Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are two men who have grown accustomed to getting what they want in life. As A-list stars from screens of the big and small variety, fame and fortune mean that their every whim is now catered for.
Both are, however, wise enough to know that best intentions can count for little when dealing with the unpredictability of sport. There are no scripts to be found here, and even if there were, there is every chance that they would be ripped up on a weekly basis.
That, though, is part of the allure for millions around the world, with even those more accustomed to gracing the Sunset Strip than the road to Wembley finding themselves caught up in the passion of events in which an end result is never set in stone.
Reynolds and McElhenney raised plenty of eyebrows when turning fandom into ownership at National League side Wrexham in September 2020. Was this an elaborate PR exercise intended to generate a few headlines or part of a new documentary series looking to rival Ted Lasso on one of the many streaming platforms now available?
Today won’t be forgotten in a long long time 🏴🇺🇸🇨🇦
Full ‘Triple A’ of Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds’ visit will be available 🔜
🔴⚪️ #WxmAFC pic.twitter.com/6Fs67V0mVj
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) October 30, 2021
Well, actually, it was none of those things. Reynolds and McElhenney really are putting their money where their mouth is and have become emotionally attached to a venture in North Wales that sees them drawing up ambitious plans.
Promotion in 2022 is a very realistic dream for those at the Racecourse Ground, while the ultimate aim remains to follow in the footsteps of former fifth-tier rivals Forest Green Rovers, who sit as 1.12 favourites on Oddschecker for the League Two title this season, by blazing a trail through the Football League.
Aiming high
Reynolds and McElhenney have shown that they are prepared to do their bit in order to aid the efforts of a collective cause, with manager Phil Parkinson boasting the kind of support in non-league circles that he rarely enjoyed when gracing dugouts at the likes of Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers in the not-too-distant past.
It is that joined-up thinking that is allowing a loyal fan base at Wrexham to dream that bigger and better things lie ahead. Those pulling the strings being the scenes are certainly setting the loftiest of targets.
Nice day for a visit. @Wrexham_AFC 🏴 pic.twitter.com/FY3gKzuwPu
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) February 17, 2022
A rollercoaster ride of sorts is being taken in as the 2021-22 campaign begins to draw to a close, with a quite remarkable 6-5 victory over Dover Athletic in late March leading Reynolds to post on social media: “I just lost 9 years off my life. And I’m okay with that. Apologies to my family. Also, bury me in Wales.”
The Deadpool star should be accustomed to dealing with drama by now, given how much he delivers in his day job, but he is working in an industry which produces cliffhangers that nobody can see coming. He appears to be very much along for the ride and will be hoping that art imitates life in the not-too-distant future as a once unglamorous outfit write a fitting Hollywood ending of their own.
