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Nestled between the Welsh mountains and the English Cheshire border in the lower Dee Valley lies the north-eastern Welsh city of Wrexham. As a city, it’s nothing spectacular, ranking only 7th nationwide in size. Still, it does stand out for one reason — it’s home to Wrexham A.F.C., the oldest professional football (soccer) club in Wales and the third-oldest in the world.
What Else is Special About Wrexham A.F.C.?
Since the club’s foundation in 1864, nobody besides its die-hard fans would have called Wrexham a special place. Spending most of its long history languishing in the nether regions of the British pro football world, and even its last two decades outside the football league, Wrexham A.F.C. needed change.
With the decline of heavy industry in the area during the 1980s, the once-successful mining town, flourishing leatherworks district and home of Wrexham Lager brewery center, something had long needed change in the city, not only with the football club’s fortunes. While it won’t suddenly progress to being one of the best football clubs in the world, you would never have guessed that a single event would change Wrexham A.F.C.’s fortunes all at once in 2020.
Hollywood Comes to North-Eastern Wales
In September 2020, Wrexham A.F.C., and indeed the city of Wrexham’s fortunes began to change. Actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney (now Rob Mac) announced their intent to buy the club, subject to approval from the Wrexham Supporters Trust, for around $2.5 million.
They completed their 100% takeover of Wrexham A.F.C. in February 2021 and, as of early 2026, have invested over $27 million into the club. However, the co-owners’ efforts have been worthwhile, with Reynolds and Mac’s immense success as the messianic “Deadpool” superhero from the MCU and the vain, insecure pub co-owner from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” respectively standing them in good stead. To date, their venture into football ownership has been successful on the field and financially during their five years as partners.
The Winning Formula
From the beginning, Reynolds and Mac were regular visitors to the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham’s home stadium. As much as they brought some glitz and glamor to the city, so did Wrexham and its inhabitants infuse the famous pair with a local camaraderie and passion for the legendary red jersey.
Almost immediately, the two owners began production of a documentary series entitled “Welcome to Wrexham.” While undoubtedly a canny marketing scheme, the pair made the series in a way that enabled viewers to learn more about the football club, its players and staff, and its illustrious owners, while also providing a very personal and heartfelt synopsis of the city and its residents.
Neither Reynolds nor Mac ever gave anyone the impression that they knew anything about association football, except from the perspective of loyal and learning supporters. They both met the players and displayed a closeness akin to that of a growing footballing family. Still, on-field decisions were left entirely to the teams of professional nutritionists and training experts they carefully selected.
At the forefront of these from the very beginning was respected English manager Phil Parkinson. Before joining the “Hollywood” vision, Parkinson had achieved promotion with three different clubs and remains the only man to take an English fourth-tier club to the final of a major cup competition.
The biggest feat Reynolds and Mac achieved was getting Wrexham residents on board with their vision. Through the television documentary series, they made Wrexham real to millions of viewers, many of whom have since made pilgrimages to the city and the Racecourse Ground as new club supporters. It also promoted local businesses and hospitality within the city’s borders.
Success on the Pitch
While Reynolds and Mac used their financial know-how and wealth of contacts to ensure Wrexham A.F.C. grew from strength to strength behind the scenes, Phil Parkinson and his team compiled a squad of players that would, in past seasons, have been unheard of for an English non-league team.
While the season ended too early in 2021/22, as Wrexham finished second and missed out on promotion through the playoffs, 2022/23 saw the club win its first title in 45 years and return to the English Football League after an absence of 15 years.
In 2023/24, finished second in EFL League Two, enough to gain promotion to EFL League One. While the first team was achieving great things, the club had also grown its academy and Women’s team status, increasing its value with a record turnover for a League Two side during the season.
Back-to-Back-to-Back Promotions
Following Wrexham’s promotion to the EFL League One for 2024/25, the New York-based Allyn Family joined Reynolds and Mac by acquiring a 15% share in the club. This influx of funds raised Wrexham A.F.C.’s valuation to around $136 million, making it easier and more successful to compete in the third tier. By the time the end of the season arrived, Wrexham was second in the league table and assured of a third successive promotion, this time to the EFL’s second tier, the Championship.
With its promotion to the EFL Championship, the Welsh stalwart had achieved something no other professional football club in the land had — three straight promotions. Promotion to the second tier had also benefited Wrexham A.F.C. financially, with the ongoing success of the club documentary helping position it as an entity. The U.S. finance group, Apollo Sports Capital (ASC), also invested close to $50 million, with the club’s new valuation before the ASC deal already standing at over $470 million.
Talk about rags to riches. In a few short years, the Hollywood connection has turned the fortunes of Wrexham A.F.C. and its mother city around, while also seeing it reach the brink of the English Premier League, one of the richest leagues in the world.
2025/26 Possibilities
On 2 May 2026, Wrexham plays its 46th and last EFL Championship match of the season when the side takes on Middlesbrough at the Racecourse Ground, with its squad, management, fans and owners knowing a win will qualify Wrexham for the EPL Championship playoffs. Two further consecutive wins thereafter would see the overachieving Welsh outfit experience a fourth consecutive promotion and qualify for the renowned EPL.
While the chances are slim, it would take a brave person to back against Reynolds’ and Mac’s Hollywood connection after everything that’s happened before.
