Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been in charge of Wrexham for almost five years and have seen a number of celebrities visit the Racecourse Ground during that time
Fasika Zelealem Senior Sports Reporter
14:51, 28 Oct 2025
It’s coming up on five years since Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac’s ownership of Wrexham was completed(Image: 2023 AMA Sports Photo Agency)
Despite being a co-owner of Championship side Wrexham, Ryan Reynolds is subject to the same rules as the players when it comes to adhering to Phil Parkinson’s celebrity rule.
It’s been nearly five years since Reynolds and Rob Mac took over the reins of the Welsh club – and what an adventure it’s been since then.
Under their guidance, Wrexham have achieved promotion in three successive seasons, propelling the club into the second tier of English football and securing Championship status for the 2025/26 season for the first time in over four decades.
The spotlight that comes with being owned by Reynolds and Mac attracts a host of celebrity visitors to the Racecourse Ground, including the likes of David Beckham, Channing Tatum, Will Ferrell and more.
The popular FX series ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ only added to the excitement around the area and the football club, which was also visited by King Charles III and Queen Camilla in December 2022. This is a phenomenon that certainly required some adjustment from the team, according to former Wrexham striker Ollie Palmer.
Phil Parkinson has a celebrity rule at Wrexham(Image: PA)
While it might be easy to get swept up in the glitz and glamour surrounding the football club, Palmer commended Parkinson’s straightforward rules when it comes to preventing distractions from the actual football matters.
Speaking on CBS Sports earlier this year, he said: “I know it sounds arrogant or it sounds ridiculous, but I’ve been there since the start. So you do get used to it. But I know it’s not normal. I know it’s an amazing experience.
“I know it’s not going to last forever. But we just all enjoy it. But ultimately, our job is to play football for Wrexham Football Club. And we’ve never been distracted from that. And I think a huge credit goes to the manager.
Wrexham sit 18th in the table after a difficult start to life in the Championship(Image: SmartFrame/Pro Sports Images)
“The gaffer (head coach Phil Parkinson) draws a line. And whether it’s somebody coming to visit or somebody watching the game, the focus is always on training, working hard, and putting in performances on a Saturday or Tuesday night. And that’s never changed.”
It’s been a challenging beginning to their return to the second tier for Wrexham, who find themselves positioned 18th in the standings following nine fixtures. Nevertheless, the opportunity for local supremacy presents itself on Tuesday evening as they face Cardiff City in the fourth round of the EFL Cup.
Wrexham have successfully navigated three rounds of the competition to arrange an all-Welsh encounter against their Championship counterparts. The fixture at the Racecourse Ground marks the first clash between the two sides since 2002, when Cardiff emerged victorious with a 3-2 triumph in League One.
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Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
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