 00:18:43.127 --> 00:18:44.503 - Yes. - Yep, yep. 00:18:46.964 --> 00:18:48.340 - Yeah, pulled together to pay wages. 00:18:48.382 --> 00:18:49.925 We just passed a hat around. 00:18:49.967 --> 00:18:51.635 - Kenny Pemberton... - Yeah, people-- 00:18:51.677 --> 00:18:52.803 - His house. - Yeah, people put... 00:18:52.845 --> 00:18:55.055 - Gosh. - Put money in and-- 00:18:55.055 --> 00:18:56.765 well, we all did, didn't we? - Mm. 00:18:56.807 --> 00:18:58.433 And we've got a lot to be grateful 00:18:58.475 --> 00:19:00.561 to the-to the Trust for. 00:19:00.561 --> 00:19:02.437 And all those people who worked so hard. 00:19:02.437 --> 00:19:04.690 - Yeah, yeah. - I mean, we're members, 00:19:04.731 --> 00:19:06.608 but there's people that worked harder than us. 00:19:06.608 --> 00:19:08.110 - Gosh, yeah. - Gosh. 00:19:08.110 --> 00:19:10.070 - Frankly, the club has been struggling 00:19:10.112 --> 00:19:14.116 from that point onwards to this very day. 00:19:14.158 --> 00:19:15.951 If the club doesn't do so well 00:19:15.993 --> 00:19:18.120 and the attendance goes down, 00:19:18.162 --> 00:19:20.455 then the manager doesn't get as much money 00:19:20.497 --> 00:19:23.834 as he was expecting to get to invest in his football side, 00:19:23.876 --> 00:19:26.712 and so the football team isn't quite as good again. 00:19:26.753 --> 00:19:29.006 So it's been an issue that's followed the club 00:19:29.047 --> 00:19:30.549 through all the years 00:19:30.591 --> 00:19:32.676 that the fans have been in control. 00:19:35.762 --> 00:19:37.431 It's an outdoor setting, 00:19:37.472 --> 00:19:39.850 so it does wear and tear, weathers. 00:19:39.892 --> 00:19:42.144 It needs work all the time. 00:19:42.186 --> 00:19:44.855 Obviously, behind the goal, we've seen "the Kop," 00:19:44.897 --> 00:19:47.482 uh, was closed 'cause we just didn't have the money 00:19:47.524 --> 00:19:48.984 to-to keep it open. 00:19:49.026 --> 00:19:50.319 Oh, God. It's all leaking, isn't it? 00:19:50.360 --> 00:19:53.030 Uh, we used to get, uh, people complaining that the r-- 00:19:53.071 --> 00:19:54.698 when on a rainy day, the rain was coming through 00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:56.950 and dripping on them. 00:19:56.992 --> 00:19:59.453 They just drain money, don't they, football grounds? 00:19:59.494 --> 00:20:01.163 The club lost control of the stadium 00:20:01.205 --> 00:20:04.458 and the club began this inexorable slide down 00:20:04.499 --> 00:20:06.001 through the tiers into this position 00:20:06.043 --> 00:20:09.004 that it now finds itself in, in this fifth tier. 00:20:09.046 --> 00:20:12.674 So it had a-it had a seismic impact on the club. 00:20:12.674 --> 00:20:14.801 - I didn't see a lot of hope under the Trust ownership 00:20:14.843 --> 00:20:16.762 and that's not a dig at them because, you know, 00:20:16.803 --> 00:20:18.889 they've put their time in and I respect them for it. 00:20:18.931 --> 00:20:20.933 So it's not a dig at them in the slightest. 00:20:20.974 --> 00:20:22.434 I just didn't see an out for the club. 00:20:22.476 --> 00:20:24.144 I didn't see a-- I didn't see a way forward. 00:20:24.186 --> 00:20:25.812 Um, a lot of fans didn't see 00:20:25.854 --> 00:20:27.481 a way forward. 00:20:27.522 --> 00:20:30.192 - You know, those times were real bad, real low, 00:20:30.234 --> 00:20:32.903 really low because you--you knew we didn't have the money 00:20:32.945 --> 00:20:34.154 to get players. 00:20:34.196 --> 00:20:36.615 You knew players weren't getting paid on time. 00:20:36.657 --> 00:20:38.867 So it was just a knock-on effect 00:20:38.909 --> 00:20:41.203 and it was-it was a terrible time to be a fan. 00:20:41.245 --> 00:20:42.913 It's been... it's been a terrible time 00:20:42.955 --> 00:20:44.539 to be a fan for a long time now 00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:45.916 to say the truth. 00:20:45.958 --> 00:20:47.626 - Sam walked in and he said, "You'll never guess 00:20:47.668 --> 00:20:49.544 who's bought Wrexham Football Club." 00:20:49.586 --> 00:20:50.921 And I said, "Who?" 00:20:50.963 --> 00:20:52.756 He said, "Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney." 00:20:52.798 --> 00:20:54.091 I said... 00:20:54.675 --> 00:20:56.635 "As in Ryan Reynolds 00:20:56.677 --> 00:20:59.513 as in actor and Rob"-- I said, "I don't know him." 00:20:59.554 --> 00:21:01.515 He said, "Oh, yeah, you wouldn't know him. 00:21:01.556 --> 00:21:02.933 Always Sunny in Philadelphia." I said, 00:21:02.975 --> 00:21:04.559 "Oh, yes. Right, okay." 00:21:04.601 --> 00:21:06.061 Uh, I said, "You're joking." 00:21:06.103 --> 00:21:07.688 "Nope, that's right," he said. 00:21:07.688 --> 00:21:08.689 "They've bought it." I said, 00:21:08.689 --> 00:21:10.524 "I can't believe it." 00:21:10.565 --> 00:21:15.112 Funny though, how, you know, a little bit of good news... 00:21:15.153 --> 00:21:16.238 - Rubs off. - Suddenly boosts 00:21:16.280 --> 00:21:17.698 everything up. - Rubs off. 00:21:17.739 --> 00:21:19.574 - Yeah. - Yeah, I mean, that's amazing. 00:21:19.574 --> 00:21:20.575 Isn't it? - Mm. 00:21:20.575 --> 00:21:21.576 - What's happening now for me 00:21:21.618 --> 00:21:24.705 is reward, um, 00:21:24.746 --> 00:21:26.707 for the-the effort and the sacrifices 00:21:26.748 --> 00:21:28.292 that supporters have put into football club over the years. 00:21:28.292 --> 00:21:30.210 - And when they came into buy it this time, 00:21:30.252 --> 00:21:32.838 I was a bit suspicious and I thought, 00:21:32.879 --> 00:21:35.674 "You know, are they going to love the club like we do? 00:21:35.716 --> 00:21:40.012 "Are they really going to-to have 00:21:40.053 --> 00:21:43.557 the-the best interests of the club at heart?" 00:21:43.598 --> 00:21:45.058 And I just hope they don't let us down. 00:21:45.100 --> 00:21:47.227 You know, it's, um, you know, we-- 00:21:47.269 --> 00:21:49.229 well, we pray that they don't let us down. 00:21:49.271 --> 00:21:50.772 - They better not. - Yeah. 00:21:50.772 --> 00:21:52.274 - You-you wouldn't cross a Wrexham fan. 00:21:52.274 --> 00:21:54.693 - Don't, 'cause Wrexham-- Wrexham fans don't forgive... 00:21:54.735 --> 00:21:56.278 - They don't forgive easily. - Very easily. 00:22:08.582 --> 00:22:10.876 You have some news for us? 00:22:10.917 --> 00:22:12.961 Is it good news? - Well, it is. 00:22:13.003 --> 00:22:15.922 After, uh, many months of trying 00:22:15.922 --> 00:22:18.133 and, uh, frustration, 00:22:18.175 --> 00:22:19.760 I would like to congratulate you. 00:22:19.801 --> 00:22:22.137 You are now the proud owners of the Racecourse Ground. 00:22:22.179 --> 00:22:24.306 - Whoa! - Yes! 00:22:24.348 --> 00:22:26.808 - Oh, my God! - Come on! 00:22:26.808 --> 00:22:28.143 There we go! 00:22:28.143 --> 00:22:30.645 - Wrexham AFC owns the Racecourse Ground 00:22:30.645 --> 00:22:32.189 and, uh, you've made it possible 00:22:32.230 --> 00:22:35.859 and, you know, and keeping-- and keeping true to your words 00:22:35.859 --> 00:22:37.861 in the mission statement, so congratulations. 00:22:37.861 --> 00:22:39.613 - Truly, you have made it possible-- 00:22:39.654 --> 00:22:43.909 you, um, HK and Shaun and-and-and Ryan. 00:22:43.909 --> 00:22:46.161 Like, I-I've just-- I-I hadn't-- 00:22:46.203 --> 00:22:48.622 I lost my patience with it so long ago 00:22:48.663 --> 00:22:50.165 that I had to check out of it completely 00:22:50.207 --> 00:22:51.792 and I just appreciate you guys. 00:22:51.833 --> 00:22:53.293 - This is why Shaun wanted to do it over Zoom 00:22:53.335 --> 00:22:55.670 is he-he wanted to see your angry, 00:22:55.670 --> 00:22:57.672 scrunched-up, sad little face, Rob, 00:22:57.714 --> 00:22:59.925 blossom into a smile. 00:22:59.966 --> 00:23:03.470 Having the oldest international 00:23:03.512 --> 00:23:04.888 football stadium on the planet under our stewardship 00:23:04.930 --> 00:23:06.807 is, like, both elation 00:23:06.848 --> 00:23:09.226 and weirdly, I can feel an ulcer growing 00:23:09.267 --> 00:23:11.061 as we speak. 00:23:11.061 --> 00:23:12.813 - Oh, have you got the email I've just sent you? 00:23:12.854 --> 00:23:14.773 'Cause there is a second bit of news today. 00:23:14.815 --> 00:23:16.108 - Oh! - If you open-- 00:23:16.108 --> 00:23:17.150 If you-so there you go. 00:23:17.192 --> 00:23:18.318 So if you want to open it up, 00:23:18.360 --> 00:23:21.363 they are your first rendered images 00:23:21.405 --> 00:23:23.323 of the new stand 00:23:23.365 --> 00:23:25.325 the AFL architects have put together for us. 00:23:25.367 --> 00:23:26.326 - Wow! - Oh. 00:23:26.368 --> 00:23:28.078 Wow. 00:23:28.120 --> 00:23:31.832 - That is a big-time football stadium right there. 00:23:31.873 --> 00:23:33.834 That is a-- - And that's just one stand. 00:23:33.875 --> 00:23:35.085 That's just "the Kop" stand. - Yeah. 00:23:35.127 --> 00:23:36.878 - So-so what would be the next stand 00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:37.963 that we would do? - Ugh, give him an inch, 00:23:38.004 --> 00:23:39.214 he'll take a mile, Shaun. 00:23:39.256 --> 00:23:40.841 I'm so sorry about-- 00:23:40.882 --> 00:23:42.843 Wait, when can we--when can we show this to the public? 00:23:42.884 --> 00:23:46.346 - Uh, I need to go through the Council with Levelling Up Fund. 00:23:46.388 --> 00:23:49.266 We probably need to warn a couple of people 00:23:49.307 --> 00:23:51.226 at the Council it's coming out, 00:23:51.268 --> 00:23:53.687 and then we can arrange a public launch 00:23:53.728 --> 00:23:56.273 and I think it'd be really useful to do that 00:23:56.314 --> 00:23:57.732 because you have to have a pre-- 00:23:57.774 --> 00:24:00.235 uh, a pre-application consultation period-- 00:24:00.277 --> 00:24:03.238 A pre-application consultation period? 00:24:03.238 --> 00:24:04.364 More bureaucracy, I know. 00:24:04.406 --> 00:24:06.741 But at least-- - It's incredible. 00:24:06.741 --> 00:24:08.243 Let's just put it out. Let's just put it out. 00:24:08.285 --> 00:24:09.744 - Let's just put it out. - At least, at least-- 00:24:09.786 --> 00:24:11.413 no, don't just put it out yet. 00:24:11.455 --> 00:24:13.832 We-I'll-I'll give you the-- I'll give you the nod 00:24:13.874 --> 00:24:15.167 when you can put it out. - Incredible. 00:24:15.208 --> 00:24:16.710 - Thank you, Shaun. Thank you for that great news. 00:24:16.751 --> 00:24:17.711 - Pleasure. - That is so neat. 00:24:17.752 --> 00:24:19.171 - We're putting out the video. 00:24:19.171 --> 00:24:20.088 We're putting out the video, we're putting out the video. 00:24:20.130 --> 00:24:21.381 Bye, love you, love you, bye. - Oh, boy. 00:24:21.423 --> 00:24:23.300 - Okay, bye. - Bye, bye, bye, bye.