HOLLYWOOD stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds may have got there first, but a local poet is also looking to help put Wrexham on the map.

'Welcome to Wrexham' has become one of the most watched television shows of recent years on international streaming sites.

The docu-series charts the rise of the city’s football team since its high-profile takeover by the American actors.

And, while charity worker Paul Clifton may not have the same online following as Rob and Ryan, he’s hoping his latest anthology of poems will shine another light on Wrexham.

1988 - A Poetic Diary of a Wrexham Author has already racked up a string of five-star reviews from captivated readers.

Paul’s collection has been described by critics as ‘beautiful’, ‘honest, generous and engaging’ and heart-warming’.

The 35-year-old admits that the book was partly inspired by the raucous noise coming from the football ground.

He said: “It is a poetic timeline of my life, from the beginning of my 30's and up to last year.

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“The collection takes the reader on a lyrical journey through my hometown of Wrexham and beyond, from my most significant moments to my smallest nuances."

Paul adds: “I often hear the chants from fans of Wrexham AFC at the Racecourse Stadium.

“These chants inspired me to weave the football club, and other historical places, into 1988 - A Poetic Diary of a Wrexham Author.”

Paul’s latest collection navigates through personal losses and discovering true love with the city of Wrexham providing the backdrop throughout.

1988 - A Poetic Diary of a Wrexham Author also looks at the uncertainty which arrived in the shape of the Covid pandemic.

Paul, who is a member of Chester Poets and Wrexham Writers, added: “As the story unfolds through the pages, the distant threat of Coronavirus looms on the horizon, adding an extra layer of relevance and meaning to my journey.”

Paul was born in Crystal Palace, London in 1988, moving to Croydon as a young child until a teenager when his family decided to move and settled in Wrexham in 2001.

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Wrexham has been his local city ever since and often refers to it as the place he calls home and where his heart belongs.

Influenced by the likes of Lewis Carroll, Michael Crichton, Aled Lewis Evans and other distinguished poets, Paul has been writing and publishing his poetry since 2011.

Away from poetry, he regularly participates in Wrexham’s annual Carnival of Words and other literary events.

For more details, visit Amazon and search for Paul Clifton, where the paperback edition of 1988 - A Poetic Diary of a Wrexham Author is available.