“Watch Paul Rudd Capture the Tear-Jerking Moment When Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney Celebrate Wrexham’s Historic Promotion!”
The full-time whistle confirming Wrexham’s promotion from the National League for the first time in 15 years was an emotional moment for the club’s Hollywood owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
The duo, who had promised to revolutionize the club after taking over in 2021, were left visibly stunned and overcome with emotion as thousands of fans rejoiced inside the Racecourse Ground. The scene was captured on camera by fellow Hollywood actor Paul Rudd, who recorded the pair’s reaction in the immediate aftermath of the team’s 3-1 victory over Boreham Wood.’
After taking a moment to themselves, Reynolds and McElhenney shared an emotional embrace, with the latter wiping away tears from his eyes. The pair then turned to celebrate with the sea of fans who had rushed onto the pitch in celebration.
Rob and I kinda blacked out during this moment, but somehow we’ll never forget it.
🎥: Paul Rudd
cc: @wrexham_afc – @RMcElhenney pic.twitter.com/pVCYOHyKoC
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) April 23, 2023
It was an emotional moment that the team’s supporters had been longing for and, such is the way at Wrexham these days, they were joined in celebration by a long list of famous faces.
‘Ant-Man’ star Rudd has been one of many Hollywood A-listers to visit Wrexham in recent months and the 54-year-old appeared to enjoy his time in Wales.
Footage and photographs on social media showed Rudd drinking in the local pub and meeting excited Wrexham fans ahead of Saturday’s match.
Wrexham’s promotion into the Football League was celebrated by a range of celebrities on social media. Oscar-winning Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins responded to a tweet from Ryan Reynolds, calling him an “honorary Welsh boyo,” while former England player Gary Lineker offered his congratulations to the club on its achievement. Lineker also made reference to the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ TV series, which documented the club’s fortunes since the Hollywood takeover and hinted at a potential follow-up series.
In addition to actors and football pundits, members of the royal family also expressed their congratulations. The Prince of Wales took to Twitter to share his excitement about the club’s future, stating that Wrexham has an “amazing history” and that their promotion is a source of pride for Wales. Prince William echoed this sentiment, expressing his enthusiasm for the club’s future in the Football League and congratulating them on their achievement.
While the club’s new high profile fans sprinkle a touch of stardust to proceedings, Saturday’s win was for the lifelong fans who have endured a difficult ride of late.
The historic small town club, which was once in the higher echelons of English football, had been on the brink of extinction in 2011 and had struggled to compete on the pitch.
But since the takeover, the club has been transformed and will play in League Two next season, the fourth-tier of English football.
Three further promotions and Wrexham would be in the English Premier League. Such a notion may appear farfetched, but the surreal has become all too normal for Wrexham supporters of late.
“I think we can hear how it feels to the town and that’s what’s most important for us – I think this is a moment of catharsis for them,” co-owner McElhenney told reporters after Saturday’s game.
“For us to be welcomed into their community and to be welcomed into this experience has been the moment of my life.”
“Rob and I kinda blacked out during this moment, but somehow we’ll never forget it,” Reynolds wrote on Twitter, sharing the video taken by Rudd.
