Topic: Wrexham FC

[Kenny's Jacket]

I went to their game v Maidstone last Saturday.  Really good Atmosphere and improvements to the ground since my last visit.

[Lycan]

Watched the first two episodes of their documentary on Disney+. Decent.

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

Didn't realise Rob and Ryan didn't know each other beforehand and find it amazing they didn't meet until after they acquired the club - I always assumed they were close friends! Wish they'd covered how exactly Rob approached Ryan and the initial conversations they had about it.

[Lycan]

Yeah, how do even go about asking someone you hardly know and have never met in person to invest in a non-league football club with them?

[rossipersempre]

Didn't realise Rob and Ryan didn't know each other beforehand and find it amazing they didn't meet until after they acquired the club - I always assumed they were close friends! Wish they'd covered how exactly Rob approached Ryan and the initial conversations they had about it.

Yeah, how do even go about asking someone you hardly know and have never met in person to invest in a non-league football club with them?

Spoiler

[close]

[Lycan]

Any need for that at all?...*shudders*

[rossipersempre]

Now spoilered

[Lycan]

One hell of a nasty surprise for anyone who opens that.

[Drinks Sangria]

Yeah, how do even go about asking someone you hardly know and have never met in person to invest in a non-league football club with them?

Seems a weird story in a way. Reynolds is an Always Sunny fan and after seeing Rob’s dance as Mac (the ballet coming out scene) he DM’d him to say how much he loved it and sent Rob a case of Aviation Gin. They then became really good friends (as much as you can be when you’ve never met someone I assume) and spoke about everything and anything. Reynolds multiple times had mentioned investing in sports, looking at minor league baseball teams and potential new MLS franchises.

McElhenney had on his staff for Mythic Quest an English writer who loved football. Rob got really wrapped up in it over time after not understanding it and said watching Liverpool overturn Barcelona was the greatest non-Eagles buzz he’d ever had watching sports. The writer then started to mention how the promotion and relegation system worked and approached Rob with some teams that could potentially be huge investment opportunities (including Plymouth and Bradford), before landing on Wrexham. Rob put two and two together and contacted Reynolds who is worth crazy money. So they did know each other well, but in the way you can know someone online well. They’d always planned to meet but the pandemic got in the way.

[Lycan]

Ah, o.k. Interesting.

[Robinred]

As a born and bred Wrexhamian, I’d love to see a team on the pitch that have echos of past Wrexham teams - there were some terrific teams that played football unusually refined for a lower division side. Indeed, there were terrific cup runs - domestic and European, where Wrexham went toe to toe with teams from higher echelons, and prompted Terry Venables, after a League cup victory versus Spurs in 1976, to declare them the best lower division team he’d ever watched.

I’ve watched enough of this current team to know that’s not a fitting description. They are hot favourites to top the table at the season’s end, and they might well achieve that. However they’re a hard watch, and as with much of the National league squads, stuffed with grizzled old pros who can cope with the rough and tumble, and the high value placed on aerial dominance.

[Linudden]

Really should change the title of this topic to Wrexham AFC out of respect for that club since they've had that name for 158 years, so if a mod is reading please consider it

[WhereAngelsPlay]

Really should change the title of this topic to Wrexham AFC out of respect for that club since they've had that name for 158 years, so if a mod is reading please consider it

 

[Linudden]

You've gotten nausea my friend?

[Drinks Sangria]

This is very interesting watching if you know what comes next…

So far I actually find both of them very likeable and sensibly conscious of their own incompetence in this specific area. The one thing I do question is Rob’s use of his writer mate who is essentially just an intelligent fan who equally seems to know very little but seems very embedded in the running of the club.

Fast forward to present day and Wrexham have 4 wins in a row since their loss away to Chesterfield, including scoring 16 in those four games. Paul Mullin has been up to his old tricks with 5 in 7 so far, but Ollie Palmer (not as good a player as Mullin in league football) is keeping pace with the same record.

One way to go up is to buy two League One quality strikers.

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

I dunno I feel like the writer guy is being used as a good bridge between those very knowledgeable about the game/club and the owners. Someone that can present things back to Rob and Ryan in a way that they'll understand.

[Spanish Al]

I dunno I feel like the writer guy is being used as a good bridge between those very knowledgeable about the game/club and the owners. Someone that can present things back to Rob and Ryan in a way that they'll understand.

Yeah that was my understanding of his role too. They want someone they can trust to relay information back to them.

Would be great for North Wales to have a team back in the football league. They have had plans accepted to renovate the Kop to a 5500 seater stand which I think will take the capacity up to about 16k. The oldest international football stadium in the world may well host some internationals in the future. Would be great to have Wales play a friendly or even a qualifier that isn’t right down the south of the country.

YouTube vid here, sorry not sure how to embed if someone wants to do the honours.

https://youtu.be/NChQbENhk8c

[WhereAngelsPlay]

Yeah that was my understanding of his role too. They want someone they can trust to relay information back to them.

Would be great for North Wales to have a team back in the football league. They have had plans accepted to renovate the Kop to a 5500 seater stand which I think will take the capacity up to about 16k. The oldest international football stadium in the world may well host some internationals in the future. Would be great to have Wales play a friendly or even a qualifier that isn’t right down the south of the country.

YouTube vid here, sorry not sure how to embed if someone wants to do the honours.

https://youtu.be/NChQbENhk8c

https://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=267540.msg8407364#msg8407364




Replace the zeros with the video's code  (NChQbENhk8c). Size is also variable.
                                       


<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/NChQbENhk8c" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/NChQbENhk8c</a>

[Nitramdorf]

Thought someone might like this, Kenny's first hat trick for Liverpool against Wrexham back in 78.

https://twitter.com/1968Tv/status/1567234848917524481?t=HRqNvxeDJlOh3hBvb1LIkw&s=19

[tubby]

Seen the first 4 episodes and it's really interesting stuff, it's almost like a Football Manager save where you pick up a lower league team and try to take them up the leagues.

I'm a little iffy on it, though.  It's not sports washing, but it's not that far removed from that.  Getting sponsored by global brands like Tik Tok and Reynold's Gin company, having a documentary on Disney +, getting all this publicity off the back of a couple of super famous owners.  I'm sure they've injected tonnes of cash in too.

Just feels incredibly unfair on the rest of the teams in the league.

[Kenny's Jacket]

Seen the first 4 episodes and it's really interesting stuff, it's almost like a Football Manager save where you pick up a lower league team and try to take them up the leagues.

I'm a little iffy on it, though.  It's not sports washing, but it's not that far removed from that.  Getting sponsored by global brands like Tik Tok and Reynold's Gin company, having a documentary on Disney +, getting all this publicity off the back of a couple of super famous owners.  I'm sure they've injected tonnes of cash in too.

Just feels incredibly unfair on the rest of the teams in the league.

Its not sports washing youre right, Rob has already gone on record as saying the main motive is to make money.  Tik Tok Expedia Eetc will get on board due to the owners having the Hollywood influence.  Far removed from the sponsorship and false accounting of a  certain PL club exposed by Die Spiegel. 

It will be interesting to see if they are breaking any FFP rules. 

[Fromola]

Its not sports washing youre right, Rob has already gone on record as saying the main motive is to make money.  Tik Tok Expedia Eetc will get on board due to the owners having the Hollywood influence.  Far removed from the sponsorship and false accounting of a  certain PL club exposed by Die Spiegel. 

It will be interesting to see if they are breaking any FFP rules.

They've been throwing money about like Salford did at that level. Difference is though Salford have gates of 2000, Wrexham are regularly getting 8-10 thousand home crowds and will have a good income all told with sponsorships which will be through fully external companies.

I don't think FFP applies in non league anyway but does in EFL, much to Gary Neville's annoyance as it's stopped Salford merely buying their way out of League Two.

[Lusty]

Seen the first 4 episodes and it's really interesting stuff, it's almost like a Football Manager save where you pick up a lower league team and try to take them up the leagues.

I'm a little iffy on it, though.  It's not sports washing, but it's not that far removed from that.  Getting sponsored by global brands like Tik Tok and Reynold's Gin company, having a documentary on Disney +, getting all this publicity off the back of a couple of super famous owners.  I'm sure they've injected tonnes of cash in too.

Just feels incredibly unfair on the rest of the teams in the league.

Sports washing is about using a football team to improve the reputation of a country with an awful human rights record.  Unless Ryan Reynolds has been murdering journalists on the side, that's not what this is about.

As for famous people using their influence to secure sponsorships and move the club up that way, is it so bad?  Pretty much the only other way to move up the leagues is to get a sugar daddy, I'd much prefer what they're doing. 

[tubby]

Sports washing is about using a football team to improve the reputation of a country with an awful human rights record.  Unless Ryan Reynolds has been murdering journalists on the side, that's not what this is about.

As for famous people using their influence to secure sponsorships and move the club up that way, is it so bad?  Pretty much the only other way to move up the leagues is to get a sugar daddy, I'd much prefer what they're doing. 

I said it's not sports washing.  I just think it's incredibly unfair on all the other clubs at that level who are battling to get promoted.  No other clubs anywhere near that level will be getting sponsored by Expedia and Tik Tok.

[Craig S]

I said it's not sports washing.  I just think it's incredibly unfair on all the other clubs at that level who are battling to get promoted.  No other clubs anywhere near that level will be getting sponsored by Expedia and Tik Tok.

I actually think Stockport outspent Wrexham. They got a new owner, who after the purchase, then pumped in £8m, massive for a non league team. I won't spoiler the end of this series with where they finished, but most people on here probably know.

[tubby]

I actually think Stockport outspent Wrexham. They got a new owner, who after the purchase, then pumped in £8m, massive for a non league team. I won't spoiler the end of this series with where they finished, but most people on here probably know.

I've no idea how it all goes, which is making it a much more interesting watch for me.

[Lusty]

I said it's not sports washing.  I just think it's incredibly unfair on all the other clubs at that level who are battling to get promoted.  No other clubs anywhere near that level will be getting sponsored by Expedia and Tik Tok.

I get what you mean, and my local team is stuck in that league and I'd love to see them promoted, but I just don't think it's possible unless someone turns up and pumps money into the club.  Football is not really a meritocracy in that respect.

It happens every couple of years that someone buys a non league club as a bit of an experiment, Billericay for example.  It would be quite funny if this ends in the same way; a load of faded Premier League stars watching a coked up Ryan Reynolds constantly sacking and re-hiring himself as manager while they slide down the pyramid.

[Ciara (with a capital "C")]

Seems a weird story in a way. Reynolds is an Always Sunny fan and after seeing Rob’s dance as Mac (the ballet coming out scene) he DM’d him to say how much he loved it and sent Rob a case of Aviation Gin. They then became really good friends (as much as you can be when you’ve never met someone I assume) and spoke about everything and anything. Reynolds multiple times had mentioned investing in sports, looking at minor league baseball teams and potential new MLS franchises.

McElhenney had on his staff for Mythic Quest an English writer who loved football. Rob got really wrapped up in it over time after not understanding it and said watching Liverpool overturn Barcelona was the greatest non-Eagles buzz he’d ever had watching sports. The writer then started to mention how the promotion and relegation system worked and approached Rob with some teams that could potentially be huge investment opportunities (including Plymouth and Bradford), before landing on Wrexham. Rob put two and two together and contacted Reynolds who is worth crazy money. So they did know each other well, but in the way you can know someone online well. They’d always planned to meet but the pandemic got in the way.

Cheers for that - knew most of it but not the whole friendship angle or the Liverpool thing.

For anyone interested, both Rob and Ryan have been guests on Smartless (comedy podcast with Sean Hayes, Jason Bateman, Will Arnett) - two different episodes, so an episode each, and give a decent insight into all of this too. As well as talking about their careers and stuff.

[Ciara (with a capital "C")]

Enjoyed the episodes so far. I did get the impression they kind of know it's a long-term thing, whether it's not make money or not it's not a promotion to the league above every season until they hit the PL. It could take decades.

[Terry de Niro]

Thought someone might like this, Kenny's first hat trick for Liverpool against Wrexham back in 78.

https://twitter.com/1968Tv/status/1567234848917524481?t=HRqNvxeDJlOh3hBvb1LIkw&s=19

Was at that match as a fresh-faced 19-year-old.
The pitches back then really sorted the men out from the boys.

[Lad]

Was at that match as a fresh-faced 19-year-old.
The pitches back then really sorted the men out from the boys.

Yeah I went to that as well. Finished work at Skelly’s Ford World in Bootle about 5 and got picked up by the mates. Pitch is a picture isn’t it 😂

[OsirisMVZ]

Seen the first 4 episodes and it's really interesting stuff, it's almost like a Football Manager save where you pick up a lower league team and try to take them up the leagues.

I'm a little iffy on it, though.  It's not sports washing, but it's not that far removed from that.  Getting sponsored by global brands like Tik Tok and Reynold's Gin company, having a documentary on Disney +, getting all this publicity off the back of a couple of super famous owners.  I'm sure they've injected tonnes of cash in too.

Just feels incredibly unfair on the rest of the teams in the league.

This happens all over the footballing world. Lesley Bamberger is a Dutch billionaire who owns Almere City, who have never been in the Eredivise but being in the Amsterdam area you'd think they'll stay there once they go up. Nigerian billionaire Kunle Soname owns Feirense which is near Porto.

If I had the money I'd buy Charlton, as South London doesn't have a top team, they're in League One so value wouldn't be too high, and their academy still produces some top-tier level players (Shelvey, Aribo, Gomez, Lookman from the top of my head). Anyway!

I am really enjoying this series. The actual football is really low down on the list of interesting things in it. Seeing Paul Mullin with his 3 bedroom house and then a flatshare with 5 other squad players living wall to wall with each other, all the disabled volunteers, Rob and Ryan being taught about the growth-length of roots in their turf, and Humphrey bumbling about from one meeting to the next and being laughed out of the door each time...

[ToneLa]

Reynolds is Canadian to be fair 

American-Canadian according to Companies House

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07698872/officers

[SK8 Red]

I actually think Stockport outspent Wrexham. They got a new owner, who after the purchase, then pumped in £8m, massive for a non league team. I won't spoiler the end of this series with where they finished, but most people on here probably know.

Stockport's local owner has spent what wasn't spent over the previous 14 years on wages and stadium improvements and ensuring it's sustainable without him. And it's giving the town an attractive football club to follow rather than a sports washing project 7 miles down the road

[Pheeny]

Thought someone might like this, Kenny's first hat trick for Liverpool against Wrexham back in 78.

https://twitter.com/1968Tv/status/1567234848917524481?t=HRqNvxeDJlOh3hBvb1LIkw&s=19

I was at that game,went with my brother,who was a Wrexham fan so was in the middle of the Wrexham fans, I went crazy when Kenny scored and wasn't alone...

[Pheeny]

Anyone that is saying it is unfair on the other teams obviously don't know the history of Wrexham.

Episode 5 & 6 will give you some insight of why Wrexham deserve a break for once.

[Tonyh8su]

Anyone that is saying it is unfair on the other teams obviously don't know the history of Wrexham.

Episode 5 & 6 will give you some insight of why Wrexham deserve a break for once.

Yeah 5 and 6 changed my mind a slight bit about it all. I actually had turned against it a little from the first 4 episodes.

Really like the Eagles coloured away jersey though! Shame it's last seasons and they're gone haha.

[Pheeny]

Yeah 5 and 6 changed my mind a slight bit about it all. I actually had turned against it a little from the first 4 episodes.

Really like the Eagles coloured away jersey though! Shame it's last seasons and they're gone haha.

This season's away strip is the colour on the background of Wrexham Lager Logo, which has also recently made a come back with a new brewery starting up.

[Dim Glas]

American-Canadian according to Companies House

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07698872/officers

He aquired US citizenship in 2018.

[Craig S]

Stockport's local owner has spent what wasn't spent over the previous 14 years on wages and stadium improvements and ensuring it's sustainable without him. And it's giving the town an attractive football club to follow rather than a sports washing project 7 miles down the road

I didn't say he hadn't done any of that or that it was sports washing.
But i am pretty sure they did outspend Wrexham.