Wrexham co-owner Rob Mac describes his affection for Sunderland’s story and expresses his excitement to feature in the Preseason friendly against the Black Cats in Philadelphia.
It’s been a couple of days since Wrexham conquered the Welsh derby against Swansea, but fans are still basking in celebration mode. That’s because it was an exceptional performance from everyone involved.
While the club staff and players dominated the Swans on the pitch, Rob & Ryan entertained the fans off the pitch. Apart from dropping some iconic one-liners, the Wrexham co-owners covered everything from the recent Chelsea clash to their future plans for the club.
However, Rob & Ryan didn’t hesitate to touch on emotional moments either. In one such reveal, Rob opened up about his longing for Sunderland and how much it has inspired Wrexham’s story.
As quoted by Rocker Report, Rob Mac spoke: “I watched Sunderland Til’ I Die and thought it was a really beautiful documentary.”
Rob further expressed looking forward to playing Sunderland in the Summer Soccer series 2026. Rob Mac added, “It will be an honour to play them in Philadelphia. I was rooting for them in the play-off’s and so happy when they went up, and thank god they did because they deserve it.”
Wrexham’s story has been heavily inspired from Sunderland’s tale
Even though Wrexham’s meteoric rise in English football has been one of a kind, their story has been closely inspired by Sunderland’s tale.
Co-owner Rob McElhenney has previously admitted it was only after watching “Sunderland ‘Til I Die” that he felt compelled to pursue a takeover himself. That spark led him to partner with Ryan Reynolds, laying the groundwork for both the Wrexham takeover and the docuseries “Welcome to Wrexham”.
What resonated the most with Rob Mac was the English system of Promotion and Relegation. Though Sunderland ‘Til I Die ended with the club’s return to the Championship, Rob has continued to follow their progress even in the Premier League.
This immensely helped the co-owners create their own version of Sunderland’s story with Wrexham. While the Reds are close to completing their Championship journey, the next step is to follow the Black Cats’ footsteps all the way to the Premier League.
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First, Wrexham hope to replicate Sunderland’s Wembley success from last season. The Reds are going strong in their playoff hopes and ambition to reach the Premier League this term.
Additionally, Wrexham’s long-term vision is to improve on Sunderland’s current reality. While the Black Cats have settled as a mid-table side in their Premier League return, Wrexham hope to go one better when they arrive.
Following in Sunderland’s footsteps, Wrexham are plotting ambitious moves for Premier League veteran Andy Robertson in an attempt to replicate the Black Cats’ success with Granit Xhaka. The strategy aims to build stability around an established top-flight presence.
All in all, while these parallels may be new to some Wrexham fans, the Reds have mirrored Sunderland’s story in more ways than one. The Black Cats deserve a share of the credit in Wrexham’s remarkable journey.
Wrexham Vs Sunderland will be a special clash for Rob Mac
It’s quite evident from Rob Mac’s words that the Wrexham co-owner is one of the biggest fans of Sunderland’s story. Seeing Wrexham now compete against the club that inspired their own rise will be a truly special occasion for him.
The fact that the Wrexham Vs Sunderland friendly will be played in Philadelphia comes as the icing on the cake.
That’s because Philadelphia has been central to Rob Mac’s career. The support of his hometown and its people helped him achieve groundbreaking success with “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”.
Witnessing Wrexham face off against Sunderland in his hometown will be a once-in-a-lifetime memory for Rob Mac.
The last time Wrexham took a friendly trip to Philadelphia, in 2023, the Reds played out a 1-1 draw against local side Philadelphia Union II. This time, they’re set for a Premier League showdown against Sunderland.
The occasion would be even more special if Wrexham got the better of Sunderland in Rob’s hometown. While the co-owners have immense respect for the Black Cats, seeing Wrexham come out on top would fill them with a pride that lasts a lifetime.
READ MORE WREXHAM NEWS HERE:
- ‘Worry’ – Wrexham fans only fear one rival in playoffs race (9 games to go)
- Phil Parkinson lets out emotional Swansea claim every Wrexham fan will agree
- ‘Redemption’ – Wrexham fans rally behind Arthur Okonkwo after 2-0 Swansea masterclass
- Wrexham 2-0 Swansea: 3 best moments from Rob and Ryan’s commentary debut
- Wrexham predicted lineup vs Swansea City: 3 changes for Welsh derby
