Celebrities from Hollywood joined ardent supporters in rejoicing over Wrexham’s return to the Football League on Saturday.
Famous owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney saw the Welsh club come from behind to defeat Boreham Wood 3-1 alongside Ant-Man actor Paul Rudd.
Owners and supporters wept with delight as Wrexham rejoined the Football League after a 15-year absence.
Co-owner McElhenney stated, “We can hear how it feels to the town.”
At the conclusion of the game, emotional Wrexham supporters rushed out onto the field as their Hollywood owners, who made the club famous with their Disney+ We Are Wrexham documentary, sobbed in the directors’ box. Paul Mullin’s two goals had turned the sold-out Racecourse into a party.
Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds told BT Sport that the joyous Wrexham supporters were the reason why “why Wrexham?” had been asked in the beginning.
“I’m speechless, I’m not sure I can even process what happened tonight.”
Hollywood glitter elevates Wrexham to promotion success.
Boreham Wood was defeated by Wrexham to win the National League.
As it turned out: Wrexham secures promotion back to the Football League Fans, who once could only watch in horror as the club flirted with extinction and winding-up orders as it battled multi-million dollar debts more than ten years ago, hugged and punched the air as they witnessed Wrexham win the National League title with a record number of points.
“How it feels for the town is the most important to us. It’s a moment of catharsis and celebration for them. To be welcomed into this community and have this experience is the honour of my life,” McElhenney further stated to BT Sport.
Before Wrexham captain Ben Tozer raised the National League trophy, the owners stood alongside their team on the pitch and embraced the winners.
After a momentous evening and what their owners could refer to as a Hollywood ending, Wrexham players sang Queen’s hymn We Are The Champions in the locker room as fans poured out onto the streets.
Rarely has a team winning a championship in the fifth division of English football garnered such international attention, but Reynolds and McElhenney’s involvement, together with their behind-the-scenes series at the third-oldest club in the world, has made Wrexham’s victory newsworthy.
However, promotion is not simply the aspiration of their famous owners; thousands of Wrexham supporters, particularly those present at the sold-out Racecourse on Saturday night, have also had their fair share of heartache and anguish.
Supporter Laura Roberts said, “This is fantastic, this is amazing – I can’t speak I’m so happy, it’s the best day ever,” as she left the Racecourse.
“This is absolutely wonderful,” said Elwyn Davies, a Wrexham supporter since 1957, “I didn’t get much sleep last night, and I was anxious before the game, but we did it.”
Cali Howet, 11, who is excited to see her team play in the NFL for the first time in her life, said, “I can’t believe we won the league, but we all knew it would happen.”
It’s incredible; Ryan and Rob are wonderful and have done so much for the community.
The Prince of Wales tweeted his support for Wrexham’s promotion: “Congratulations Wrexham AFC.
“A team with such an incredible history is anticipating a very exciting future once it returns to the Football League. Making Wales proud,” tweeted Prince William.
Gary Lineker, a former England striker and host of Match of the Day, also expressed his congratulations to Wrexham on social media, and Mickey Thomas, a former Wales and Manchester United star who is now a legend at Wrexham, commended the club’s owners and players for securing promotion.
At halftime, workers at Maesgwyn Hall, where many fans were watching the game, announced that they had sold 6,600 pints so far and needed many more kegs to make it to the end of the game. The entire city came out to join the party.
Wrexham, on the other hand, found it difficult, as they were tied 1-1 at halftime and even fell behind when Boreham Wood scored first.
The leading scorer for Wrexham, Mullin, led an extraordinary comeback, scoring his 46th and 47th goals of the campaign to help Wrexham win their second championship in franchise history.
Actor Rudd, who has joined the ranks of Wrexham’s newest superstar supporters, was seen mingling with supporters, posing for photos, and singing songs in the pub next to the stadium before the big game, much to his joy.
The actor who plays McElhenney on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia continued, “I’d like to say Paul Mullin is one of the greatest football players in the world.”
Since Reynolds and McElhenney took control of the club in 2021, attendance at Wrexham matches has increased dramatically across the globe because to celebrities like Will Ferrell and David Beckham.
Rudd, though, was present for one of the pivotal matches in the team’s 159-year history.
Together, Mair Roberts, 81, and William Griffiths, 83, have attended Wrexham games for 100 years.
William stated that he had been a fan of Wrexham “for 60 odd years” prior to kickoff. When asked how the current season compares to the previous six decades, he responded, “It’s unbelievable, isn’t it? The owners we have are amazing.
Sister Mair, who has been attending for 40 years, predicted a 3-1 victory for Wrexham. She stated that she would be “dancing all night” if they were promoted.
Following a record-breaking season, only one point separates the two teams after title rivals Notts County’s victory over Maidstone earlier in the day.
When the teams met earlier this month, Wrexham’s victory was secured by former Premier League custodian Ben Foster’s last-second penalty save.
Sonny, a nine-year-old who was accompanying his father Doug to the game, claimed that he had never experienced a day quite like this one.
“I’m a little apprehensive and rather optimistic, but I think we’ll win… Before the game, he stated, “I’m simply incredibly pumped; I’m vibrating with enthusiasm.
The city of Wrexham has undergone significant change in the years following the takeover, according to Paris Trow, manager of Maesgwyn Hall in that city.
“It’s simply so much busier, with all the people pouring in… Everyone is mentioning Wrexham. Simply insane, she continued.
The Welsh language, Wales, Welsh culture, and everything else are all benefited greatly by it. It’s simply fantastic in every way.
