Wrexham striker Sam Smith was the promotion hero against Charlton Athletic, scoring twice to secure promotion.
Wrexham sensed a real opportunity to push for a third straight promotion during the January transfer window.
Phil Parkinson had Wrexham in a strong position but felt that Wrexham needed more firepower.
Wrexham splashed the cash on Sam Smith, landing the striker in a club-record move from Reading.
Jay Rodriguez followed from Burnley, but it was Smith who really helped push Wrexham over the line.
Smith scored twice as Wrexham beat Charlton Athletic 3-0 to seal promotion to the Championship with one game to spare.
Paul Mullin comments on Sam Smith goal v Charlton Athletic
The pick of the goals was a stunning volley from Smith.
Matty James dinked a beautiful ball over the Charlton defence and Smith flew through the air to acrobatically fire the ball home.
That put Wrexham 2-0 up just minutes after Ollie Rathbone’s opener, and left fans believing that a third straight promotion really was imminent.
Ryan Reynolds has admitted loving Smith’s goal, to the point where he just can’t stop watching it – weeks after Wrexham’s promotion was confirmed.
After Phil Parkinson was nominated for League One Manager of the Month, Smith has now been nominated for PFA League One Fans’ Player of the Month.
Smith will face off against Lincoln City striker James Collins, Leyton Orient’s Jamie Donley, Birmingham City’s Kieran Dowell, Wigan Athletic stopper Sam Tickle and Stockport County’s Kyle Wootton.
Wrexham fans will be voting for Smith in their droves, with fellow striker Paul Mullin on board as well.
Taking to his Instagram story, Mullin stated ‘Surely the finish v Charlton alone wins it!??’, backing Smith for the award.
Mullin may have been frozen out at Wrexham ever since Smith’s arrival, but there are no hard feelings.
Watching Mullin celebrate Wrexham’s promotion as he was serenaded by the Tech End was a beautiful sight, and the way he continues to support his teammates just sums up the kind of character Mullin is, and will be until the day he departs.
Sam Smith surely relishing Championship chance
Smith has fired Wrexham to the Championship and will now be looking to establish himself in the second tier.
The former Reading man has only ever played eight times in the Championship, accumulating just 318 minutes with the Royals.
Smith has proven himself as a top League One goalscorer across spells with Cambridge United, Reading and now Wrexham.
The next challenge is the Championship, with Smith no doubt desperate to prove that he really belongs at this level.
Wrexham may splash the cash this summer, but Smith should remain a key part of Parkinson’s side and a real source of goals at the next level.