Wrexham have picked up so many fans over the years with the Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds effect taking hold.
Attendance have gone through the roof ever since Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds bought Wrexham in 2021.
The £2million takeover has set Wrexham on a new path with fans emerging all over the world.
‘Welcome to Wrexham’ has certainly played its part with the documentary series helping generate support from all corners.
A trip to the STōK Cae Ras may have become a dream for some, but it has been the norm for many local fans over the years.
So many heroes passed through the club long before McElhenney and Reynolds and after taking a look at Wrexham hero Carlos Edwards, it’s now the turn of a goalkeeper…
Andy Marriott thrived at Wrexham
When Wrexham fans talk about the best signings in the club’s history, there will be some names from the McElhenney and Reynolds era.
Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer spring to mind, but goalkeeper Andy Marriott would be high on the list for many fans who were watching in the 1990’s.
Marriott was a product of the Arsenal youth setup but moved on to Nottingham Forest as a teenager.
After loan spells with West Bromwich Albion, Blackburn Rovers, Colchester United and Burnley, Marriott joined Wrexham on a permanent basis in 1993.
Brian Flynn lured Marriott to North Wales and Marriott ended up becoming one of the finest goalkeepers in Wrexham history.
Marriott was named Wrexham Player of the Season in 1997 and ended up playing more than 250 league games for the club.
The stopper even became a Wales international during his time with Wrexham, picking up five caps.
Marriott’s excellent displays for Wrexham saw him secure a move to Sunderland in 1998 before moving on to Wigan Athletic, Barnsley and Birmingham City.
After a spell in Portugal with Beira-Mar, Marriott saw out his career in England with Coventry City, Colchester United, Bury, Torquay United, Boston United and Exeter City.
Ironically, Marriott was in goal for Boston against Wrexham on the final day of the 2006/07 season.
Wrexham had to win to stay in the top flight and produced a dramatic 3-1 victory, condemning Boston to relegation in the process as the STōK Cae Ras experienced one of its most memorable days.
Andy Marriott’s Premier League nightmare
Wrexham fans will rightly remember Marriott as a club hero but avid Premier League Years watchers will remember him rather differently.
When Marriott joined Birmingham in 2003, he was brought in to to cover for the injured Nico Vaesen.
Marriott started against Tottenham Hotspur in April 2003 but was at the centre of one of the cheekiest goals in Premier League history.
Rolling the ball out to start a Birmingham attack, Marriott thought that the coast was clear.
Marriott hadn’t seen Robbie Keane hiding behind him though, and the Irishman appeared from nowhere to steal the ball from Marriott and roll the ball into the net.
Birmingham ended up losing the game 1-0 and boss Steve Bruce suggested that the error would ‘haunt’ Marriott forever.
“Poor Andy’s waited to play in the Premiership again, so for that to happen was very cruel,” said Bruce, as quoted by BBC Sport.
“He put the ball down, as keepers do because they’d rather kick it off the floor than out of their hands. I saw Keane behind Andy but couldn’t shout loud enough to tell him he was there.
“It was cunning by Keane and unfortunate for Andy because it will haunt him forever. But he rolled up his sleeves and was impeccable after that and pulled off a great save from Goran Bunjevcevic,” he added.
Marriott immediately lost his place to Ian Bennett and was released by the Blues that summer, never making another appearance after that Spurs error.
That may be some unwanted history for Marriott, but that certainly won’t take any shine away from his superb Wrexham career.