The Hollywood story that began in the modest National League is about to write a new golden chapter. Wrexham AFC, the Welsh club owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is just one step away from completing its third consecutive promotion in England. With two games remaining in League One, the Red Dragons are in second place in the standings, which would allow them to be promoted directly to the Championship, the second tier of English soccer.
A milestone that, if achieved, would place Wrexham among the few clubs that have been able to climb from semi-professional football to the elite in such a short period of time, and all under the impetus of two Hollywood actors.
On April 22, 2023, Wrexham celebrated their promotion to the National League, after 15 years trapped in non-league football. Today, exactly two years later, Phil Parkinson’s side are on the verge of confirming their leap to the Championship.
Owners involved… even in the away stand
The Wrexham project would not be the same without the personal involvement of its owners. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have gone far beyond financial investment. Both have followed closely every step of the team, both from the United States and ‘in situ’. McElhenney himself was seen in the last match against Blackpool accompanying Wrexham fans in the away stand, experiencing the match as just another fan.
In addition, the international visibility they have given the club and the successful documentary “Welcome to Wrexham” have turned the Welsh team into a global phenomenon. But beyond the spectacle, the sporting results support the project.
Veteran Premier League
Part of Wrexham’s sporting success this season lies in the experience of their dressing room. The club has surrounded itself with players with top-flight experience, such as Jay Rodriguez and Steven Fletcher (the team’s top scorer in League One), two strikers with extensive Premier League experience. These signings, which in other contexts might seem exotic, fit in with the ambitious roadmap of the Welsh project: to combine young talent with established figures to accelerate sporting growth.
Key match for promotion
Next Saturday at 18:30 could be decisive. Wrexham will host Charlton Athletic at the Racecourse Ground, a team that, curiously, has been indirectly key to keeping alive the hope of direct promotion. The Londoners thrashed Wycombe Wanderers 4-0, a direct rival of the Welsh side in the fight for the top places in the table, thus facilitating the situation for Parkinson’s side. A victory against Charlton could mathematically seal the jump to the Championship, as long as other favorable results are achieved.
A village team, a dedicated fan base and two movie actors have shaped a reality that now surpasses fiction. The dream of returning to the elite of English football, after decades of ostracism, is now closer than ever.
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