When it comes to the biggest fairytales in football, one of the first things that springs to mind instantly is the remarkable journey of Wrexham. The Welsh club is one of the most talked-about football clubs of recent times, largely because of the celebrity status of its co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
However, the former minor league team has also made its mark and uneclipsed itself from the worldwide fame and recognition by producing the goods on the field.
The Hollywood takeover
Since the Hollywood pair completed the buyout in 2021, Wrexham have been promoted twice. And if results go their way on Saturday, Wrexham will seal promotion to the Championship – the second division of English football and a league which many call even tougher than the Premier League.
If promotion is sealed this weekend, Wrexham will join the likes of 2016 champions, Leicester City. Remarkably, Reynolds and McElhenney changed the fortunes of Wrexham in the same year when Leicester were crowned FA Cup winners.
Wrexham’s ascent through the leagues
With two games to play in the ongoing edition, Wrexham sit second in League One and will be promoted with a win over Charlton on Saturday. They would also need third-place Wycombe to lose or draw against Leyton Orient. Meanwhile, Birmingham, at the top of the standings, are already guaranteed a spot in the top tier.
“I have, literally, like an 8-inch ulcer in my stomach right now because it’s the end of the season,” Deadpool star and Wrexham co-owner Reynolds told the TIME100 Summit this week. “It all comes down to the next two weeks. They just can’t do it easy, like just one year let’s do it without having receding hairlines all around. We’re all losing it. Stress (is) killing us.”
Wrexham FC has a taste for drama, last-gasp wins and losses. It is one of the many reasons that has helped the globally-streamed docuseries “Welcome to Wrexham” become so popular.
“That’s not a consolation at all,” Reynolds said.
Wrexham’s rise under Reynolds and McElhenney has been nothing but astronomical.
If all goes according to the script this weekend, Wreham would seal their third straight promotion. The milestone, if achieved, is nothing short of remarkable, despite the financial boost that comes with having celebrity owners, as big-money investment and fame are not a guarantee for success.
Manchester United icons, including David Beckham, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, haven’t managed to move up beyond League Two with their team, Salford, despite putting money and fame into the club.
Wrexham have left Salford in their wake and would be within one division of Manchester United if they secure promotion.
The Welsh club has witnessed success both on and off the field. The never-ending craze of the hugely popular streaming series and a massive turnover of 26.7 million pounds ($34.5 million) last season. The whopping 155% rise in revenue helped repay all of its loans to shareholders.
Wrexham is no longer a team that has a down-on-its-luck element in its story. It is moving like a high-speed train, fast approaching the Premier League.
Wrexham AFC’s remarkable journey, fuelled by celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is on the cusp of another milestone. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
