Wrexham goalkeeper Mark Howard is leaving the club this summer but will take away some incredible memories.
Wrexham fans are excited about potential new signings as Phil Parkinson looks to make a big impact in the Championship.
Promotion means some players will be let go, though, and Rob McElhenney hates these difficult Wrexham goodbyes.
Steven Fletcher is leaving Wrexham despite making a huge impact off the bench in League One.
Hometown star Jordan Davies has also been released by Wrexham after spending the season on loan at Grimsby Town.
Goalkeeper Mark Howard will depart Wrexham but wants to continue his playing career as he approaches 39.
Mark Howard on Channing Tatum and Wrexham adverts
Howard stepped up admirably midway through the League One campaign with both Arthur Okonkwo and Callum Burton out injured.
Phil Parkinson signed Howard back in 2022, calling on the experienced stopper having previously worked together at Bolton Wanderers.
Howard is now eyeing a first-choice goalkeeping role with his next move, as he says goodbye to Wrexham.
Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire, Howard has admitted that some of his best memories at Wrexham are off the pitch as well as on it.
Howard drew attention to the celebrity aspect around Wrexham, having met Will Ferrell and featured in an advert with Channing Tatum.
The advert with Tatum went global as Wrexham players danced with the ‘Magic Mike’ star in the STōK Cae Ras dressing room.
Howard noted that dancing alongside Tatum was ‘bonkers’, but he largely felt that he became accustomed to the adverts Wrexham stars were asked to be in.
“100%, and not just on the pitch,” said Howard when asked about his highlights at Wrexham.
“Obviously, the three promotions were just incredible, we’ve had some good cup runs and a few promotion parties in Vegas, they’ve been very memorable, but then even the experience of meeting the celebrities that you meet.
“I managed to meet Will Ferrell this year, I’ve done a TV advert with Channing Tatum, he got us all to dance and do a ‘Magic Mike’ performance and you think ‘when does that ever happen to any footballer ever?’
“We’ve done loads of adverts, we’ve done baseball adverts, Marks & Spencer adverts, cold brew coffee adverts, we’ve done a whole variety of things and been asked to do weird and wonderful things to a camera.
“At first, you’re a little bit scared of it, it’s a bit daunting, but you just end up embracing it and fully committing to it. The final product, when you get to see the full advert of us dancing with Channing Tatum, you just think ‘this is bonkers’.
Mark Howard shares ‘secret to the success’ at Wrexham
Howard also spoke about how much he has enjoyed his three-year stay at Wrexham.
The goalkeeper noted Wrexham’s ‘incredible’ achievement of winning three promotions in a row but put it all down to the dressing room culture.
Howard feels Wrexham’s united dressing room was ‘the secret to the success’, claiming there were ‘no idiots’ in the squad.
Howard also admitted that the TV cameras and publicity are no hindrance at Wrexham, with everybody simply trying to enjoy the experience.
“To say that we’ve done three in a row, and are the first team to ever do it, is just incredible,” said Howard.
“It’s not been easy, but it’s been so much fun and I think that’s one thing that all the players in our dressing room will tell you; everything that you see about the club is incredible, but it’s so much fun to be part of.
“There’s no hindrance in the TV cameras being there and the publicity and the pressures that that entails, you just absolutely enjoy it.
“We had a really galvanised dressing room that all fought together, we all got along really well, there was no idiots, everyone bought into what Wrexham really was and I think that’s been the secret to the success,” he added.
Howard departs as a Wrexham favourite, and we would not be surprised to see him return in some capacity down the line.