A Look at the Famous Wrexham FC Owners
By
Blake Roberts
Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 25 September 2023
Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief
Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.
Wrexham FC Owners
- Meet the New Wrexham FC Owners
- Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney: Wrexham Takeover
- Ownership Timeline: 2020 to 2023
- The ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ Documentary
- The Future of Wrexham FC
- Frequently Asked Questions
In the world of soccer, few stories have captured the imagination quite like the takeover of Wrexham by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. This unlikely duo completely shocked the soccer world and brought new light to the oldest soccer club in Wales, transforming it from a struggling team on the brink of bankruptcy, to a team once again in the English Football League.
Today, we will look at the story behind the Wrexham FC owners, and the timeline of events that led to the team’s new life.
Meet the New Wrexham FC Owners
Wrexham AFC is the oldest soccer club in Wales with a history dating back to 1864. However, back in 2020 they found themselves in trouble; they were virtually broke, weren’t doing well, and were even losing their loyal fans who’d been with them for years. However, the direction of the club saw a huge change when Hollywood actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds revealed they would be purchasing it.
Their takeover marked the beginning of a new era for the club, with a renewed focus on community engagement, infrastructure development, and on-field success. The new Wrexham FC owners completely changed the club, and today, they’re a team on the up!
Today’s post will look at the new Wrexham AFC owners in depth, and answer burning questions like how much did Ryan Reynolds pay for Wrexham AFC? Remember, if you want to find online sportsbooks with soccer betting, make sure you check out our recommended sportsbooks, too!
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney Wrexham Takeover
Wrexham AFC, based in North Wales, is a club steeped in history. Founded in 1864, it is the third oldest professional soccer club in the world and the oldest in Wales. Despite its rich history, the club had been struggling in recent years, languishing in the National League, the fifth tier of English soccer. However, that all changed when the Hollywood owners took over – and things have (mostly) been on the up ever since.
The takeover was met with overwhelming approval from the Wrexham Supporters Trust, with 98.6% of members voting in favor. The new owners promised to re-energize the club and invest in its future, both on and off the pitch. They also pledged to strengthen the club’s ties with the local community and use their global reach to put Wrexham on the international map.
Under the new ownership, Wrexham AFC has undergone significant changes. The club has seen an influx of investment, with funds being allocated to the women’s soccer section, the redevelopment of the Racecourse Ground, and the recruitment of new players and staff. The club has also seen a boost in its profile, with Reynolds and McElhenney using their star power to attract new fans and sponsors.
The impact of the takeover has been felt on the pitch as well. After narrowly missing out on promotion in their first season, the club managed to return to the English Football League for the first time in 15 years the following season. This success has been attributed to the new owners’ commitment to improving the team’s performance and the appointment of experienced manager Phil Parkinson.
Off the pitch, the club has also seen a dramatic increase in popularity. A lot of this can be attributed to the release of the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary that has brought global attention to the club and the town. The documentary, which shows the journey of Reynolds and McElhenney as they navigate the world of soccer ownership, has been a hit with fans and critics alike.
Today, the future looks bright for Wrexham AFC. With the backing of Reynolds and McElhenney, the club has reclaimed its place in the EFL and continues its upward trajectory. The new owners have shown that they are committed to the long-term success of the club and are willing to invest in its future.
Ownership Timeline: 2020 to 2021
The journey of Wrexham AFC under its fresh leadership is full of notable events. The sale of the club was officially finalized in February 2021, with Humphrey Ker stepping into the role of executive director for the team. In the following month, Fleur Robinson assumed the position of CEO, departing from Burton Albion.
In May, the club hired developers to renovate the Racecourse Ground; it was expensive, but proved to be a major success, and fans were ecstatic with the new design. Unfortunately, the team finished the season in eighth place in the National League, failing to qualify for the playoffs. In July, Phil Parkinson was recruited as the manager, with his long-standing assistant Steve Parkin also joining the team.
To many fans’ surprise, Paul Mullin, League Two’s top scorer in the previous season, joined Wrexham – a move that proved to be important for the club.
In the latter stages of 2021, the new stand – WREXRENT – was officially opened, and the pitch then got its turn for a full makeover. Reynolds and McElhenney attended their first game as owners, although unfortunately, they saw their team lose 3-2 to Maidenhead.
While things have generally been on the up for the team, they have faced several setbacks. We’ll take a look at these in the section below.
2022-Present
In May, Wrexham experienced a double setback. After securing the second spot in the league, they were ousted from the NL playoffs by Grimsby Town, while Bromley beat them 1-0 in the FA Trophy final at Wembley.
However, just a couple of months later, in August, the first season of ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ premiered on Hulu, FX, and other channels in the US. In the UK and Ireland, it was pushed out on Disney+. The show was a resounding success, and it worked wonders for the club, putting them into the mainstream and attracting more publicity than ever.
Later that year, in December, Reynolds and McElhenney were honored by Wrexham’s council, credited with helping to boost the city’s profile and bring new revenue in.
In the early stages of 2023, Wrexham was the sole club from the National League to make it to the FA Cup’s 4th round. In doing so, they managed to draw with Sheffield United and force a replay, although Wrexham were eliminated from the tournament in the return leg. However, in March, the team managed to bring Ben Foster – a former England keeper – back to the game to join the club!
In April 2023, Wrexham saw one of the biggest moments in their recent history – promotion to League 2 of the National Football League. They finished top of the National League, with 111 points, ensuring automatic promotion.
Here’s a brief rundown of significant moments of the time of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney at Wrexham.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 2020 | Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney acquire Wrexham AFC |
| February 2021 | The takeover deal is officially completed |
| May 2021 | Architects are appointed to oversee the redevelopment of the Racecourse Ground |
| July 2021 | Phil Parkinson is hired as the manager |
| April 2023 | Wrexham scores the most points in a single season of the National League, breaking a record |
The ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ Documentary
If you do a Google search for “Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney soccer”, there’s a good chance the first result will be Welcome to Wrexham. It’s one of the reasons why the club is so well-known in the first place, and the series showcases the journey of Reynolds and McElhenney as they enter the world of soccer team ownership.
The documentary, which was released in August 2022, has been a hit with fans and critics alike. It brought significant global attention to the club and the town and has been incredibly important in boosting the club’s profile. The series provides a unique insight into the workings of a soccer club, from the boardroom to the dressing room, and shows the highs and lows of a soccer season.
The series also shows the many challenges the owners face – as well as the ongoing commitments they make to the club and community. It’s a fascinating look into their efforts to re-invent the club, giving viewers an in-depth look at their investment strategies and player recruitment drives. It also provides a glimpse into their vision for the future of the club, and their determination to return Wrexham to the upper echelons of English soccer.
The Future of Wrexham AFC
The future looks promising for Wrexham AFC, and the club’s new owners appear to be going down well with the fans! With the club returning to the EFL for the first time in more than fifteen years, the owners’ vision and investment seem to be paying off. When the team returned to the National Football League, it didn’t just benefit the club, as the local community also benefitted hugely.
Clearly, the new owners have shown that they are committed to the long-term success of the club. They have invested in infrastructure, player recruitment, and community engagement, and have used their global reach to boost the club’s profile. Their efforts have re-energized the club and given fans hope for a brighter future. If they’re able to remain financially viable, it’s likely we’ll see the club continue to flourish under their leadership.
As the club stands on the brink of a new era, the excitement and anticipation among fans and the wider Wrexham community are palpable. With the backing of Reynolds and McElhenney, the club will hope they can make an impact on League Two!
