Ryan Reynolds has stated that Wrexham has made “history,” despite critics who believed he and fellow co-owner Rob McElhenney were either joking or unrealistic in their hopes of reaching the Premier League.
On Saturday, the Welsh club secured their third consecutive promotion, earning a spot in the Championship and moving one step closer to the top flight.
Reynolds and McElhenney, both Hollywood stars, were present at the SToK Racecourse to witness Wrexham’s 3-0 victory over Charlton in their Sky Bet League One match.
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In an Instagram post on Sunday, the 48-year-old actor reflected, saying, “It feels like we’ve been with Wrexham for just a blink of an eye, but so much has already happened.”
I remember our first press conference, where we were asked about our goals… and I think Rob jumped in with, “The Premier League.”
“People laughed. They had every right to. It seemed crazy… But we weren’t joking.”
Ryan Reynolds went on to say he feels at “home” in Wrexham, describing it as a place that “values community, decency, and history.” He reflected on the town’s deep respect for its past, citing the 1934 mining fire and the Gresford Colliery disaster, as well as the “hope and miracles” inspired by former Wrexham and Manchester United player Mickey Thomas, who was also present at the match on Saturday.
Reynolds celebrated the club’s achievement of “making history” with their third promotion, crediting manager Phil Parkinson and his coaching staff for their wisdom, as well as the team’s talent. He also praised Sam Smith for his impressive performance, following midfielder Oliver Rathbone’s opening goal, and said, “I watched Sam Smith create a frightening blend of football and martial arts to score our second goal.”
“The stadium feels like a church,” Reynolds added. “I know so many of you now. Since February 2021, I’ve watched babies grow up to be regulars, and some regulars leave us for good. We’ve had the honor of scattering ashes of loved ones across that field. I’ve even seen every available hand shovel snow off the pitch to keep a match from being canceled.”
He continued, “Someone once said the Welsh have the ‘heart of a poet and the fist of a fighter.’ That’s what I love about this place. I wish the whole world could visit Wrexham. Diolch (thank you).”
Alongside the post, Reynolds shared photos of himself hugging McElhenney, celebrating with his wife Blake Lively, and joining the team in their victory.
Since McElhenney and Reynolds took over in February 2021, Wrexham has achieved incredible success, earning their second promotion to League One last year after securing a spot in League Two in 2023. Their journey has captured global attention, thanks in part to the FX documentary series Welcome to Wrexham, which has run for three seasons and earned eight Emmy awards. A fourth season is set to air next month.
The club has also attracted royal visits from the Prince of Wales, as well as King Charles and Queen Camilla, along with appearances from celebrities like Hugh Jackman.
In 2022, McElhenney and Reynolds were honored with the Dragon Award by the Welsh Government, the Football Association of Wales, and S4C for their promotion of Wales and its language.
