Can Wrexham’s Hollywood story reach a fairytale FA Cup ending?
Wrexham have been thrust into the media spotlight since their Hollywood takeover in February 2021 and the FA Cup presents the perfect opportunity to crown a fairytale season.
It’s fair to say that Wrexham are unlike any other non-league team; Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have turned the world’s attention towards the Welsh club.
The Hollywood owners have come in and embraced the traditions of the area whilst exponentially growing the club both on and off the pitch.
“It’s the question we’ve gotten more than any other,” read a letter to supporters in the local newspaper. “Why Wrexham? Because you deserve it. For 158 years of fearless devotion.
“For building a club and a community the world should know about. For weathering storms that would have broken lesser towns. For your cheers, your courage, your traditions, your warmth.
“And because a little over a year ago, you took a chance on two Hollywood jokers who knew precious little about Wales or football.”
I’ve just seen this video of Rob McElhenney being brought to tears as Wrexham fans serenade him for buying their club and it’s made me happy.
Hopefully it makes you happy too.
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) October 29, 2022
Wrexham were last in the Football League in 2007-08. During that season they averaged 4,234 fans as they finished rock bottom of League Two and were subsequently relegated to the National League. Their future looked bleak.
Fast forward a decade and the club had continued to regress and memories of the Football League slowly started to fade away. That was until Hollywood had a solution.
During this National League season so far their average home attendances have more than doubled from the last time they were in the Football League.
These days they pull in crowds of 9,954, which is higher than plenty of clubs in League One and League Two. This Wrexham side means business and their last outing in the FA Cup showcased just that.
Regardless of the money that has been invested into this side over the last few years, Wrexham were still very much David when they went up against Coventry who took on the role as Goliath in the previous round.
Phil Parkinson’s side went punch for punch with the Championship outfit and managed to secure a historic 4-3 victory on away soil.
They just CANNOT be stopped ✋@Wrexham_AFC's magical cup run continues as they came out on top in a 7️⃣ goal thriller to beat @Coventry_City! 🐲 pic.twitter.com/gHdZJPJdMN
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 7, 2023
The Wrexham boss told reporters: “It’s been great to be a part of that and today. The FA Cup, Wrexham, we’ve got a very good record in terms of some great wins over the years and wherever I go since I’ve been manager people speak to me about those special days.
“It’s not often as a player or manager you’ve got a game against a club three divisions above in front of 5,000 of your own fans and it’s important to savour those moments.”
The FA Cup so often conjures up magic and their Fourth Round tie with Sheffield United gives Wrexham the chance to upset the applecart once again.
A whopping 70 clubs sit between Wrexham and the Blades in the English football pyramid and yet the possibility of an upset could very well be on the cards.
Regardless of what happens in the FA Cup this weekend, Wrexham have already hit the jackpot. With an ownership that cares deeply about their future and the prospect of promotion at the end of the season, what more could a football fan want?
READ MORE: An ode to Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, football’s best owners
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