They say good things come in threes, but not even the most optimistic of fans would have expected things to be going quite this great for Hollywood-backed football team Wrexham AFC, after the side clinched a third successive promotion, taking them into the second division of the English football league.
Wrexham, who have shot to fame since appointing American actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as owners back in 2020, sealed promotion with a 3-0 win over rivals Charlton Athletic last weekend. The result ensured the team will now finish the season with enough points to qualify for automatic promotion into The Championship (the name of the second-highest league in the English football system).
The final whistle of the match was followed by scenes of jubilation, as fans, both at the club’s historic Racecourse ground and watching on around the world, celebrated this remarkable achievement. Also joining in the celebrations were owners Rob and Ryan (plus Ryan’s wife, actress Blake Lively), who were in the stadium to experience the historic moment, and headed down onto the pitch after the game to take photos with the players and absorb the joyful atmosphere.
Speaking after Wrexham sealed promotion, striker Sam Smith, who scored in the crucial game against Charlton, told the BBC, ‘It's history. That's something none of us will ever forget. I don't think it'll ever be done again. It's an incredible achievement and it just shows how good the football club is and everyone behind the scenes.’
When Rob and Ryan took the reins at Wrexham the team were in the far-from-glamorous fifth division of the football league, but, after only four seasons, have now jumped all the way into the second division. It’s not just the results on the pitch that have improved either. Thanks to the globally-streamed documentary, Welcome to Wrexham, the club’s profile has taken a major uplift, and the team now boasts fans from across the USA and beyond.
Crucially, the success and fanfare around the club has also boosted recognition for the city of Wrexham and wider region, with the American owners continually showcasing their affection for the city, which Ryan recently described as feeling “like home” and as a place “that values community, decency and history".
The question is, can they go one step further and make it into The Premier League, the top division of the football league system? Perhaps, for Wrexham, good things come in fours…
Delve further into the Wrexham AFC fairy tale, or learn more about the attractions on offer during a city break to Wrexham.