NO-ONE will be happier than Chris Llewellyn if someone scores on Wrexham’s big day against MK Dons.
The clash against The Dons at The Racecourse on Saturday will be the first game in League Two since the Reds, who were already relegated, travelled to Lincoln City on May 3, 2008.
Wrexham’s fate was confirmed with two matches to go but a large away following made the trip to Sincil Bank to see the final match in the EFL and Brian Little’s side went out with a bang, winning 4-2 with Llewellyn completing the scoring.
It was the Reds’ last goal in the league and the former Wales international can’t wait to see that change!
Phil Parkinson’s Reds enjoyed a record-breaking 2022-23 National League campaign and were crowned champions, securing a return to the Football League following a 15-year absence.
“It’s not a record that anyone wants to hold!” said former Llewellyn Welsh international, who had a habit of scoring on the last day of the season.
His 87th minute strike 12 months earlier had put Wrexham 2-1 up at home to Boston United in a game the Reds needed to win to stay in the Football League.
A year later Wrexham, with Brian Little in charge after replacing Brian Carey, were relegated having failed to learn their lessons.
“Every year for the last 15 years, I have been saying to my friends and family that I am the last player to score in the league for Wrexham,” added Llewellyn.
“But I never dreamt it was to take 15 years, even 10 years.
“Someone is going to take it back off me and good luck to them.”
Describing the 90th minute strike, Llewellyn said: “I don’t remember who passed the ball, I just broke away. I was one-on-one with the goalkeeper, I think he dived at my feet and I just lifted it over him.
“It was a strange environment at Lincoln because we were already relegated.
“We knew there would be a big following to make it a party for the last game in the league.
“We played quite a young team and I was one of the oldest players, I remember saying to the youngsters in the dressing room that we have got to put on some sort of show.
“It doesn’t have to be about winning, it has just got to be about effort and desire because these fans had been through hell.
“It worked out decent and we won the game but we were relegated. It was a surreal feeling.”
The match at Lincoln was Llewellyn’s last in a Wrexham shirt as the striker was released before the non-league nightmare began.
It was his second stint at The Racecourse, with the first spell not without its drama either.
In the 2004-5 season, Wrexham became the first league club to suffer a 10-point deduction for being placed in administration, dropping the Reds from the middle of the League One table to the relegation zone.
Denis Smith’s side never won their battle to stay up but despite their financial troubles, Wrexham lifted the LDV Vans Trophy after beating Southend United 2–0 in the final at the Millennium Stadium.
“We had a good side,” said Llewellyn, who made his name alongside Craig Bellamy at Norwich City.
“I think that team which won the LDV Vans Trophy could have been in and around the play-offs that year.
“When the 10 points got taken off us, it was a massive blow.
“When we should have been eighth or ninth in the league but we are down there, it is a bit of a psychological difference for the teams playing against us.
“We won a trophy but we got relegated and it was the beginning of the end really, it probably masked over a lot of things that were going on inside the club that a lot of people weren’t aware of.”
Money worries are a thing of the past since Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney completed their takeover at The Racecourse in February 2021.
The Football League exile went on longer than everyone wanted but Llewellyn looked on the bright side.
“I think it has all worked out for the best,” added the 43-year-old, who is assistant manager at Cymru South League side Briton Ferry.
“If Wrexham had gone back up sooner, they possibly wouldn’t have had these investors come in.
“The future is bright and hopefully they can get a couple more promotions, and get up to the Championship or even the Premier League.”
CALLING ALL REDS FANS: Don’t miss our 64-page souvenir special on Reds return to the Football League, in Thursday's Leader.
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