James McClean. Credit: @motelsonmars X
James McClean has shared a heartfelt goodbye message to Wrexham AFC, praising co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, and describing his two years with the club as “the most incredible and enjoyable” of his career.
The Republic of Ireland international, who captained Wrexham to back-to-back promotions, has officially left the club to return home and sign for Derry City. In an emotional post shared by fan podcast RobRyanRed, McClean’s farewell letter captured both his gratitude and affection for the people behind the club’s rise.
James McClean’s full farewell message to Wrexham AFC
Been going over and over in my head to try somehow put into words what this club @wrexham_afc has meant to me since I signed and truth be told no matter what words I write it won’t do justice to express the feeling.
I’ll try so here it goes, it’s genuinely been the most incredible and enjoyable couple of years I have had, a huge thank you to @vancityreynolds and @robmac who are two incredible people by the way for giving me the opportunity to be part of the magic that is Wrexham or to people outside of Wrexham ‘Disney FC’. The management staff who believed in me and gave me the honour to captain this club to history, the medical staff, the staff around the ground, the fans who have been incredible and welcomed me from day one, no politics, no media perceptions just football, this club have been incredible and showed a real touch of class in making my move back home easy.
Finally and certainly not least all the players, who I shared the dressing room with, battles on the pitch with and the glories off the pitch with Vegas etc enough said, while creating great friendships (don’t cry @andy14cannon you’ll set me off, it’s not goodbye you can still visit) we created a bond and togetherness like no other.
My only regret is I couldn’t have been a few years younger when joining this journey because this club is only going to go on and create more magic but that’s football.
It’s been a real honour and a real pleasure and I wish you nothing but further success because the squad has real, real quality here to achieve this.
Up the history making back to back to back Red Dragons.
James
You can follow the fan reactions on X:
‘A real touch of class’ – a goodbye filled with gratitude
McClean’s message underlined just how much Wrexham meant to him, both as a player and as a person. His words praised not only the Hollywood ownership duo but also the club’s staff, medical team, and supporters for their warmth and commitment. He reserved special mention for his teammates, describing their camaraderie as “a bond and togetherness like no other.”
The 36-year-old also admitted one regret: not joining Wrexham earlier in his career. “This club is only going to go on and create more magic,” he wrote, a statement that perfectly captures the optimism surrounding Wrexham’s current rise under Reynolds and McElhenney.
Wrexham fans respond to McClean’s message
Supporters reacted emotionally to the post, describing McClean as a leader who left a lasting impression. Wrexham’s official account responded, “Thank you for everything and best of luck for the future, Jimmy,” echoing the club’s tone of gratitude and mutual respect.
McClean’s heartfelt farewell letter reinforces his reputation as a player who wears his emotions openly. His journey from Derry to Wrexham and back again closes with grace, humility and admiration for those who shared the story with him.
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