7 things learned from new Wrexham doc as Ryan Reynolds follows through with cash

Daily Mirror

5 days ago

Hit sports documentary Welcome to Wrexham has returned to screens on Disney+, with the early episodes providing a fascinating insight into life at the Hollywood-owned club who earned promotion again
Welcome to Wrexham has gripped viewers since the docuseries first hit screens back in August 2022. The popular show follows the incredible journey of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as they undertake a crash course in football ownership after buying Wrexham AFC.
The documentary has proved to be a huge hit, turning Wrexham into an unlikely phenomenon. Fans all over the globe have fallen in love with the club and the city itself, especially those in North America.
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The latest season, available on Disney+ in the UK and FX-on-Hulu in the US, started broadcasting in May. The fourth series focuses on Wrexham's 2024/25 campaign, which ended in April, with the club aiming to achieve promotion from League One.
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It features all the elements people enjoyed from previous series, including Phil Parkinson 's X-rated rants and Reynolds and McElhenney's fish-out-of-water capers. The local characters people have become fond of are still there too, including Wayne Jones, the landlord of The Turf pub.
The new Welcome to Wrexham series also provides some fresh insights into life at the football club. Here, Mirror Football takes a look at what we've learnt from the first few episodes.
Paul Mullin's back injury could have been life-changing
One player who has suffered a tough time during the most recent football season is Wrexham talisman Paul Mullin. Having scored 110 goals since joining the club in July 2021, the striker finds himself in and out of the team after undergoing back surgery in the summer of 2024.
Mullin lifts the lid on just how serious his injury was in one of the early episodes after nearly losing the feeling in his left leg. "For the last three years, I've always had this issue with my back," said Mullin as he is shown sitting on the treatment table.
"I got it scanned during the end of May and the surgeon told me it had doubled in size and I was at risk of losing all feeling in my left leg if I carried on."
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Phil Parkinson's sharp wit shines through
One of the funniest scenes shown in the series so far sees Wrexham boss Parkinson involved in a hilarious exchange with a Stockport County fan. The former Bolton manager is witnessed chatting with a female supporter sitting near the dugout during an away game at Edgeley Park.
The conversation starts after the woman takes issue with a refereeing decision, leading Parkinson to urge her to "be realistic". Clearly annoyed, she responds: "Be realistic? You f*****g t**."
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Without missing a beat, Parkinson replies: "You're supposed to be a lady", as fans nearby erupt with laughter.
Rob and Ryan put their money where their mouth is
Reynolds and McElhenney have never tried to sugar-coat the huge costs associated with running a football club. And this series reveals how they were met with a whopping £50million funding request before starting life in League One last August.
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The club's CEO Michael Williamson sets out the estimated amount required to take the Red Dragons to the next level during a video meeting. The hefty figure includes a new 5,500-seat stand and academy training facility, but that does not scare the owners as they soon back the plan.
After being advised of the risks, Reynolds assertively responds: "I will never forget when Rob said that our objective is to get to the Premier League when we were in the National League. Now, we're in League One on our way to the Championship, and I just say, let's go for it. Let's f*****g do it."
Danny DeVito is a red
In surreal scenes, Danny DeVito is seen taking in a Wrexham game at the Cosm immersive reality venue in LA. The Hollywood icon, who stars alongside McElhenney in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, dishes out high fives as Wrexham grab a late winner against Barnsley.
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It's previously been revealed that DeVito acted as an unlikely sounding board when McElhenney first contemplated buying a football club during the Covid lockdown in 2020. The Arsenal fan has proved to be a useful source of advice for McElhenney, who has made no secret of his appreciation for the New Jersey-born star's wisdom over the years.
Tom Brady is not an Always Sunny fan
Speaking of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, we learn in this series that not everyone's a fan. Every TV show needs a villain and NFL legend Tom Brady fulfils that role in the latest offering of Welcome to Wrexham.
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Brady is a part-owner of Wrexham's big-spending rivals Birmingham City and is shown talking with McElhenney on the pitch ahead of a clash between the two sides. McElhenney couldn't hide his embarrassment after Brady was played a snippet of his sitcom character Mac promising to damage the arm of the seven-time Super Bowl winner.
McElhenney squirmed as Brady watched the clip, with Brady quipping, "What's wrong with you? Why would you write that? Get him out, I want him out of here," while McElhenney attempted to justify the scene.
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Humphrey Ker is an unsung hero
Wrexham director Humphrey Ker provides the laughter once again as he's shown training for the London Marathon. The actor and comedian was strong-armed by Reynolds and McElhenney into running the event in aid of the Wrexham Miners Project, which aims to preserve the area's industrial heritage.
Ker is mercilessly put through his paces as he undergoes a series of brutal physical tests. He still maintains his good humour, though, reminding us why he's one of the series' unsung heroes.
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Community remains at the heart of Wrexham's story
In among all the hilarity, there are several reminders that it's the community of Wrexham which is ultimately the beating heart of this story. During the series, we hear about the plight of a Ukrainian family, who fled the war in their home country to settle in Wrexham, and have now opened their own cafe in the city.
The plight of Yaroslav and Oksana Izviekov is heart-wrenching to witness. However, the football club's rise has helped provide them with hope, with many fans and tourists now stopping by for a coffee and a bite to eat after matches.
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Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
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