Wrexham AFC, the clock’s ticking! They achieved that promotion to the Championship last season after a phenomenal campaign, finishing runners-up in Sky Bet League Two. With a very respectable haul of 88 points, the club finished only six points behind champions Stockport County. Qualifying for the tournament will be a huge accomplishment for the small-market club. This Hollywood star takeover by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in late 2020 has really changed the club’s fortunes.
The team’s success is multifaceted. Wrexham not only had a near-perfect home record—22 wins, one draw, and no defeats—but showcased a strong defensive performance, conceding fewer goals across the top four divisions of English football. This season, just five teams have conceded fewer goals than Wrexham. Among those clubs are Premier League powerhouses such as Arsenal and Liverpool.
The Impact of Celebrity Ownership
What Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney have done at Wrexham has been truly revolutionary. After experiencing some initial deal drama, in February 2021 the duo officially closed on their purchase of the team. An equally impressive 98.6% of Wrexham Supporters Trust members voted in favour of the deal. Since then, they’ve heavily reinvested in the club and its infrastructure—including on-the-pitch talent.
With their new celebrity status, the duo has brought worldwide attention to Wrexham, improving the club’s brand and growing its fanbase. During a recent interview, Reynolds could hardly contain the profound emotional attachment he’s formed with the fan-fueled club, saying,
“A few years ago, if you told me I would be crying tears of joy over a football match taking place in North Wales, you would be Rob McElhenney.”
Reynolds and McElhenney’s partnership has further elevated the team’s resources to attract prominent players. This investment not only improves community facilities but aids clubs in their efforts to achieve promotion to leagues with higher standards.
Management and Team Performance
Phil Parkinson took the reins as Wrexham’s manager in July 2021 and has since proved to be instrumental in the club’s ascent through the leagues. Under his leadership, Wrexham has earned three promotions in as many seasons. Parkinson reiterated her desire for a more sustainable model of constructing a competitive team. He remarked,
“So we’ve had to fast-track the quality level within the group, while also looking at the sustainable model for a football club going forward.”
Striker Paul Mullin was the team’s most valuable player and League One’s most valuable player this season. He netted a staggering 26 times in only 38 league appearances. His additions have been crucial in bringing home important points all season long. Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has made headlines with the most clean sheets in League One with 17 shutouts.
“In years to come, we need to produce our own players because when it gets to a level that you can’t always compete in the transfer market with teams in and around you, it’s nice to have players coming through.”
Wrexham’s path to this moment has been anything but easy. During the remainder of the season, they were in a dramatic contest with Notts County, with both teams pushing each other to the limit as they chased promotion. Parkinson noted,
The Road Ahead
Even with that eye-popping record, featuring ten 1-0 wins out of 24 victories, the road was filled with tension for Wrexham. We all witnessed their tenacity and talent. All that hard work paid off with a historic 3-0 victory over Charlton Athletic—sealing their promotion in the process.
“We’ve been in this situation before in the National League with Notts County where we went toe to toe with them. All you can do is control what you can control – and that’s your own performance level.”
Despite their impressive results, including ten 1-0 victories out of 24 wins, Wrexham’s path was fraught with pressure. However, they prevailed with determination and skill, culminating in a historic 3-0 victory over Charlton Athletic that sealed their promotion.
Leave a Reply