Wrexham's Hollywood star co-owners celebrated alongside lifelong fans as the team sealed a historic promotion. Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, along with Reynolds' wife Blake Lively, supported Wrexham as they confirmed their third successive promotion, sealing a place in the Championship. Fans ran out onto the pitch after the Dragons beat Charlton Athletic 3-0. Speaking after the match, captain James McClean said the success was "one big group effort." "It doesn't just come from the dress room. It comes from the management, the owners, the fans and our families and the staff behind the scenes," he said.
The hosts scored twice in quick succession in the first half, with Ollie Rathbone's strike putting Wrexham ahead at the Stok Cae Ras. Sam Smith then netted his sixth goal for the club since joining from Reading in January only three minutes later. Smith completed his double late on as Wrexham kept a 23rd league clean sheet of the season to take second place in style - and with a game to spare.
The Hollywood A-listers stopped for selfies with fans ahead of Saturday's crucial game. After the match, Reynolds and McElhenney joined their team on the pitch and embraced the players that made their dream come true, celebrating with the trophy after the match at SToK Racecourse. Lifelong fan Mark Nicholls, from Wrexham, said the win was "unbelievable." "I've been coming here since I was eight years old, standing in the Kop with my family and this is totally unbelievable. It's like a dream come true. It's what we always wanted as Wrexham and it's about time the town, and north Wales, had an uplift," he said.
Another supporter, Ben, from Llandudno, said he could not explain what the win meant. "From being nearly relegated in the National League to now being in the Championship next year." Nicola Jane Williams, from Chirk, said the result meant "so much to the town and people." "Back to back to back - who would have thought!" Cledwyn Ashford has been a scout with the Academy at Wrexham for around 40 years. He said it was unbelievable and "like a dream." "Who would have thought years ago that we would be where we are. We were in that National League for so long, and we have come up and now we are in the Championship. It's just like a fairy story," he said.
David Jones, from Ellesmere Port, has been a supporter since 1958. "I have never seen anything like this, I remember when they won promotion in the 70s but I think this surpasses it. Let's have a season in Championship and see where we go," he said. Simon Elliot, from Mold, said it was the best performance they have seen all season. "It means an awful lot for the area and the town. The expectation levels have been set very high after the first two years of promotion so to do it a third time I think is legendary. Fantastic news for north Wales," he said.
Jane and Peter Lewis, from Ruthin, said the win was amazing. Mr. Lewis said: "It's fantastic to be back in the second division as it was after all these years." Jane added that the promotion "means the world for Wrexham and its people." Having languished in the fifth tier of English football since relegation from the Football League in 2008 and nearly going out of business, Wrexham were transformed when they were bought by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in 2021.
The actors' involvement has not only rejuvenated the club's fortunes on the pitch but lifted its global profile to unrecognizable levels with a fly-on-the-wall documentary series and the presence of celebrities at games. Wrexham won the National League title in 2023 and followed that with promotion from League Two at the first attempt the following season.
Elsewhere, Cardiff City fans spoke of their disappointment as the team was relegated. Cardiff City will play in the third tier of English football for the first time in 22 years next season after their relegation from the Championship. Kirby England, 33, from Rhondda Valley, said she was devastated but the team did their best. "I thought we could have scored at least a good few on just how we did but it is what it is. We go down to League One with them and we'll support them all the way back up to the Championships again," she said.
Bianca Ali, 33, from Cardiff, said it had been difficult being a Cardiff City fan this year. "It's been sad and heart-breaking. It's been a rollercoaster of emotions," she said.
