Wrexham's Journey from Obscurity to the Brink of Premier League Appearance
Blazing a Trail: Wrexham AFC's Unstoppable Climb to Championship
In a wild turn of events, Hollywood heavyweights Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took the helm of Wrexham AFC, a small-town Welsh football club struggling in the fifth tier of English football. Their dream? Leading this passionately supported team to the Premier League. Seemed like a pipe dream, but here we are.
With a 3-0 win against Charlton in 2025, they secured a spot in the Championship, marking Wrexham's third consecutive promotion. This streak is nothing short of extraordinary!
Let's dive into the glorious ascent of this fan-owned club, which has dazzled the world stage in a whirlwind of success:
The Takeover
That's right, folks! Two cinematic superstars, Reynolds (Deadpool fame) and McElhenney (the genius behind Always Sunny), actually bought a soccer club from a sleepy Welsh town of 45,000 souls. But it wasn't a joke; the pair were all business, convinced by fans on a Zoom call of their vision to make the team a global powerhouse. And so, they dropped $2.5 million on Wrexham AFC – the journey begins!
Escaping the Non-League System
First order of business? Exiting the National League and shaking off the club's perennial underdog status. Stationed in this division since 2008, it wasn't an easy climb.
With new manager Phil Parkinson, who had experience in the lower leagues, and backed by heavy spending on talent, like prolific striker Paul Mullin, Wrexham finished second in the National League, narrowly missing the automatic promotion spot, and lost in the playoff semifinals to Grimsby. Devastating, sure, but they would bounce back.
In the following season, a hard-fought battle with Notts County resulted in Wrexham earning the fifth-tier champion's title with a record points tally. The promotion path was sealed by a dramatic 3-2 victory over Notts County, featuring a last-minute penalty save from Ben Foster, a former Manchester United goalkeeper who resurrected his career for Wrexham.
"I'll never be the same again," a dazed Reynolds pronounced. Mission accomplished for Season 1 of their Emmy-winning docuseries, Welcome to Wrexham.
Transition to League Two
With their return to the English Football League in 15 years, expectations were running high. After a memorable postseason Vegas trip, the squad was bolstered by top-tier talent like Steven Fletcher, fans came in droves to pack the Racecourse Ground, and significant sponsorships poured in. United Airlines, Betty Buzz, and Aviation American Gin were just a few.
Parkinson once again delivered results in League Two, leading the squad to promotion at first attempt. The final push culminated in a 6-0 thrashing of Forest Green, which catapulted Wrexham to the second tier for the first time since 1982 and set off another celebration among the ecstatic fans.
Conquering League One
Wrexham's success in League Two paved the way for even greater triumphs. An influx of international recognition had the team on the map, drawing fans and players from all corners of the globe. Boosted by mid-season signings of several skilled strikers like Sam Smith, Wrexham cemented a second-place finish in League One, just behind Birmingham City, securing their return to the second tier for the first time in 43 years.
Ryan Reynolds was there for the thrilling Charlton win on Saturday, pulling pints ahead of the game at The Turf pub – connected to the stadium – and partying like a rockstar after the final whistle blew.
So, What's Next?
The Championship. That's what comes next for Wrexham AFC, as they set their sights on English football's highest division, the Premiership. A monumental challenge faces the team, with formidable opponents like Ipswich, Southampton, Leicester City, West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City, and Birmingham City – with NFL legend Tom Brady as a minority owner – all boasting recent Premiership experience.
Wrexham's Executive Director, Humphrey Ker, anticipates a dramatic increase in payroll (a reported 11 million pounds) to keep up with the demands of the Championship. With the renewed success of Welcome to Wrexham, Reynolds and McElhenney's dedication to the club remains undeterred. The future of the renovated Kop stand will be completed by the end of the 2025-2026 season, paving the way for Wales' National Team to potentially host qualifying matches at the Racecourse Ground.
Expect the caliber of players gracing the Racecourse to soar, as Wrexham pursues its lofty goal, possibly earning a spot among the most inspiring football stories in history.
- Hollywood celebrities Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought a soccer club from a small Welsh town, Wrexham AFC, with the intent of making it a global powerhouse.
- After purchasing the club, they aimed to lead Wrexham AFC out of the National League and transform their perennial underdog status.
- In their first season under new manager Phil Parkinson and with heavy investment in talent, Wrexham nearly secured automatic promotion but lost in the playoff semifinals.
- The following season, Wrexham won the National League championship with a record points tally and gained entry into League Two for the first time in 15 years.
- After securing promotion to League Two, Wrexham went on to conquer League One and reached the Championship, the second tier of English football, for the first time since 1982.
- With a spot in the Championship, Wrexham AFC set their sights on England's highest division, the Premier League, joining formidable opponents in pursuit of becoming one of the most inspiring football stories in history.
