As known from:
sky sportscricketworldTorquay United
Contains commercial content
Best Betting Sites UK / Televising Wrexham's FA Cup tie shouldn't be considered controversial

Televising Wrexham's FA Cup tie shouldn't be considered controversial

Publish Date: 21/10/2022
Fact checked by: James Leeland

The decision to televise Wrexham's FA Cup First Round tie against Oldham Athletic has caused controversy - Credit: Wrexham AFC

The decision to televise Wrexham’s FA Cup First Round tie with Oldham Athletic has sparked controversy, but is it really something worth getting frustrated over?

Let’s face it, the Wrexham story is great. A former EFL side rotting away in non-league, marooned with little hope of returning to the big time and a stadium beginning to fall apart at the seams.

Having battled financial insecurities in the past, the Wrexham Supporters’ Trust eventually took over the day-to-day running of the football club in 2021, where they remained until Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought Wrexham in November 2020.

Stalling in the National League and slipping out of contention, the deal was approved by 98.1% of the Wrexham supporters who voted, providing a clear mandate for Reynolds and McElhenney to take charge.

From thereon in, their journey has been frantic, emotional, and as the recent ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary highlighted, incredibly entertaining.

Dr. Adam Henze
2022-10-14 01:19
Is anyone else watching Welcome to Wrexham? It's a documentary about Ryan Reynalds and Rob McElhenney buying a football club in Wales during the pandemic. I started watching because I'm amused by the story, but this is one of the best sports documentaries I have ever seen.
15 2

It’s no secret Reynolds and McElhenney have invested heavily in the football club, from plans to revamp the crumbling Racecourse Ground, to assembling one of the National League’s most expensive ever squads.

During their first season in charge, the pair would be left disappointed, with the Red Dragons finishing second to 2021/22 National League champions Stockport County, before crashing out of the playoffs in dramatic fashion to eventual winners Grimsby Town.

Despite the disappointment, the buzz around Wrexham continued to grow. Alongside regular 9,000+ attendances at the Racecourse, as a result of the well-received Disney+ documentary, Wrexham has widened its supporter base, attracting fans from across the globe.

Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds are in favour of match streaming in the National League - Credit: Wrexham AFC

Whether you’re in favour of their methods or not, the story is entirely unique to non-league and the unprecedented level of attention brought to the National League, as a result, has already led to sweeping changes to the way the division operates.

After pushing hard for the National League to allow match streams for international viewers, co-owner Reynolds’ wish was granted last month, when news broke that a streaming platform would be released in the new year.

Welcome to Wrexham
2022-10-13 20:20
The story everyone is talking about. From Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds comes FX’s Welcome to Wrexham. All episodes now streaming on @hulu. #WrexhamFX https://t.co/P4BG1UxbOR
726 22

Of course, there was still some discontent from Wrexham, who accused the National League of dragging their heels and not allowing clubs with the existing infrastructure to push on with their own streaming services.

While that rumbles on in the background, Wrexham are once again at the heart of another storm, this time surrounding the decision to televise their FA Cup First Round tie with Oldham.

wrexham-solihull-scunthorpe

The pair are two of six non-league sides across five FA Cup matches selected for broadcast, with Torquay United, South Shields, Hereford and Bracknell Town also being covered across the First Round weekend.

It sparked controversy as some believed the all-National League tie was not worthy of TV selection, with sides like Needham Market, Coalville Town and Alvechurch snubbed in their place.

With £50,0000 on offer to each side selected for coverage, it’s difficult to make the case for already-wealthy Wrexham to be awarded that cash ahead of a team lower down the pyramid.

Read: TV picks confirmed for FA Cup First Round weekend

For the likes of Needham Market, Coalville and Alvechurch, who travel to League One opponents Burton Albion, Charlton Athletic and Cheltenham Town respectively, the disappointment of missing out on television coverage will no doubt sting.

Coalville, who play in the Southern League Premier Division Central and progressed beyond Notts County to reach the First Round, took to Twitter to voice their frustration:

“Confirmation that we haven’t been selected for tele(vision) coverage,” the Tweet read, “Wrexham needed the £50k more than us anyway.”

Coalville Town FC
2022-10-20 14:48
Confirmation that we haven’t been selected for tele coverage. Wrexham needed the £50k more than us anyway 😅😅 However this still doesn’t guarantee we are playing on the Saturday but hope to confirm this by tomorrow evening 👍 https://t.co/8xef8T5o99
1432 77

However, from a broadcast point of view, while the Coalville tie would obviously represent a romantic pick, ‘smaller’ clubs going away to ‘bigger’ clubs in the FA Cup hasn’t always created the perfect formula for a cup upset.

Instead, traditionally it’s been when the smaller side has hosted EFL opposition at home the cameras have descended on a non-league ground, capturing the true magic of the FA Cup.

fa cup

Teams selected for broadcast in the FA Cup are awarded £50,000 in prize money

As for this year’s First Round, that privilege will be afforded to Southern League Premier Division South outfit Bracknell Town, who host League One challengers Ipswich Town at Bottom Meadow on Monday 7th September.

But where do Wrexham fall into all of this? Well, broadcasters have been accused of favouritism towards the Welsh side, for what some don’t believe is a tie worthy of television coverage.

The Wrexham story has whipped frenzy not only within non-league circles but in the wider football environment too, with worldwide attention afforded to the National League side on the back of their takeover.

Read: Non-league fans left furious with decision to broadcast Wrexham vs Oldham FA Cup tie

In the last round alone, both of Wrexham’s matches against National League North side Blyth Spartans were broadcast on American television station ESPN – a truly inconceivable move prior to Reynolds and McElhenney’s arrival.

Like it or not, people want to watch Wrexham and that’s something domestic broadcasters have picked up on. Eventually the novelty of their ownership may run out, but until that point, it really shouldn’t be a shock Wrexham’s games are picked for television.

It’s also important to remember there is another side in the discussion here too, with Oldham, who up until last season had been a Football League club for the majority of their existence, hold a significant reputation of their own.

Less than three decades ago Oldham were competing in the Premier League, with the Latics enduring a well-documented descent through the pyramid and eventually into non-league this season.

Granted, an all-National League tie may not offer the greatest variety across the First Round weekend, but it’s still a match between two household names competing for a place in the FA Cup Second Round and the decision to pick it for television coverage shouldn’t be deemed controversial at all.

Read Also
Non-league fans left furious with decision to televise Wrexham's FA Cup tie
Wrexham's FA Cup First Round tie with Oldham Athletic has been selected ...
Opinion: Reynolds is right, it’s about time the National League said yes to match streams
Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds may be leading the charge for clubs in ...
DAZN BET Promo
Premier League still the aim for Wrexham, believe Reynolds and McElhenney
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney believe Wrexham have the potential to reach ...
The Bosses’ Lounge (Vol. 28) – Neil Reynolds (FC United of Manchester)
He was afforded no smooth transition as he entered the FC United ...
The Bosses’ Lounge (Vol. 21) – Pete Wild (FC Halifax Town)
As the lifelong Oldham Athletic supporter overseeing an FA Cup ‘giant-killing’ as ...
Bookmaker of the Month
Bwin - Get Your Bonus Now! Get Your Bonus Now!
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
Rhino Bet
Rhino Bet
Rhino Bet Review
4.6/5
Betfred
Betfred
Betfred Review
4.6/5
SportingIndex
SportingIndex
SportingIndex Review
4.6/5
CopyBet
CopyBet
CopyBet Review
4.5/5
Sportingbet
Sportingbet
Sportingbet Review
4.5/5
Rhino Bet
Rhino Bet Bonus
Bet £25 Get £10
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Betfred
Betfred Bonus
Bet £10 get £40 in Bonuses
T&Cs apply, 18+
4.6/5
New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required
SportingIndex
SportingIndex Bonus
BET £10, GET £20 IN FREE BETS
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
*New UK & Eire clients only. 50% cashback on cumulative net losses on qualifying spread bets placed and settled within 7 days of account opening. Fully, partially or reverse closed bets do not qualify. Max cashback £500. Full terms apply. Spread betting involves risk. Losses can exceed deposits. Always bet responsibly. 18+
CopyBet
CopyBet Bonus
Bet £10 Get £40
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Sportingbet
Sportingbet Bonus
Claim Freebets & more
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Get up to £50 in FreeBets, an Odds Boost Token, 20 Free Spins and £10 Casino Bonus when you sign up to sportingbet today. Get rewarded as you complete our 4 Welcome Challenges, plus get an extra £20 FreeBet when you complete all 4.
Latest News
The FA Trophy - Favourites, Format and History
The English FA Trophy, which gives teams from ...
The Rise of Jamie Vardy, Chris Smalling & Jarrod Bowen: From Non League t...
As football evolves and develops, more and more ...
Ginger Joe - Betting Tips for Clonmel Thursday 7 December 2023
The big names are starting to come out ...
Ginger Joe - Betting Tips for the Alfred Dunhill Championship
Golf fans, the DP World Tour stays in ...
Ginger Joe - Countdown To Cheltenham - November 2023 - Series 3, Episode 2
For episode 2 of my Countdown To Cheltenham ...
Bookmaker of the Month
Bwin - Get Your Bonus Now! Get Your Bonus Now!
Betting Tips
10/12/2023 - 12:00 am
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Tip:
Over
1.90
Bet365
10/12/2023 - 2:00 pm
Kenilworth Road
Tip:
Over
1.86
Bet365
07/12/2023 - 8:15 pm
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Tip:
Spurs to win & over 3.5 goals
11/4
Ladbrokes
Our Team
James LeelandAmos MurphyGinger JoeMike McKeanJordan Noble
+6
James Leeland
James Leeland
Editor
Amos Murphy
Amos Murphy
Sports Writer
Ginger Joe
Ginger Joe
Expert Punter
Mike McKean
Mike McKean
Editor
Jordan Noble
Jordan Noble
Sports Writer
Alyx Tzamantanis
Alyx Tzamantanis
Editor
Jamie Clark
Jamie Clark
Contributor
Matthew O'Regan
Matthew O'Regan
Non League Tipster
Geoff Banks
Geoff Banks
Columnist
Dave Kuzio
Dave Kuzio
Content Manager
Zack Wilson
Zack Wilson
Contributor
Get the Best Deals via Mail
By providing my e-mail address, I declare that I agree that Betting.co.uk will regularly send me information by e-mail: I can revoke my consent at any time.

Users must be 18+. If you are having trouble with gambling then help and advice can be found at begambleaware.org. Please Play Responsibly.

Trading financial products carries a high risk to your capital, especially trading leverage products such as CFDs. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.

Move to Top
Close
Bwin Offer
×
Your Bonus Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site