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SOCCER

How much did Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney pay to buy Wrexham?

The third oldest club in the world touched Hollywood when the American duo bought the club in November 2020.

Update:
The third oldest club in the world touched Hollywood when the American duo bought the club in November 2020.
ANDREW BOYERSAction Images via Reuters

Wrexham AFC welcome Notts County to The Racecourse Ground on Easter Monday in a top-of-the-table blockbuster that will capture imaginations around the world. OK, so the game is in the fifth tier of English football, but the Welsh team has a burgeoning following thanks to their rather well known new owners.

Hollywood pair Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney recently propelled Wrexham to a new level of fame after purchasing the club in November of 2020. Since then, the Welsh side has seen heightened levels of interest in everything from media coverage to documentaries to increased social media activity, prompting many to ask the same question: How much does it cost to buy a football club? Well, clearly the answer depends on which league the club plays.

Wrexham's English striker Paul Mullin celebrates after scoring.
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Wrexham's English striker Paul Mullin celebrates after scoring.PAUL ELLISAFP

How much did Wrexham cost for Reynolds and McElhenney?

Multiple reports all indicated that the price the Hollywood duo paid for the rights to own Wrexham was around £2 million ($2.5 million). Compare that to the several billions that the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea or Liverpool would cost! Ever since then, the club has had major work both on and off the pitch.

The squad was overhauled and last season they reached the playoffs in the league and this season have had a headline-grabbing FA Cup run as well as pushing for automatic promotion. Off the pitch they now function like a truly professional outfit, making use of a physiotherapy team, and a big-money sponsor with social media brand, TikTok.

Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds before a match.
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Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds before a match.JASON CAIRNDUFFAction Images via Reuters

What league do Wrexham play in?

Wrexham play in the National League, which is England’s fifth tier of football. The Premier League sits at the top of the pyramid, with the Championship below.

Then, there is League One and League Two as the third and fourth tiers. Wrexham are one division below. After this tier of football, the divisions then become divided up into regional leagues.

Why does Welsh club Wrexham play in English league?

Wrexham, just like Swansea, Cardiff City, Newport County, and Merthyr Town, play as part of the English Football League structure as no Welsh football league existed when they were formed. Although the Cymru Premier (the name of the Welsh Premier League) was created in 1992 -- incidentally the same year when the more renowned English Premier League appeared -- these clubs have remained in the English system.

As well as access to the domestic leagues, which leads ultimately to the EPL, these clubs also play in the English FA Cup and from 2012 fall under the administration of the English FA. Although Swansea and Cardiff have been the most successful of the Welsh teams, a new script is being written at Wrexham. Time will tell if it ever hits the big screen...