Rob McElhenney’s closing statement in the season 5 episode of Welcome to Wrexham is arguably already considered one of the most memorable moments in the episode because of the beautiful way in which he managed to encapsulate the spirit that binds together the fans of Wrexham AFC.
Episode 8 and the last episode of this season titled ‘We Go Again’ is all about Wrexham’s effort to secure the championship play-off slot but ultimately failing at that goal as Phil Parkinson’s team failed to make it into the play-offs even after a 2-2 tie against Middlesbrough thanks to the efforts of Hull City who defeated their opponents.
However, after such a disappointing ending for the team, one could expect a sad finish to the series. However, Rob McElhenney’s closing thoughts made it quite the opposite.
Critics singled out one unforgettable moment
The emotional conclusion scene has already received commendation from both viewers and critics. In their assessment of the final episode, Fangirlish said that the concluding thought by McElhenney was “really strong”, noting that the documentary succeeds by ending on an uplifting note even though they failed to reach the play-offs.
It is not hard to see why. Instead of trying to ease the sting of the failure, McElhenney embraced it first before explaining how setbacks were always part of Wrexham’s history.
“There’s a continuity to this whole experience of the passing on of generations, and we’re just at the start of ours.”
It served as a reminder of how Wrexham is never one season or one side. Each generation takes ownership of the team, only to pass it on to the following one, a point that has slowly dawned on McElhenney since moving to North Wales.
In support of the previous point, he went on to speak about seeing Wrexham through the eyes of his own son, Axel.
“My son’s eyes are watching Wrexham. And it’s been like that for 160 years.”
This particular statement changed the tone of his speech from something that focused only on one season into something more general. It was not only a message about football; it was a message about belonging, about being part of something far greater than the present management or players.
The closing remarks found hope despite disappointment
The strength in McElhenney’s speech was that it was very honest. He did not try to gloss over the fact that not making the play-offs was hard.
“The whole thing doesn’t work without failure. It sucks. It hurts. So… What are you gonna do? Get up.”
This disappointment was shared because everyone understood just how far the team had come, even if their season fell one victory short of another promotion.
We Go Again was not only the name of the episode but also represented the attitude that has made Wrexham what it is in recent years; not letting a single defeat become the end of the road.
In the last words spoken by McElhenney, everything that needed to be said was said.
“So much changes. But the club always remains.”
This sentiment has been felt by many of the fans who felt just why this episode ended in the way it did. There will always be players, managers, and owners changing through the course of time, but there is always Wrexham AFC.
It was an appropriate way to end a season that saw so much heartache on the field, but reaffirmed what all the fans have ever known; regardless of how the season ends each year, the club, the community, and its ambitions continue on.
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