da pinnacle： Ollie Palmer sat down with GOAL to discuss his ever-changing life at Wrexham and the "surreal" experiences that come with playing for the club.
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Wrexham star Palmer speaks to GOALStriker opens up on life at the clubRecently spotted at Met GalaGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
The 32-year-old striker signed with Wrexham in January 2022 and quickly became a fan-favorite with the club. He's been crucial to the club's back-to-back promotions, having scored 41 goals in 118 appearances to help lead the Welsh club from the National League all the way up to League One.
Wrexham's rise has come with the eyes of the world on the club thanks to its ownership group. Actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have turned the Welsh club into a Hollywood juggernaut, largely thanks to FX's series "Welcome to Wrexham", which has allowed fans all over the world to follow the team's rise.
As a result, players like Palmer have become international celebrities, opening doors to opportunities that are unfathomable for players in the lower leagues. Palmer, for example, recently was spotted at an afterparty for the Met Gala, and the striker told GOAL that even he finds the whole situation to be surreal.
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"Yeah, I mean the Met Gala after-party was pretty surreal," Palmer told GOAL. "Me and my wife got ourselves in there and just enjoyed the performance from Raye. It was a pretty surreal experience. It was really cool to be there and kind of enjoy that environment.
"With Rob and Ryan, they're so approachable. They're so genuine and they make you feel so comfortable. And after a few years of building a relationship with them, it must sound so stupid, but it just becomes kind of really normal.
"I just think they're both great guys. They're both genuine. They're there for you, they reach out. They're both very busy guys, so for them to be able to make so much time for not only myself, but the rest of the lads, it just shows how much they think of Wrexham and the football club."
He added:" I knew I'd signed for Ryan and Rob's football club. They've put us on a show which has been broadcasted around the world and it's fun. I'd be lying if I didn't say it wasn't fun, but you just kind of grow to get used to it, really.
"It's not just happened overnight, has it? The show's been going on now for the last three years and you just become accustomed to how everyone's been treated."
GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Palmer went on to praise both of the club's owners, offering specific examples of how involved the duo are.
McElhenney was recently with the team for its celebratory Las Vegas trip, where he linked up with the players to put a stamp on a promotion season. Reynolds, meanwhile, is never too far, either, with Palmer offering a story to show just how close the actor is with the players at the club.
"When I was injured and I found myself out of the team, coming back from injury, a lot of people don't reach out to you when you're not in the team," Palmer said. "When you're scoring and when you're winning games, you'll hear from everyone, but Ryan reached out to me about three weeks in and he just said, 'Keep going Olly, I can't wait to see you back out there, we need you,' and that meant a lot because he didn't have to do that. Not even some of my own best mates have done that! That just shows how down-to-earth they are and how much they care.
"Just two good guys that get along with everyone, not just myself, they get along with everyone."
Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?
Prior to playing for Wrexham, Palmer, too, had quite a rise through the leagues. After spending the first five years of his career in the Conference League. Palmer played in League Two with Mansfield Town, Leyton Orient, Lincoln City and Crawley Town. He then played two seasons in League One with AFC Wimbledon before signing with Wrexham in 2022.