Ryan Reynolds sets Wrexham's clear next target as 'impossible dream' continues

Daily Mirror

26-04-2025

Wrexham have been promoted to the Championship after the Hollywood-owned club completed a third successive elevation under their megastar co-chairmen
Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds' 'impossible dream' is to continue with the Premier League now in his sights.
Lapping up a third consecutive promotion alongside the club's other Hollywood benefactor Rob McElhenney after a 3-0 win over Charlton which takes the North Wales side into the Championship he stated: ''Our goal is to make it to the Premier League.
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"On reaching the Championship he admitted: 'It just seemed like an impossible dream, but as storytellers, you look as much as you can at the macro view of history.
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'Without it I would not be here. You can go all the way back from the Gresford Disaster to Mickey Thomas, who is a huge point of aspiration for this club. And the goal was to reach that feeling – and it is a feeling.
'Paul Mullin, Ollie Palmer, this coaching staff – we have the greatest dressing room in sports, in any category I have seen before. It's all for one. And then this community, I am speechless by their passion, emotion and transformation they have helped make.
'You can look at so many beating hearts at this club and it all starts with Phil. (Parkinson)."
The Hollywood backed club have continued their amazing adventure – non-league to the Championship in three seasons.
Some Tinseltown writers would believe this football script is too far fetched but it's real alright as co-owners Reynolds and Rob McElhenney hugged each other and all those in grabbing distance up in the posh seats of the Stok Cae Ras.
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Just two years ago the North Wales club who spent 15 seasons outside the EFL playing the likes of Boreham Wood can now anticipate the arrival of Ipswich Town, Leicester, Blackburn and other Championship luminaries.
Amidst the glitz and glamour manager Parkinson has quietly manufactured a winning machine to satisfy the demands of the ambitious owners who come complete with cameras and hype with the Disney + documentary 'Welcome To Wrexham'.
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It's his sixth promotion with four separate clubs and the cameras captured his latest most compelling rise with Wrexham back at a level they last enjoyed 43 years ago.
One of that team legend Mickey Thomas watched on. It was also his wonder free-kick in the FA Cup slaying of Arsenal which helped sell the club to their Hollywood duo.
Reynolds had tried to get the party started hours before the game serving drinks at the now iconic 'Turf' pub – a must stop off for the increasing number of tourists from across the Atlantic engaged by the documentary.
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It was soon drinks all round as Parkinson's side rose to the occasion removing any nerves and tension with an inspirational two goal burst in three minutes.
Charlton boss Nathan Jones had compared a trip to these parts as an outing to the circus. Well Wrexham's lightning start saw the home fans baiting the Welshman with a chant of 'You've Seen The Circus Now Go Home', although not as polite as that!
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It had been some double act from Ollie Rathbone and Sam Smith leaving Charlton wondering what had hit them.
First from a James McClean short corner James played in Rathbone who let fly from just outside the area, his low shot fizzing past Will Mannion.
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Then Mannion was left grasping thin air as a lofted through ball from James saw Smith execute the perfect swivelled volley to make it 2-0 and leave the old ground shaking to its foundations.
Charton who began the game knowing that a win would enhance their own ambitions of automatic promotion didn't allow the home side and their expectant fans an easy ride but dominant in possession they lacked a cutting edge, illustrated by Tennai Watson firing straight at Arthur Okonkwo.
Then came the 80 th minute killer, Max Cleworth crossing for Smith to send a bullet header past Mannion.