In the heart of Sydney’s bustling Central Business District, tucked away down a quiet laneway, there’s a little slice of North Wales that’s been winning hearts and pouring pints — all thanks to the unlikely rise of Wrexham AFC under its now-famous Hollywood ownership.
York Lane, once a struggling bar in the city’s CBD, has reinvented itself with a proud Wrexham AFC theme, complete with club memorabilia, a mural of co-owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, and even Wrexham Lager on tap. What began as a nod to a touching underdog story has turned into a full-blown phenomenon — and business has never been better.
“It’s down to my friend Mike,” says bar owner Dieter Steinbusch, with a smile. “He recommended the series Welcome to Wrexham, and the story just mirrored what I was trying to do here. It gave me hope — and a theme!”
Mike Roberts, originally from Wrexham, emigrated to Australia as a “Ten Pound Pom” when he was just 10. Now 67, he’s lived in Australia for most of his life, but his roots remain deeply tied to the North Wales town — and he’s watched in amazement as his hometown club has captured imaginations Down Under.
“Three years ago, if I mentioned Wrexham, people would just stare blankly,” Mike recalls. “Now, I’m not joking — one in three people not only know the team, they actually follow it. It’s just stunning.”
That following is set to grow even more as Wrexham prepares for its highly anticipated pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand this July. The Red Dragons will face Melbourne Victory at Marvel Stadium on the 11th, Sydney FC at the Allianz Stadium on the 15th, and finish their tour against Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand on the 19th.
The excitement in York Lane is already building.
“We’re going to Melbourne and Sydney,” says Mike. “But what’s even better is all of my friends are going too. They just love this thing — the story, the spirit. There’s nothing else like it.”
Dieter, too, is swept up in the magic. When Wrexham secured their third successive promotion, he handed out free Wrexham Lager to celebrate. “My punters love it,” he laughs. “It’s like Aussie beer — but better! Goes down very well indeed.”
The bar has since become an unofficial clubhouse for Aussie Wrexham supporters, with fans often stopping by before heading back to the UK. “When they come to visit — even though I’ve never met them before — it’s just like family. It’s brilliant,” Dieter says warmly.
There’s even a budding transcontinental landlord friendship blossoming. Dieter has struck up a connection with Wayne Jones, landlord of The Turf pub, which sits just outside the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham. Regulars have helped carry items — including a York Lane t-shirt — from one pub to the other, building a symbolic bridge between the two communities.
“It’s great to be so far away, yet feel so, so close,” Dieter reflects.
As the cameras get ready to roll again for the fourth season of Welcome to Wrexham, Dieter and Mike are hoping the show’s stars might find their way to York Lane.
“It’s a bit tucked away — you wouldn’t stumble across it unless you knew where to look,” admits Mike. “But if Rob and Ryan want to visit, they’ll be very, very welcome.”
And Dieter’s message to the duo? “Just come and find us. There’ll always be a welcome for you here.”
For Dieter, the Wrexham story has rekindled a sense of joy he hasn’t felt since watching Cathy Freeman win Olympic gold in Sydney in 2000. “That was unforgettable,” he says. “But this… this is right up there.”
So, whether it’s football, fate, or a frothy pint of Wrexham Lager — something special is brewing in a little bar halfway around the world.
