Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have helped Wrexham to raise their profile across the globe, with the club boasting “crazy” support in America.
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Hollywood stars completed takeover in 2021Made stunning impact on and off the fieldExpanded global appeal of Red DragonsWHAT HAPPENED?
Two Hollywood superstars have made that possible, with the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary series offering the Red Dragons a window to the world. A-list guests are now common at SToK Racecourse, while a pre-season tour of the United States helped to highlight just how popular the Welsh outfit have become.
AdvertisementGetty/GOALWHAT KER SAID ABOUT WREXHAM
Executive director Humphrey Ker has told the podcast of when Wrexham became aware of their mass appeal: “We sent a team to the TST tournament – the new soccer tournament in North Carolina a few weeks before [the summer tour] and Mark Howard – who is one of our goalkeepers – had gone and played with a bunch of our veterans and a few kids, it was a strange mix team and he was one of the only first-team players that went. He came back and was like ‘oh, get ready, this is going to be crazy!’ Even so, we had no appreciation. The game in North Carolina, 55,000 people, against Chelsea, who beat us 4-0, I would think 35,000 were there for us and 20,000 were there for Chelsea – which is nuts. It was really eye-opening, and that pattern continued. We went to San Diego, 35,000 there and again more Wrexham fans than Man United fans – you could just hear from the reaction when the goals went in. You could tell there are more Wrexham fans here than Man United.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Wrexham have continued to deliver on the field for their ever-growing fanbase, with the club riding high in League Two after claiming the National League title in record-breaking style last season. Ker added on collective ambition and how a slow start to the 2023-24 campaign did little to dent that: “Prior to the season starting, our aspiration was to get promoted. Our feeling was that, the season we put together in the National League was something really remarkable and there was a well established precedent for teams to come up and do well in League Two. We thought we’re as good a team to come out of the National League that has ever existed, so with a few additions here and there we can do really well. The first game against MK Dons, I think we probably got back from the U.S. a bit too late, we were missing Paul [Mullin]. We learned very quickly that in the National League if you make a mistake, seven times out of 10 you are going to get punished. In League Two, it’s nine times out of 10. It was a little bit of an eye opener. As has sometimes been the case with us this season, we have got off to some slow starts and look like we don’t know what we’re doing, and then all of a sudden everything settles down and you’re like ‘oh yeah, this is actually a very good football team’. Given where we are now, which we are very happy with, it was a little bit of a rude awakening, but not cause for panic. We all realised there were a few extenuating circumstances that we could look at and then move on.”
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?
Phil Parkinson has masterminded Wrexham’s rapid rise up the divisions, aided by the financial support of Reynolds and McElhenney, with the Red Dragons determined to book themselves another promotion party that will allow them to take in more trips to the United States – either in a playing capacity or when enjoying all-expenses-paid visits to Las Vegas.
