PAUL RUTHERFORD was taken aback by the “incredible” support for Wrexham in America and says the current Reds’ players will experience a “Premier League” pre-season tour next month.

The Wrexham Red Dragons side, made up of current, former and guest players, competed in The Soccer Tournament - a $1m winner-takes-all seven-a-side event in North Carolina - which attracted 32 teams and some star-studded names.

With the likes of Andy Morrell, Lee Trundle, Mark Howard and George Boyd in the squad, Wrexham finished top of Group E after winning all three games against Cesc Fabregas’ Como 1907, a US Women’s team and Say Word FC but lost 4-3 in the round of 16 to Conrad and Beasley United - a team put together by former USA internationals Jimmy Conrad and Demarcus Beasley.

Despite bowing out, Wrexham were well-backed by thousands of supporters throughout the tournament.

The club’s popularity has soared in the States since Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney completed their takeover at The Racecourse in February 2021 and the impact of the “Welcome to Wrexham” documentary, and Rutherford experienced it at first-hand.

“It was mad,” said the 35-year-old.

“They worked it out that 74 per cent of fans who bought tickets were there to support Wrexham.

“How do you get your head around that?

“You won’t realise how big the documentary has made the club and the size of the fanbase over there.

“You can’t beat the passion back home and the way the fans get behind the team but the fans over there were incredible for us.

“They got straight behind us, they were loud, they were vocal and they knew some of the songs from back home.

“It was incredible the way they were chanting.”

Wrexham, who won the National League title last season, will play four games during a pre-season tour of America in July as part of preparations for a first campaign in the Football League since 2008.

“It will be incredible for them,” said Rutherford.

“Shaun Harvey touched on it a bit when he said he knew the documentary had been successful but he didn’t realise quite how big it was going to be.

“He said it will probably make us change a couple of things when the first-team comes across, just for safety reasons and so on.

“Those lads are going to experience a Premier League tour.”

Rutherford, who made nearly 200 appearances for the Reds between 2016 and 2021, embraced the club’s new fan-base in America.

“They were knowledgeable,” said the midfielder, who has spent the last two seasons at Cymru Premier side Bala Town.

“They knew about the promotion, they knew some of the bigger names at the club.

“They were a little bit surprised Paul Mullin and Ben Foster weren’t playing but they will get to see them in a few weeks when the first-team are on tour!

“Lee Trundle had a big following over there, he became the cult hero in the tournament and got the nickname ‘The Shaq’ because of his big presence up top.

“Myself and Mark Carrington had a good following as they recognised us from the documentary, and they knew Mark Howard. It was a great experience.”