In February 2021, Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney completed a £2million takeover of non-league minnows Wrexham.
At the time, Wrexham were a club on the periphery of British football's consciousness. Yet today, they are one of the most talked about teams in the country and have even become a household name in the United States. It's been a remarkable rise for the Welsh club... and one that wouldn't have been possible without their glamorous owners.
Reynolds' and McElhenney's takeover of Wrexham was met with some scepticism, with many fans wondering what the actors knew about football. Yet they confirmed their intentions during a chat with the club's trust members in November 2020.
Reynolds and McElhenney made a list of pledges to fans, with three of those sticking in the mind. These pledges were bold, to say the least, but they've delivered on all three.
"Win, win, win"
The American duo told Wrexham's fans: "[We want] to reward the faith of the supporters who have stood by Wrexham AFC through its history by putting everything we have towards what all fans want most for their club, and that is to... win, win, win."
The latter part of that statement is crucial. Wrexham have won A LOT since the takeover, with Phil Parkinson's side winning 33 of their 44 National League games that term. Remarkably, they've picked up 107 points... and there are still two fixtures remaining.
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That has all but secured promotion and a return to League Two after a 15-year absence, with Wrexham needing just one more win to get over the line. Furthermore, they are likely to continuing winning in the fourth tier - especially with Paul Mullin in the team.
Wrexham's talisman has scored 45 goals in all competitions this season to fire them within touching distance of the National League title. He's also a proven finisher at League Two level, finding the net 32 times for Cambridge during the 2020/21 campaign.
Wrexham have been relentless in their pursuit of victory since Reynolds and McElhenney turned up on the scene. There's no doubting they've delivered on that pledge.
"Reinforce the values"
Interestingly, the Hollywood pair told Wrexham's fans: "[We want] to reinforce the values, traditions and legacy of this community. We understand and respect the intense loyalty and love for this club and how it's woven into the fabric of the town and its supporters."
Without doubt, Reynolds and McElhenney have become part of the town's folklore. They both regularly attend games at the Racecourse and are always willing to interact with fans, whether that be in person or through the magic of social media.
Reynolds is even buying house in the village of Marford, which is located around six miles north of Wrexham. The club's owners may be used to sunny California (or Philadelphia, for that matter), but they've endeared themselves to the people of Wrexham.
"Global force"
As quoted by BBC Sport, Reynolds told the Wrexham fans: "This is the third-oldest [professional] club on the planet and we don't see why it can't have a global appeal. We want Wrexham to be a global force."
That seemed farfetched at the time, but they've delivered on that promise. Wrexham are now well known in the United States thanks to the Welcome to Wrexham docuseries, which followed Parkinson's side during their ultimately unsuccessful 2021/22 campaign.
A new series is expected to be released in due course, as Wrexham are set to tour the United States this summer. The Welsh club will even play Manchester United in a friendly in July, with legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson promoting the fixture.
They've also become very popular within the UK. Both of their memorable FA Cup ties against Premier League-bound Sheffield United were televised, and they are a regular fixture on the back pages (including our very own). The Brits can't get enough of them!
