Wrexham keeper Ben Foster has spoken out about the all-expenses-paid vacation to Las Vegas given to the players by owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney after the club won an automatic promotion back to League Two from National League for the first time in 15 years.
Wrexham won the National League title with 111 points, having lost just three games all season, and were rewarded with a luxurious four-day vacation to America by Reynolds and McElhenney to celebrate. Phil Parkinson’s side, together with Notts County, created one of the most fascinating championship chases in National League history, with both clubs topping 100 points despite just one sure promotion position remaining.
Foster on how much Wrexham’s trip cost to Reynolds and McElhenney
Foster, a former Manchester United and Watford goalkeeper, returned to Wrexham by coming out of retirement after spending time on loan with the Red Dragons as a youth in 2005. The ex-England international made an important impact, most notably saving a last-minute penalty against promotion rivals Notts County to ensure Wrexham secured a crucial win on route to promotion.
And Foster, who reversed his retirement to play in the club’s final eight games, reckons Reynolds and McElhenney paid “at least half a million” for Wrexham’s Vegas trip. The 40-year-old went on the Vegas trip and gave his estimate of the overall cost on The Fellas podcast. He said:
“I went on the Vegas trip it was hard work mate honestly. The way that Rob McElhenney and Ryan put it on for us, laid it on for us, was just like nothing I’ve ever seen. We got there and it was just straight to the shower, straight get changed, go to Hakkasan for dinner and then we’re going to Hakkasan nightclub straight afterwards. All expenses paid.
“Got to be £500,000, had to be at least half a million genuinely it had to be because they just looked after everything.” As well as Hakkasan, Wrexham spent time at a number of luxury hotspots such as the Bellagio, MGM Grand, Spago and Omnia.”
When Wrexham visited the Bellagio, they were also welcomed on stage by famed DJ Steve Aoki, watched a Chainsmokers performance, and there was even an ice sculpture of the club’s insignia. Foster added:
“We walk in and whatever’s playing, the music shuts off and they start playing a Wrexham song. We’ve got a massive closed off VIP area, and there’s Wrexham drapes falling from the ceiling, poppers going off everywhere with confetti, glitter. There’s a screen and it’s showing like Paul Mullin scoring goals and stuff like that! It’s 1am and they’ve stopped the music and they’re putting this stuff on, and every one of us is just going ‘What on earth’s going on here?!'”
Wrexham have stated that talks will begin to see whether Foster would return for the 2023/24 season after coming out of retirement in March to return to the Racecourse Ground. Meanwhile, the owners are also planning a string of exciting signings to compete in the League Two after a 15 years hiatus.