Fans from all over the Central Coast welcomed Welsh football club Wrexham AFC and English Premier League team AFC Bournemouth to UC Santa Barbara’s Harder Stadium on July 20, 2024. 

Harder Stadium was the first stop on the Wrex Coast Tour 2024, a round of preseason games played by Wrexham AFC, a professional football club and the subject of the FX documentary series “Welcome to Wrexham.” The show follows celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney trying to turn the underdog Wrexham Red Dragons into a household name. “Welcome to Wrexham” brought American fans into the passionate world of English football, and Santa Barbara fans emanated this boisterous energy in the stands. 

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, and fans milled about the Wrexham AFC fan experience in the hours before the match. Fans enjoyed a merchandise stand, players signing team photos, free food and drinks and a photo op with Wrexham’s mascot Wrex the Dragon in the parking lot next to Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. As it was the Wrex Coast Tour, AFC Bournemouth had just one tent selling merchandise towards the back of the lot. A total of 13,332 fans entered the sold-out Harder Stadium in red-colored droves, ready for the match to begin.

Kick-off began a somewhat reserved half. As this was a friendly match, both teams were reluctant to reveal their strengths from the get-go. Each team had chances to score a goal, but Wrexham looked more likely to break through Bournemouth’s defenses. In the 39th minute, Wrexham striker Jack Marriott relayed the ball to fellow striker Sam Dalby, but he couldn’t get a good touch on it.  

The half nearly ended scoreless, until Wrexham’s James McClean hit a lofty corner kick into the center of the box in stoppage time. Bournemouth defender James Hill attempted to head the ball out of bounds but instead sent it soaring into the Bournemouth net for an own goal. A heartbreaking end to the first half for Bournemouth but joyous for the Dragons. Some fans, clearly familiar with the traditions of UCSB soccer, sent tortillas flying onto the pitch. 

Halftime saw six substitutions for Bournemouth and an appearance from Wrexham Co-Owner Rob McElhenney, best known for his work in “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” McElhenney watched from a VIP area on the far side of the stadium, bumping elbows with other stars like minority Bournemouth owner Michael B. Jordan. 

Bournemouth’s substitutions proved useful as the Cherries dominated early in the second half, putting immense pressure on the Wrexham defense. Bournemouth equalized in the 53rd minute when midfielder Philip Billing’s bicycle kick was headed in by center-back Marcos Senesi. Bournemouth kept the pressure up, putting Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo to work defending several shots on goal.

Bournemouth continued to command the field until the 65th minute, when Wrexham made 11 substitutions, changing out the entire team. The crowd roared as some of the familiar faces of “Welcome to Wrexham” hit the pitch. Striker Ollie Palmer and midfielder Jordan Davies finally got some playing time. The match was on at that point, both teams fighting for just one goal to put their club on top. 

Despite late-game chances from Palmer and Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke, the game ended in a draw between the two professional teams. Ultimately, it was quite an impressive result for Wrexham, considering that AFC Bournemouth sits two divisions above them, in the Premier League. Wrexham AFC and AFC Bournemouth may have played a friendly match, but they made UCSB history by bringing “football” back to Harder Stadium for the first time since 1992.

A version of this article appeared in the Aug. 29 print edition of the Daily Nexus.