Wrexham Association Football Club, aka Wrexham AFC, is currently owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The actors own the club under the company name RR McReynolds Company LLC. McReynolds is a name derived from the surnames of the two actors.
Wrexham AFC was established in October 1864. It is the third-oldest soccer club in the world. Even though the city of Wrexham is based in Wales, the club plays in the English soccer leagues. Much like Swansea City and Cardiff City.
Ryan Reynolds on his plan for Wrexham Football Club: 🗣
“This is the third-oldest club on the planet and we don’t see why it can’t have a global appeal. We want Wrexham to be a global force.”
Incredible 😂 pic.twitter.com/zILd8ViamF
— MCCCSHCas (@MCCCSHCas) November 9, 2020
In the latest soccer leagues division made in England, Wrexham has never played in the first division, however, the highest it has played in is the second division. They have won numerous trophies in their existence of over 150 years, however, they have never had the privilege of playing in the top league.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have bought the club with the ambition of making them play in the top leagues. Deadpool actor Reynolds has told S4C: “Of course, our aim is to reach the Premier League. Why not? If it takes five years or 20 years, that’s the goal. The most challenging thing about that would be the need to revamp the stadium, but that would be a really nice problem to have.”
As of now, the club’s home ground is The Racecourse Ground. Its capacity is nearly 11,000. They would need to make great changes to the stadium if they have ambitions of becoming a Premier League club.
Who owned Wrexham before Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney?
Before Wrexham AFC was bought by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney they were not owned by any particular individual. Reports suggest, that Wrexham was previously owned by Wrexham Supporters Trust.
Many clubs all over the world are fan-owned including the La Liga giants Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Real Madrid is owned by Socios.com, a blockchain-based fan engagement platform. In England, just like Wrexham, Premier League club Brentford was also previously owned by supporters.
There are clubs in England that are owned by fans but in the minority. Norwich City is a club that has The Canaries Trust as the 12th-largest shareholder.
How much did Ryan Reynolds pay for Wrexham?
Reports suggest that Reynolds and McElhenney paid around £2 million ($2.5 million) for the club. They bought the club in November 2020. Reports state that the deal received backing from a huge majority of the Trust. The deal received the backing of over 98% of the 2,000 members that voted. The deal was completed in February 2021.
A message from our owners-elect…
Welcome to Wrexham AFC, @RMcElhenney and @VancityReynolds 🥳
🔴⚪️ #WxmAFC pic.twitter.com/ho1vV8cvry
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) November 16, 2020
When this price is compared to the leagues above them, there’s a drastic difference. As of now, Manchester United is a club ready to be sold to the highest bidder. And bidding for the club has gone to the $6 billion range.
Is Wrexham making a profit?
Reports from the latest financial year suggest that Wrexham has recorded record revenues. Compared to the previous season, the Welsh club posted a 404% increase in revenue. It saw a turnover of about $7.2 million for the year that ended last summer.
However, the team’s recent success in the fifth tier of the English soccer league system comes after the latest financial time frame ended. Wrexham and its owners will expect higher revenues for the next financial year.
On the other hand, the revenue did not mean profit for the owners. They have lost around $3.7 million combined during the 2021/22 season.
The directors, however, issued a statement on the latest financial findings. “We remain committed to playing a full part in the life of the club and making a positive difference, in every way, for the benefit of everyone in this wonderful place we have taken to our hearts,” the statement read.
The increase in player wages, rising operating costs, along with all the money spent on The Racecourse Ground could be the reasons for the losses.
Did Wrexham get promoted?
Wrexham has had a great comeback story since being bought by Reynold and McElhenney. They dropped out of the English soccer league system in 2008 and had five unsuccessful play-off campaigns in the fifth tier. However, they were finally directly promoted as champions of the 2022–23 National League. Next season, 2023/2024 will be Wrexham’s comeback into the fourth division, the EFL League Two.
Everything I own smells like champagne, beer and grass. I’m still somewhere between giggling and sobbing. This town and this sport is one of the most romantic things on earth. Thank you, @Wrexham_AFC ⚔️🏴⚔️ pic.twitter.com/cxpVRUpkLq
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) April 23, 2023
The morning after their promotion was confirmed, Reynolds tweeted, “Everything I own smells like champagne, beer and grass. I’m still somewhere between giggling and sobbing. This town and this sport is one of the most romantic things on earth. Thank you, @Wrexham_AFC”.
Wrexham finished their league campaign with 111 points out of the 46 matches. They fought out Notts County who came in second just four points behind Wrexham.
What trophies did Wrexham win?
Wrexham has won numerous accolades in its long history. It has won the Welsh Cup a record 23 times. Wrexham has won the Football League Trophy (a trophy open to all English clubs in the third and fourth divisions). It also claimed the FA Trophy (a knockout cup competition for non-league teams) in 2013 at Wembley Stadium.
Wrexham is also a winner of the third division of the English soccer league system. They won the league in 1978 and played in the second division in the 1978/79 season. It has most recently won the fifth-tier league in England and earned promotion to the fourth tier.
Key players in Wrexham
The current Wrexham squad is oozing great talent, including 24-year-old striker Paul Mullin, who joined in 2021/22 from Cambridge United. He ended the season as the club’s highest scorer. He scored 38 goals in the league and 8 goals in the FA Cup.
31-year-old striker Ollie Palmer had also joined in on the goals with Mullin. On the other hand, the squad features many veteran players, with Thomas O’Connor being the youngest regular contributor. He is a 23-year-old defensive midfielder and a former Southampton youth product.
Center-back Ben Tozer takes care of the defense while goalkeeping, in the last few matches of the season, was taken care of by former Manchester United keeper Ben Foster.
Who is the manager of Wrexham in 2023?
On July 1, 2021, Phil Parkinson was appointed as Wrexham manager. The 55-year-old used to play as a midfielder and played for many English clubs. He made over 360 appearances for Reading before retiring in 2003.
He began his coaching career soon after retiring from playing. Teams he has managed previously include Colchester United, Hull City, Charlton Athletic, Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers, and Sunderland. He won the Manager of the Month award twice this season in September 2022 and January 2023.