“It Was a Special Town”- After Post-Thatcherism Hit Town Hard, Wrexham AFC’s Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney Firmly Targeted 159-Year-Old Soccer Club to Create Captivating Docuseries

Perhaps it was fate that Wrexham AFC met Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Before the Hollywood duo’s remarkable takeover, the club wasn’t much of a success. Sure, it has a history; after all, it is one of the oldest clubs in the history of soccer. Yet in all fairness, it was the arrival of the American actors that made the club what it is today.

From leading the club back to the Football League after a 15-year exile to giving it global recognition, the celebrities have done a lot. In fact, to highlight the club, they even produced a docuseries, ‘Welcome to Wrexham,’ that has brought the Welsh side into the limelight. While the series shows behind-the-scenes of the club’s workings, it also shows some emotional scenes that, recently, both owners have briefly discussed.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney firmly targeted third oldest soccer club

Welcome to Wrexham is nothing short of the club’s excellence displayed on the screens. While it shows how Reynolds and McElhenney started off their ownership journey, it also exhibits some touching stories revolving around the Wrexham community. And both owners recently revealed how it helped showcase the club’s roots.

While speaking to the Los Angeles Times, McElhenney said, “We were looking for the truth. We wanted something that was authentic to the experience and we were looking for stories of anybody who felt like an underdog, or marginalized or overlooked.” As a result, a genuine and relatable group of individuals makes their appearance on the screen, resonating with viewers from all walks of life.

“We approached it with such respect and admiration,” added Reynolds. “Once we did a little investigating and snooping around, we realized it was a special town. But I don’t think we quite recognized how special it was and how much it would grow into our hearts and souls as this journey progressed.”

READ MORE: “Two Schmucky Showbiz Morons Going In, Falling on Their A****” – Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney Expose Omitting ‘Difficult Moments’ From ‘Welcome to Wrexham’

Indeed, the approach to displaying Wrexham as a whole has been a tremendous piece of work. Aside from emotional depth, but it also shows the palpable connection between the owners and the community. Similarly, Reynolds’ once also talked about Wrexham’s rise from post-Thatcherism.

The rise of Wrexham AFC from post-Thatcherism

While speaking with Variety, Reynolds mentioned, “I think it’s less about a town emerging from the pandemic and more about a town emerging from post-Thatcherism. A town that was pretty much wiped out, many of their core industries gone, and people doing the best with what they can. I think that was the theme that was more prevalent in the faces, words, and actions of the people in the town.” Reynolds suggests that it wasn’t the pandemic that hit the town hard. Rather, it was the post-Thatcherism that it suffered from.

The term Thatcherism originated from the transformative policies implemented by Margaret Thatcher, the UK’s first female prime minister. Her policies brought about a shift in societal attitudes and approaches. It was through her influence that she was able to change the dynamics of Wrexham. Hence, according to Reynolds, the club serves as a channel for the town, representing the challenges of building trust after enduring prolonged difficulties.

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