BRIAN FLYNN has seen it all in football but even he was taken aback by Wrexham’s level of support in America.

The Reds embarked on a pre-season tour of the States, playing four friendlies as part of the preparations for a first campaign back in the Football League following a 15-year absence.

Flynn, who played for the Reds before spending 12 years as manager when he masterminded the huge FA Cup giant-killing victory over reigning league champions Arsenal, was selected as an ambassador for the club during the trip.

The club’s popularity has soared all over the world since Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney completed their takeover at The Racecourse in February 2021, with the “Welcome to Wrexham” documentary proving to be a huge hit in the States.

Flynn experienced it for himself during stop-offs in North Carolina, San Diego, California and Philadelphia, with Wrexham mobbed by their new legion of fans on the other side of the Atlantic.

“It was like a dream come true for me and the games with the lads were a big bonus,” said Flynn, who also had a spell as assistant manager to Bryan Hughes in 2019 before a brief stint as caretaker boss before Dean Keates took charge for a second time.

“Brilliant, so many good memories.

“It is insane, incredible, wonderful - every word you can think of - what is happening in America for Wrexham.

“It is unbelievable.

“We had 5,000 people watching training, you can’t believe it.

“Every time the coach went to the training ground, people were beeping their horns and people were waving at us on the street.

“It was brilliant, phenomenal, and apparently it is still growing.

“We are everybody’s number two team over there. Whoever is number one, when you come to number two we are leading by a mile.”

Wrexham faced Chelsea, LA Galaxy, Manchester United and Philadelphia Union in high profile matches in front of thousands of supporters.

Flynn, who guided Wrexham to promotion from the fourth tier in 1992-93 and was the mastermind behind Wrexham’s 2-1 FA Cup giant-killing of Arsenal, was selected as ambassador for the tour on the recommendation of current Reds’ boss Phil Parkinson.

“It was a big surprise and a pleasant surprise when they contacted me,” said the former Wales international, who was capped 66 times for his country.

“I was actually on holiday in Spain and Shaun Harvey rang me.

“Basically he just said ‘what are you doing next week?’

“I said ‘not a lot, there’s nothing in my diary,’ and he said ‘do you want to come to America with us for two weeks?’.

“I had no hesitation obviously. Obviously I know Phil and Steve Parkin, we go back a long way.

“Phil told us that when Shaun mentioned having an ambassador in America to do meet and greets, sign autographs, Q and A’s and a few promotional things, he said that I would be ideal.

“I thanked him for that.”