Wrexham co-owners having 'ride of their lives' after second promotion

The Red Dragons will play in League One next season for the first time since 2005

Author: Cam HallPublished 14th Apr 2024
Last updated 14th Apr 2024

Hollywood actor and Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds says he and Rob McElhenney are having the "ride of their lives" after Wrexham secured promotion to League One.

The Red Dragons won their second straight promotion after they thrashed Forest Green Rovers 6-0 on Saturday, and MK Dons and Barrow both lost.

The result means Wrexham can no longer finish outside the three automatic promotion spots, and will play in the third tier of English football for the first time since 2005.

Reynolds, who bought the club alongside McElhenney in February 2021, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, "a few years ago, if you told me I would be crying tears of joy over a football match taking place in North Wales, you would be Rob McElhenney."

"Congrats to Wrexham and to my co-chairman in crime. Double up the town! This is the ride of our lives."

Reposting another fan's comments, Reynolds also said Wrexham is "indeed magic", and him and McElhenney are in debt to the club's "many thousands of supporters."

Rob McElhenney posted on X that he has "no words" after the club's promotion - which Reynolds called an "early birthday gift" for the Hollywood star.

He also hailed the performance of veteran striker Paul Mullin, who scored twice in the first half of Saturday's victory, praising his "perseverance, hustle and grit."

Wrexham fans celebrated with players on the pitch at the Racecourse Ground at the end of the game.

Manager Phil Parkinson says his players have "put in their two best performances of the season", and says promotion's "a great achievement for everybody connected with the club."

"It wasn't until about two minutes to go when my son George, who's our analyst, gave me the rundown and obviously then you know it's a done deal. I'm just so pleased.

"There is a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scenes, it really is a team effort at Wrexham, everybody pulls together and I have to include the supporters in that because, home and away, they've been absolutely magnificent for us. They've stayed with us, kept the faith and the belief and they've got their rewards today."

Wrexham, who are currently 2nd in League Two, could still win the title if they win their final two games, and leaders Stockport County fail to win their remaining matches.

The Red Dragons will host Stockport in a potentially title-deciding game on the final day of the season on 27 April.