Ryan Reynolds was fraught with nerves before Wrexham's historic promotion
Ryan Reynolds was "adult diaper nervous" before Wrexham's latest promotion.
The Welsh football club made history earlier this year by becoming the first team in the English league system to win three consecutive promotions and the Deadpool actor - who co-owns the club with fellow Hollywood star Rob McElhenney - has revealed his fragile emotional state before the historic feat was achieved.
Speaking in the finale of the fourth season of documentary Welcome to Wrexham, Ryan said: "I feel very nervous, like, very very nervous.
"Like, adult diaper nervous."
Ryan's nerves came before Wrexham's promotion rivals Wycombe Wanderers lost 1-0 to Leyton Orient in April, which allowed the club to seal promotion to the Championship by beating Charlton Athletic 3-0 later that day.
The 48-year-old star explained: "That was the moment I think all of us, everybody, the entire town, went 'Holy s***, this could happen.'
"We could not only be promoted, but we could make history while doing it."
Rob revealed that his aim was to guide Wrexham to the Premier League when he and Ryan purchased the club in 2020 and stated that "no one's laughing" at his ambition anymore with the team just one division away from the top-flight.
The It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia star said: "I just want to bask, would you just let me bask? We'll talk about the championship next year.
"A few years ago, we were not in the English Football League. They asked us what was our goal, and I said the Premier League and people laughed. No one's laughing anymore... Now we're one away from the Premier League. It doesn't make any sense, it defies all rational thinking."
Meanwhile, Reynolds credited the people of Wrexham for making the promotion possible.
He said: "A back to back promotion doesn't happen. The only place it could happen is here. Wrexham's the only place that this kind of historical miracle could happen in.
"Because of the town, because of the club, because of its history, because of its sadness, because of its joy, because of its perseverance and all of that comes together to make miracles, and that is doing a Wrexham."
The Free Guy star explained earlier this year that he would "never get bored" of owning Wrexham as he has become addicted to football since getting involved with the club.
He told Wrexham supporters podcast Fearless in Devotion: "I'm glad it happened when we are at the age I'm at. Because I don't think this is something I would have been able to handle any younger. I wouldn't change anything about my time here. I don't know how you get bored with something like this.
"I love this sport so much now that now I hate it too – I really feel that in my cells."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
40 minutes ago
- West Australian
British and Irish Lions produce classy showing to beat Western Force 54-7 after hosts put up first half fight
A classy British and Irish Lions display has helped them begin their first Australian tour in 12 years with a bang as they downed Western Force 54-7 at Optus Stadium. But in front of a club record 46,656 fans, the Force hardly disgraced themselves as they fought tooth and nail and more than matched their star-studded opponents in an engrossing opening stanza. In the most important exhibition match this version of the Force will ever play, they refused to let the occasion over-awe them in the first half as they met fire with fire. But in a game of moments, it was the visitors who showed their class, taking a mile when granted an inch by the Force, who had more possession and territory by half-time, but found themselves 21-7 down at the break. Pretty passing patterns mesmerised the Force, and then rapid-fire offloads opened up channels the Lions all too happily exploited, and three tries in the 15 minutes after half-time killed off the contest. Young Lions whizz Henry Pollock justified the hype and the back-rower was at the centre of everything as he set-up two tries, was the centre of a full-team melee and was yellow carded on the stroke of half-time. But while the likes of Pollock, fly-half Finn Russell, full-back Elliot Daly and Aussie Irishman Mack Hansen would have given Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt food for thought ahead of the looming three-Test series. However, Schmidt would have also been encouraged by the performance of several players he released from his squad to link up with their Force teammates — none more so than Dylan Pietsch. Pietsch played like a man on fire and had plenty of support from fellow winger Mac Grealy as the game went on, the pair driving through contact and gaining metres through sheer will power, while Wallabies squad members Tom Robertson and Nick Champion de Crespigny also impressed. Once the Lions fans had spilled out of the watering holes and turned the Burswood peninsula red, it took less than two minutes for the tourists to stamp their credentials as rugby's answer to the Harlem Globetrotters. Russell's precise cross-field kick picked out his captain Dan Sheehan, and the front-rower flipped the ball inside to James Lowe before accepting the off-load and scoring. The Force had barely touched the ball by that point, but the outstanding Pietsch scooped the resultant kick-off out of the sky to rescue possession. After 19 phases of Force pressure and close calls on the try-line to Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Darcy Swain and Ben Donaldson, Nic White scrambled over and Donaldson converted to level the scores. The Lions infringed frequently early, and in a sign of the Force's intent, they opted for touch rather than the posts, although they could not turn their set-piece supremacy into points. Pollock helped restore the Lions' advantage in the 17th minute when his sharp pass found Josh van der Flier and the English back-rower almost took the offload to the house with a barnstorming run, before his clever pass allowed Tomos Williams to score. The Force continued to knock on the door, but the Lions refused to let them in, and they put some distance between the two sides when Russell's quick tap-and-go caught the hosts napping. After Daly had plunged over, Nick Champion de Crespigny found himself at odds with Pollock and the pair tangled, triggering a full-team pushing and shoving match. Lightning struck not once, not twice, but thrice after the break as the Lions ripped the life out of the game with violent ferocity. A stinging counter-attack saw the Lions roar down the right edge and Williams acrobatically touched down for his second try of the night although immediately clutched at a hamstring afterwards. Once more down the right wing did the Lions go in the 52nd minute and some lovely passing from Russell and Daly ended in a Garry Ringrose try. Three minutes later, Pollock showed his class as the forward ran down his own chip and chase inside the 22 and Joe McCarthy lumbered over to make it 40-7. As the Force tired late and their bench entered the game, the Lions played with their food and Daly ran in his second try of the night before Hansen set up Alex Mitchell for their eighth try as time expired.
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Coffs Harbour preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday, June 29, 2025
This time last year talented hoop Brock Ryan was out of the saddle and had his mind on other things after taking a break from racing. But fast forward to midway through 2025 and he's back and riding better than ever with seven winners from 30 rides. But most importantly, he's got the buzz back for the grind that is the racing game and said he was able to keep pretty fit during his time away from the saddle. 'It's been good getting back into the swing of things,' Ryan said. 'My manager has been able to get me on some good rides and I've had good support from my old contacts and old trainers I used to ride for. 'The weight pretty much stayed around the same because I was working out on my feet all day and still surfing quite a bit so all that probably helped.' The three time Group 2-winning jockey has had more than 3700 rides in his career but none of those have been around the Coffs Harbour circuit. Normally plying his trade south of Sydney, Ryan got the call from his manager that trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith was looking for a jockey to partner his horses at Coffs Harbour. With Ryan already halfway there after riding two gallopers at Newcastle on Saturday, he was happy to make the extra trip up the Pacific Highway where he's been booked to ride in six of the eight races on the card. 'My manager is pretty close to Noel Mayfield-Smith and he was just looking for a jockey so my manager asked if I'd like to head up there,' Ryan said. 'I thought 'I'm already halfway there' so told him I may as well press on and I've been given a few nice rides as well which is good.' It will be a mini holiday for the Illawarra-based hoop, who grew up in Yamba, which is about an hour and a half north of Coffs Harbour. 'I grew up in Yamba so my parents will get to come down and watch me for the day so that will be good.' Two of the horses Ryan is most keen to partner with are Monte Tiara in race 4 and Monte Outlander in race 7. That's because he had a bit to do with both of them at their previous stable when in care of Robert and Luke Price at Kembla Grange. 'I had a bit to do with those two (Monte Outlander and Monte Tiara) when they were back with Rob and Luke so it will be good to ride them both. 'I'm pretty sure I rode Monte Tiara at her second start at Nowra and I rode Monte Outlander a few times as well. 'From just looking at the form of the races, they both look well placed so hopefully I can give them a good steer and get the job done.' Most of Ryan's rides are for Mayfield-Smith but his first of the day will be for trainer Jason Deamer. Deamer is set to saddle up talented three-year-old Piccaderro for his second start for the stable after starting off with Ciaron Maher. 'He looks like a pretty nice horse that had some good form at his last stable,' Ryan said. 'Just looking at his first-up run, I think he'll take a good bit of fitness into the next one and we're drawn pretty well down on the inside. 'He had barrier nine of nine at that Hawkesbury run so hopefully he can do a bit less work in the early stages and have enough left in the tank to hold them off late.' â– â– â– â– â– COFFS BARBOUR TIPS BEST BET Race 1 No.1: PICCADERRO Ex-Ciaron Maher-trained horse made stable debut for Jason Deamer at Hawkesbury. Drew barrier nine of nine and had to do a bit of work to work forward from a wide barrier. VALUE BET Race 7 No.7: CASIRINA Got too far back last time out in Wauchope Cup. Drops 1.5kg on that run and has a decent record around Coffs. QUADDIE Race 5: 6 Race 6: 1,6 Race 7: 1,3,5,7 Race 8: 1,2 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Group 2-winning hoop BROCK RYAN has six rides, and plenty look like winning hopes. â– â– â– â– â– COFFS BARBOUR INSIDE MAIL 1:RACE 1: MAIDEN HANDICAP (1315m) Jason Deamer looks to have found the right race for PICCADERRO (1) at his second start for the stable. Drew barrier nine of nine first-up at Hawkesbury and had to do a bit of work early but he's got the inside barrier here with Group 2-winning jockey Brock Ryan booked to ride. SMASHING NOVA (4) had a weird run on debut. He went forward to settle in front before drifting back to be third last as they swung for home. Ran on for third and should improve. PIEDI VELOCI (2) hasn't been far off at her last couple and outside of the top two, this race looks pretty wide open. BET: PICCADERRO to win. RACE 2: MAIDEN PLATE (1515m) NOT MY PROBLEM (11) looks set to peak third-up into her preparation after narrowly being touched off at Port Macquarie last time out. Should be up there on the speed and hard to get past with the extra fitness. CAUSEWAYS (1) went up to Rockhampton last start and was slow away from an inside barrier. DOLLARS (3) was backed last start at Newcastle and failed to get the cash but did run well for second and there's scope for improvement second-up. Like Piccaderro, Dollars used to be trained by Ciaron Maher. PURPLE HAZE (5) gets here off three sound efforts to start his career. Drawn tricky but in the mix. BET: NOT MY PROBLEM to win. BEEBEE (1) was first-up off more than a year last time out at Port Macquarie and ran as good as she could have. Drawn well in barrier two and gets a bit of weight relief with Jett Newman retaining the ride. Can break the maiden status here. MISS AURORA (7) is a former Victorian raider having her first start up north. No public trial but from what she showed at her previous stable, the talent is there. SIVO (3) chased hard for third last time out at Coffs Harbour behind Dizzy Dee. Like the former Parramatta winger he's named after, Luke Rolls can get him to the outside and fly home. BET: BEEBEE to win. STYLISED (1) carried a big weight in a strong Class 2 at Port Macquarie last time out. She carries a big weight again here but the race she's found is much easier than the previous. Leanne Boyd takes 3kg off and that should prove handy. HURRICANE HARLOW (4) drawn off the track and gets here off a freshen up. Has plenty of early speed so she should be able to cross and lead. MONTE TIANA (8) is ridden by Brock Ryan, who partnered her at start number two when she was stabled at Kembla Grange. Hasn't liked the heavy tracks at the last few runs. BET: STYLISED each-way. There wouldn't be many former Joseph O'Brien-trained gallopers tackling Coffs Harbour before but that's what ZELESTIAL (6) does here. At her third start for Lyle Chandler, she hit the line well at her last start and did win first-up at Tamworth. Likely to be short but should be hard to roll. SHALAMINYNA (7) recorded a dominant victory first-up at Taree at her first start for Paul Kelly. Drawn a bit more tricky this time but should improve off the run. HAZE (1) gets here off some good runs prior to heading for a spell having won by four lengths on the Beaumont track at Newcastle two back before a runner up finish at Quirindi. Likely to improve off the run but should be hitting the line hard. BET: ZELESTIAL to win. SAMMY CONQUERS ALL (1) contested a red hot race at Eagle Farm last month. Gets here off a freshen up with a tick over trial in between to keep him fit and up to the mark. Should be too good for these here with Brock Ryan in the saddle. BOAMBEE BEACH (9) doesn't win that often but broke through last time out here at Coffs Harbour over 1005m. Loves racing at the track with another four placings on the record from seven starts. KAYZ TIME (6) is building a strong record with two wins from six starts and should be right at her top third-up. SIR BOO (2) turned in a big run at odds last time out at Grafton. Should be peaking third-up into the campaign here. BET: SAMMY CONQUERS ALL to win. CASIRINA (7) got too far back last time out at Port Macquarie in the Wauchope Cup and it was tough to make ground from there. Drops 1.5kg on that run and has a decent record around Coffs Harbour. RUSSIAN RONI (1) hasn't won since the Tasmanian Guineas in 2023 but is getting better at each start for Kris Lees. Drops a kilo on his last run and maps to get a similar run in transit. INDIFFERENCE (3) has had two runs in stronger races to start the campaign off. Should get his chance to break through here. MONTE OUTLANDER (10) needs a bit of luck from a poor barrier. MR DAMAGE (1) hasn't raced since January in a preparation where he never finished outside of the first four. Luke Rolls should be able to put him into the race from an inside barrier and it's worth noting he does have a strong first-up record. DE FORZA (2) gets here first-up off a break after doing plenty at his first preparation. He's notably the only colt racing at Coffs Harbour today. LOVE RAT (4) had no luck at all last start but did win before that. Drawn better here in gate six. SPEEDY TARGET (6) next best.
Perth Now
18 hours ago
- Perth Now
Ryan Reynolds: None of us are defined by our worst moments
Ryan Reynolds doesn't pay attention to his online critics. The 48-year-old actor and Blake Lively, his wife, are currently involved in a high-profile legal dispute with actor Justin Baldoni, but Ryan insists that he doesn't pay too much attention to the online discourse. Asked whether the online negativity impacts his business ventures, Ryan told Time magazine: "I can read something that says, 'He should be drawn and quartered.' I could read something that says I should win a Nobel Prize. Both are meaningless. "None of us are comprised of our best moments. None of us are defined by our worst moments. We are something in the middle." Ryan has found a healthy way of dealing with the scrutiny during his time in the spotlight. The Hollywood star - who has been married to Blake since 2012 - explained: "Accessibility and accountability are a big part of how I do things. "The people that I work with know me, so there's never a question of anything like that. If you operate with some degree of core values and integrity, they're going to help you up. If you're an a******, they're not. And that's pretty simple." Ryan's attitude has been shaped by "conflict-resolution workshops" that he previously attended. The Deadpool star said: "I skipped rehab in my 20s and decided to go to conflict-resolution workshops in Santa Fe. "Conflict resolution changed my life in a way that I can't quantify. You don't have to agree with the person. You can empathise, you can validate. You can do all those things and get closer to them without having to just blindly agree or win or lose." In 2020, Ryan and his showbiz pal Rob McElhenney became the co-owners of Wrexham AFC, a soccer club based in north Wales. The duo have helped to transform the fortunes of the team, and Rob appreciates Ryan's support and ambition. Rob said: "Ryan's involvement took this from a very small endeavour to a very large endeavour overnight because he has the ability to connect with millions and millions of people. And I don't just mean on social media. I mean spiritually."
