The scent of glory is getting ever stronger at the Racecourse Ground, largely thanks to the most unlikely of Hollywood connections, making this fifth tier club something of an international sensation. Wrexham are thriving under the spotlight, but will there be a fairy tale ending to their story?
Unbeaten in their last 15 Vanarama National League outings, Wrexham are contentedly riding high at the top of the table. They boast a perfect record of 12 consecutive home wins, although away form could still be improved, winning 8 and drawing 5, along with suffering just the 2 defeats. At the moment they have a 3-point advantage over Notts County, with both teams comfortably ahead of the chasing pack, per the current league table at https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/match-info/tables
After finishing second falling short in the National League Play-Off Semi-Finals last season, agonisingly beaten 5-4 at home by Grimsby Town after extra time. Having also lost the FA Trophy Final 1-0 against Bromley, it was a double whammy of disappointment for the famous owners, albeit without dampening their spirits in the slightest.
Underlining just how difficult ownership of a football club can be, actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney refused to concede defeat, vowing to renew their efforts. For them, the project is much more than a passing interest. And this season the primary objective is well within their sights, providing the team can maintain their superb form, then clinch that all-important automatic promotion spot at the National League summit.
Climbing the next rung of the ladder
Back in November 2020, when Canadian star Reynolds and his American counterpart McElhenney bought the club, with the deal finally approved by the Wrexham Supporters Trust in February 2021, few could have predicted the huge impact of their arrival. Initially watching progress from afar due COVID-19 travel restrictions, their first visit to the town came in October 2021, and with a documentary crew in tow. When the Hollywood duo made their first media appearances, journalists were keen to know just exactly what they had planned. McElhenney recounted his conversation with an adviser, having pondered whether it was feasible for the club to reach the Premier League, told it was possible but highly unlikely to happen. Filled with ambition, “why not dream big?” he suggested, filled with enthusiastic ambitions.
“We clearly have the structure and system potentially to allow us to grow at that scale. Why not dream big?” said Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney.
⚽ https://t.co/LcRR9FtVpd pic.twitter.com/JsViy0fI8K
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) October 30, 2021
Fast-forward just over a year later, Wrexham appear well on the way towards climbing the next rung of the ladder. They are clear favourites to win the National League according to the bookies, as punters look for available options at sites like https://arabianbetting.com/en/sports/, comparing the latest odds and offers available. Incredibly, not all betting sites cover this level of the English football pyramid, so reading trusted reviews for those who do is an absolute must, particularly outside the UK and in regions like the Middle East.
Providing the team can keep their excellent form going, their dream of promotion could well come true this season, marking what would be a spectacular turnaround in fortunes. Ever since the descent from League Two in 2007-08, the club has rarely enjoyed such prospects of success, during what is now their 15th consecutive season in the fifth tier. Reynolds and McElhenney have provided the impetus and lit the fuse, and the team can provide the fireworks.
FA Cup brings an entertaining bonus
While they may sometimes be regarded as potentially distracting, especially with so much focus on the National League title charge, fans will always welcome the opportunity to enjoy a good cup run. After all, one of the proudest moments in Wrexham history came in the FA Cup, when they stunningly beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Racecourse Ground, leaving the older generation of supporters with cherished memories.
For the newer and younger generation of Wrexham supporters, most of them weren’t even born when that famous giant-killing feat happened, although this year could be different according to https://www.goal.com/en/news/ and their observations. After the remarkable 4-3 win at Coventry City in the 3rd round, filled with the same delight as fans of the club he co-owns, Reynolds was almost left at a lost for words to describe his emotions.
I’m completely and totally speechless. What a club. What a town. What a win. @Wrexham_AFC forever. https://t.co/9SzQUAVAX2
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) January 7, 2023
That seven-goal thriller put Wrexham in the 4th Round of the FA Cup, and what could be an enthralling clash against Sheffield United at home, with a sell out crowd expected at the Racecourse Ground. If they can defeat the Championship side, maybe Reynolds and McElhenney will get to witness their club in action against Premier League rivals, much sooner than anyone had predicted.
