SUMMARY
- Wrexham AFC is one of the oldest clubs in the soccer world, having been through a lot due to financial and managerial issues.
- Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney resurrected the club and with them in the charge, the Welsh club seems to be slowly getting back to its feet.
Wrexham is one of the most exciting teams in the English soccer. The club was once close to ceasing from existence. Financial and management issues had put the club in a very tight spot. But, once the Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took over the reins, there was no looking back for the Welsh club. Wrexham is now using its global popularity to achieve its dream of playing in England’s top divisions someday.
Come for the goal, stay for the celebration 😍
🔴⚪️ #WxmAFC pic.twitter.com/u1QPh95dxL
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) January 1, 2024
Behind its meteoric rise in the soccer world is the hard work of the co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Hollywood duo has perfectly marketed the club and portrayed the history of the club in the documentary ‘Welcome to Wrexham.’ The third-oldest club in the world has now become a well-known entity in the soccer world.
The owners have put in a lot of time and effort behind the Welsh club. The duo of Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds regard the club as a family and are responsible for creating a wholesome fan community. They believe that a great club can operate well only if the owners are as dedicated to their jobs as the players and staff of the club.
UP. THE. TOWN! FX’s Welcome to Wrexham will return for season 3. Stream on @hulu. #WrexhamFX pic.twitter.com/hm0lHKysFZ
— Welcome to Wrexham (@WrexhamFX) November 14, 2023
Wrexham striker, Steven Fletcher gave the perfect description of Ryan Reynolds’ concern for his players. He said (via AP), “You come off the pitch after scoring a goal, and Ryan texts you before my wife does.”
The former Premier League striker with Sunderland has been utterly impressed with the developments around the club. The Scot even believed that the 4th tier club in connectivity with the fans is better than some of the PL teams.
He said, “When you come in, even for just training days, there’s loads of people around the stadium. I’ve played for Premier League teams and you don’t see that.” For now, however, Wrexham would want to enjoy its soccer before chasing its long-cherished dream of playing in the PL.
Wrexham is creating a buzz around the club by aiming to play in the Premier League
The Welsh team was promoted in the 23/24 season to League 2, the fourth tier of the English soccer pyramid. The club wants to use this enthusiasm in a bid to achieve back-to-back promotions. Wrexham has come a long way and realized its dream of becoming a global soccer force.
The Welsh club has made unfathomable progress. The once bruised and battered club is now making huge strides both on and off the pitch. The Wrexham AFC games at its home in the Racecourse Ground often see sold-out crowds. The game on New Year’s Day of 2024 against Barrow saw a season-high attendance of 12,233. The number is remarkable considering it was a 4-tier League game.
The atmosphere around the stadium has reportedly a very American feel to it. The fans turn up to the Wrexham games wearing NFL caps. Also, several ads from American companies flood the stadium hoardings.
Happy New Year, @Wrexham_AFC 🏴🏴 https://t.co/heZQhkegvC
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) January 1, 2024
Wrexham has an important FA Cup tie with neighbors Shrewsbury Town on January 7, 2023. The club would be looking to replicate its success in the competition in the 22/23 season when they reached the 4th round.
Paul Mullin who plays for the Welsh club said this about his team’s FA Cup hopes, “Last year was phenomenal and I think it gave us more belief than we had in the first place. We were competing against better sides higher up the divisions and giving them more than a game over the times we did play them. We’ll try to use the FA Cup this season to do the same.”
The club is hoping to progress far in the world’s oldest domestic cup competition in the 23/24 edition. With the current attitude of inclusivity and playing for the badge, only sky is the limit for Wrexham.