It’s as if they ripped a page from the script of Ted Lasso when AFC Richmond battled for ascension and won, only this is real life and it’s AFC Wrexham, the team Ryan Reynolds owns. It’s a major achievement to win the title to earn a promotion to a higher league and the celebrations appear to have gotten way out of hand, not that it wasn’t deserved.
To clarify what ascension means, the Groundhopper Soccer Guides has a great explanation. The Premiere League consists of 20 teams and is the top tier of England’s football teams, which means there are lower levels competing to get into the top tier. Every season, three teams with the worst records get relegated to lower leagues – leaving room for the top two teams in each league and the winner of the seeded playoff getting promoted to higher leagues, which comes with a huge payoff.
AFC Wrexham was playing in the National League at the beginning of the season but after taking the title against Boreham Wood on Saturday, the team was promoted to Football League after 15 years of being gone. In 2021, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney became new owners of the team and it appears Reynolds has enjoyed every minute of turning this team around and sending them back to the top.
The Deadpool actor isn’t just sitting back with part ownership of the team and not paying attention. He has attended games and cheered his team on with great leadership – as demonstrated yesterday when the crowd was listening wholeheartedly to his winning speech.
You should be very proud of the sense of community and belief you have given to not just the players and local supporters @VancityReynolds but to those playing the wonderful game of football around the world.
— Rob Thompson (@robjvwcom) April 23, 2023
Your comments immediately after the match yesterday where you praised…
If anyone was scratching their heads when the deal was made in 2021, they can stop doing that now because Wrexham is rising.
The story of what you guys have done for the town and football club is just a thing of beauty.
— Jamie Griffiths (@jamiekopite) April 23, 2023
When you first brought Wrexham I thought “why would they do that?”
Now it has all become clear, you guys are incredible humans kudos 👊👏
His leadership style does have a different feel to it. Owners don’t have to be hands-on when there are coaches to run the team, but a team responds to positive leadership and people who are truly invested in the club.
Amazing what you have done at the club and you are the model of what foreign club owners should be. You have been a breath of fresh air and although you took Mullin from my club @CambridgeUtdFC I wish you all the best as you continue this amazing journey!
— Ben Payne (@benpayne_cam) April 23, 2023
There is more climbing that can be done to get up to that top tier known as the Premiere League. However, they should enjoy their celebrations for now with all the champagne they want. They earned it!