Ben Foster says facing former club and Premier League giant Manchester United on Wrexham’s pre-season tour is ‘mad’.
Wrexham are set to embark on their pre-season tour of the US, further increasing their profile overseas following the release of hit Disney+ documentary, Welcome to Wrexham.
The club has become a globally-recognised institution over the past few years under the ownership of Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
The Red Dragons are fresh off a title-winning season after they claimed the National League title last year with a record 111 points. More importantly, however, it means the North Wales club will be playing in League Two next season, the fourth tier of English football.
Ben Foster on facing old club Man United on Wrexham’s pre-season tour
One of the many integral part’s of last season’s team that clinched promotion was goalkeeper Ben Foster. The former England goalkeeper came out of retirement for the back end of last season to help the Red Dragons in their promotion push.
Foster went down a storm and has since extended his stay at the club by signing a one-year contract extension.
Wrexham will play their first match of their pre-season tour of the US on July 19. They take on Chelsea at Chapel Hill Stadium in North Carolina, before facing another Premier League giant, Manchester United, on July 25th.
Foster played for Manchester United between 2005-2010, making 12 appearances. He recently spoke about facing his old side and the ‘madness’ of coming up against such footballing heavyweights.
“It’s brilliant to see and long may it continue”
Speaking to the BBC, Foster said, “Some of my mates who don’t really follow football are like ‘What you going to America for?’ I say, ‘We are playing some pre-season games.’
“They are like, ‘Who you playing out there?’ Man United, Galaxy and Chelsea and they’re like ‘What, but you’re Wrexham.’ I know but this is where this club is at the minute and it sounds mad, but it doesn’t surprise, does it? It doesn’t surprise that we are playing these sort of teams. That’s the way this club is going nowadays and it’s brilliant to see and long may it continue as well.”
Sandwiched between the Chelsea and Manchester United game is a fixture against LA Galaxy II on July 22nd. Wrexham round off their tour of the US on July 28th when they take on Philadelphia Union.