Fifth division in England
Promotion celebrations with Hollywood glamor in Wrexham, Wales
AFC Wrexham owners Rob McElhenney (l) and Ryan Reynolds (r) react in the stands. photo
© Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpa
Two acting stars in a football frenzy – in Wales. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s club is rising. There’s even royal congratulations for that.
Ryan Reynolds used his smartphone to film the memorable scenes that took place on the AFC Wrexham lawn. Hollywood pal Rob McElhenney was still wiping tears from his eyes. “I’m not entirely sure I’ve come to terms with what happened tonight,” Reynolds told BT Sport. “I’m still a bit speechless.”
Previously, Reynolds and McElhenney had cheered and also celebrated when their Welsh club had made promotion to League Two – the fourth division in England – perfect. Founded in 1864, AFC Wrexham, which describes itself as the third oldest football club in the world, is back in professional football after 15 years. The two Hollywood stars bought the club just over two years ago.
“What’s going through my head right now is that people kept asking at the beginning: Why Wrexham, why Wrexham? What’s happening right now is exactly why,” said Reynolds after the fans had already announced their team during the game 3-1 win over Boreham FC on the penultimate day of the National League. When the final whistle blew and the two acting buddies hugged in tears, the blissful supporters stormed the pitch by the thousands.
“We can hear what it means for this city,” said McElhenney to cheers from the fans. “The fact that we can experience this and be part of this community is the honor of life for me.”
The club can no longer be knocked out of first place in the National League with one game left. Wrexham has 110 points, four more than Notts County in second. Congratulations even came from Kensington Palace. “A club with such an amazing history looking forward to an exciting future in the Football League,” the Princess and Prince of Wales, Kate and William, wrote on Twitter. “You have made Wales proud.”