Wrexham: The Hollywood Club of Football
It’s not every day that a footballer receives a call from Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds. Nor is it common for a team to be treated to a break in Las Vegas as a reward for their success. But for Wrexham Football Club, these surreal occurrences are just part of the norm.
The Welsh club, who were promoted to the Football League in 2022 after a 15-year wait, have become known as the ‘Hollywood Club of Football’ due to the involvement of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The pair, who are best known for their roles in Deadpool and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia respectively, took over the club in 2020 and have since been heavily involved in its operations.
The Surreal Becomes Normal for Wrexham Players
Striker Elliot Lee, who joined Wrexham in July 2022, has experienced first-hand the surreal atmosphere that has become normal at the club. He recalls how, before a game, Will Ferrell casually dropped by to say ‘hi’ and how he and his teammates laughed at each other in disbelief.
Lee’s father Rob is an England international who played for Newcastle and West Ham, and his brother Olly is a coach at the Tottenham Hotspur Academy. As such, Lee is used to rubbing shoulders with high profile characters and fondly remembers family barbecues with his dad’s close Newcastle team mates Alan Shearer and Shay Given.
The Phone Call That Changed Everything
Lee had been on loan at Charlton from Luton when Wrexham came calling. After a couple of conversations with manager Parkinson, he joined the club on a three-year deal. But it was the phone call he received shortly after joining that made him realise he had made the right decision.
“It was just Ryan introducing himself and welcoming me to the club telling me how much he loves it, how, if he could be at every game, he would be. I think he has done that with a few of the players if not all of them.”
Lee went on to play a key role in Wrexham’s extraordinary National League title success and was rewarded with a trip to Las Vegas with his teammates. He believes that the club’s success has enhanced their football credibility aside from the Tinseltown glamour.
A Return to the USA for Pre-Season
Now Wrexham prepare for a pre-season campaign featuring a return to the USA to play Manchester United, Chelsea, Philadelphia Union 11 and LA Galaxy. Lee says that the players are determined to have another successful season and push the club on for the community and fans all around the world.
It’s clear that Wrexham are no ordinary football club. From Hollywood stars to pre-game visits from Will Ferrell, this is a team that has embraced its newfound fame and is determined to make the most of it. As Elliot Lee says: “That is literally what I have tried to tell people back home. It is hard to describe until you get here.”