Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac mark five years of Wrexham revival
On Feb. 9, 2026 (ET) Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac celebrated the fifth anniversary of their takeover of Wrexham, a moment that began with an Instagram message and has since reshaped a club, a city and the idea of what celebrity ownership can accomplish.
From a DM to a headline-making partnership
The partnership started in unlikely fashion: a brief note sent across social media that grew into a shared ambition. Reynolds has described the initial contact as impulsive — a simple compliment sent without expectation — and what followed was an ownership experiment that neither man fully expected to unfold the way it did. Mac cast the project with documentary ambitions in mind, and both owners leaned into the long game: investment on and off the pitch rather than quick fixes.
A footballing ascent: promotions and valuation
The takeover began with a token purchase and a pledged investment that aimed to stabilise a club in the lower tiers. Since Feb. 9, 2021 (ET) the team climbed the ladder with three successive promotions, an ascent that has brought them within reach of the sport’s biggest stage. The club’s valuation has grown dramatically, reflecting both sporting success and commercial momentum. That rise is clear in the current ambitions: promotion to the Premier League is no longer a fanciful dream but a concrete target.
Community impact and local revival
Changes have rippled beyond matchdays. Local businesses report higher footfall, historic fixtures such as the town pub near the ground have become bustling hubs again, and long-time supporters speak of improvements to mental well-being and community pride. Investment plans extend to infrastructure improvements, including construction work at the ground and a new Kop stand scheduled to open in 2027, signalling a longer-term commitment to the fan experience and the town’s future.
Documentary success and cultural reach
The story of the takeover and the club’s recovery has attracted global attention through a documentary series that elevated the narrative beyond the local press box. Awards recognition and celebrity visits have amplified Wrexham’s profile, helping to attract sponsors, tourism and new fans while preserving the quirky, grassroots character that made the club compelling in the first place.
Challenges, humility and what comes next
Despite the upward trajectory, owners and supporters stress that the project has not been frictionless. Early setbacks on the field and the realities of football management tempered any sense of instant success. Both owners have emphasised hard work, partnership and a touch of fortune in the club’s progress. “It feels like we’ve just got started, ” Mac observed, capturing a mood that blends satisfaction with continued ambition. For Reynolds and the board, the immediate focus remains promotion and consolidating infrastructure so that on-field success is sustainable if the club reaches the sport’s upper echelon.
Five years on: a changed landscape
At the half-decade mark the picture is unmistakable: Wrexham has moved from a struggling local team to a club with global reach and serious sporting aims. For supporters, that transformation has delivered more than wins; it has returned a sense of belonging and optimism. For Reynolds and Mac, the anniversary reinforces a simple refrain — that careful investment, community focus and storytelling can combine to remake the fortunes of a club and the town that lives and breathes it.
