Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought non-league Wrexham football club, sparking dreams of on-the-pitch glory for its fans and bringing unexpected publicity for its sponsors.
Fans at Wrexham Supporters Trust voted to give Reynolds, the star of Deadwood, and McElhenney, who starred in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the lead role in their club.
In a comic corporate video, the two Hollywood stars announced the takeover and gave their team sponsor, Ifor Williams Trailers, a lift that no amount of paid advertising could earn.
In the video, they say: “Why are Rob and I pitching a North Walian trailer manufacturer?
"Well, we just became owners of Wrexham Association Football Club and they’re our team sponsor.
“You may have never heard of Wrexham, the Racecourse Ground or Ifor Williams … but you will.”
Some of the staff at Ifor Williams are also Wrexham fans and are dreaming of good times ahead for their National League team.
Project manager Rhys Davies, 40, has been a Wrexham fan all his life, and was a match day mascot for a game against Burnley when he was eight.
“Things have changed a lot since then. We’re in the fifth tier National League while Burnley are in the Premier League.
“I think the last 12-13 years have been very difficult for most fans and the club alike, but we have an incredible fan base and the club has the potential to be even bigger because Wrexham is a proper football town.
“When I heard about Ryan Reynolds being involved it seemed a bit far fetched. All of a sudden my partner wants to be a Wrexham fan.”
Fans of football and the actors are hoping they will attend matches at the club’s Racecourse Ground.
Production support worker Martin Bodden said: “This is just what Wrexham needed. We’ve got the investment now to go to the next level.
“Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have done their research on the club and on the area and the fan base is definitely there.
“The level they can go to is Championship minimum, but hopefully we can reach the Premiership.”
More than 98 per cent of the club’s supporters’ trust voted for the Hollywood takeover.
Carole Williams, a director at the sponsors, said she was delighted by the result of the vote – and their fame by association.
“We were totally blown away and humbled. Not unexpectedly, it was done in a funny and totally original way. It was just incredible.
“But make no mistake, Ryan and Rob are not taking their responsibilities lightly. They are utterly serious about revitalising the club and transforming it into a global force – but without forgetting its roots.
“Ryan and Rob have certainly got off on the right foot. Like all the other fans we’re dreaming of a happy Hollywood ending.”
