Latest news with #STōKCaeRas
Leader Live
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
The Royston Club to perform at STok Cae Ras this weekend
Wrexham AFC were promoted to the EFL Championship via a 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic on April 26, making it a historic three promotions in a row. This Sunday (May 4), a special event will be held at the club's home ground, the SToK Cae Ras to bring yet another successful season to a close in style. The club has now confirmed that The Royston Club will be among the acts to put on a show that day. Three old school friends - Tom Faithfull, Ben Matthias and bassist Dave Tute - founded The Royston Club before later adding drummer Sam Jones. They've risen in tandem with the wider resurgence of Wrexham led by the football club, with its co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney becoming one of their first few famous fans. The band's position as hometown heroes was underlined by a recent three-night run at the city's Rockin' Chair venue, which sold-out in minutes. But The Royston Club's popularity certainly isn't confined to north Wales - they've also sold-out London's KOKO, completed three unforgettable sets at Glastonbury, and played at Liam Gallagher's Malta Weekender. This Sunday though, there will be a homecoming for the band. Wrexham AFC said: "Wrexham favourites, The Royston Club, will perform at our End-of-Season Celebration on Sunday – with tickets for the afternoon still on sale now (To buy your ticket, visit the eTicketing website now)." RELATED READING They added: "Join us at the STōK Cae Ras from 1.30pm, with tickets costing just £5. "The Royston Club will be among the musical acts performing at the world's oldest international football stadium. "The afternoon will also feature our end-of-season awards – with voting still open. "Concessions will be open in all three stands – the Macron Stand, Wrexham Lager Stand and STōK Cold Brew Coffee Stand – with food and drink allowed to be consumed in your seats. "All profits from the event will go towards supporting the Wrexham AFC Foundation's work in the community."
Leader Live
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Wrexham AFC: Ryan Reynolds shares heartfelt post to fans
The fever dream lives on for fans and supporters of the North Wales football club this week as Wrexham AFC secured their spot in the EFL Championship. This club is the sum of its supporters. Before we showed up they'd saved it multiple times. It's a temple as much as a football pitch. @Wrexham_AFC has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. It's hard to avoid immediately starting work on next season - but important… Sharing a throwback video of friend and musician Ed Sheeran, Ryan admits his journey with the city alongside Rob McElhenney has been the 'greatest experience'. In the clip, Ed, who owns a minority share of Premier League team Ipswich Town, says: "Ryan, I think Wrexham are gonna get promoted and we're going to see each other next season." It then cuts back to one of the first interviews following the takeover, in which Ryan and Rob admit their dream of taking the club all the way to the top division. Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds (right) and Rob McElhenney celebrate with the trophy after the Sky Bet League One match at SToK Racecourse, Wrexham. Picture date: Saturday April 26, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Wrexham. (Image: Martin Rickett) The Deadpool actor also shows a montage of photos capturing the magic and highlights of their ownership. "This club is the sum of its supporters", Ryan says. "Before we showed up they'd saved it multiple times. It's a temple as much as a football pitch. "Wrexham AFC has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. It's hard to avoid immediately starting work on next season - but important to take the moment in… Looking back and looking forward feels really good right now. MOST READ "I think I speak for Rob McElhenney when I say, thank you for the greatest four years and here's to many more." Fans can continue the celebrations on Sunday (May 4) as the club is hosting a special event at the STōK Cae Ras featuring live music and the End of Season Awards. The event kicks off at 1.30pm and tickets cost just £5. And for fans who missed anything from the club's 2024-25 League One season, the award-winning docu-series 'Welcome to Wrexham' is set to stream on Hulu and Disney Plus next month. Are you still on a high from the weekend? Us too!
Pembrokeshire Herald
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Wrexham cruise to promotion with emphatic win over Charlton
Wrexham 3-0 Charlton Athletic WREXHAM secured a famous third consecutive promotion as they comfortably beat Charlton Athletic 3-0 at the STōK Cae Ras, clinching their place in the Championship for the first time in over four decades. With Wycombe Wanderers slipping to defeat earlier in the day, Phil Parkinson's side knew that a win would guarantee them second place in League One — and they delivered in style. Ollie Rathbone fired the hosts into an early lead after 15 minutes with a low strike from outside the box, before Sam Smith doubled the advantage just three minutes later with a composed volley following Matty James' lofted pass. Charlton struggled to recover from the quickfire double blow. Although Nathan Jones' men pushed for a response, Wrexham's well-organised defence — marshalled by Arthur Okonkwo in goal — stood firm to record their 23rd clean sheet of the campaign. In front of jubilant Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Wrexham rounded off the win late on, as Smith rose highest to nod home Max Cleworth's cross in the 81st minute, sealing his second goal of the afternoon. The result ended Charlton's hopes of automatic promotion. The Addicks, currently sitting fifth, will now turn their focus to the League One play-offs. Key Moments 15′ – Goal: O. Rathbone (Wrexham) 18′ – Goal: S. Smith (Wrexham) 81′ – Goal: S. Smith (Wrexham) Assists M. James (15′, 18′) M. Cleworth (81′) Match Summary Parkinson named an unchanged side following the vital win at Blackpool earlier in the week, while Charlton boss Nathan Jones — who had branded Wrexham a 'circus' before the game — made two changes to his team. The match started evenly, but Wrexham took control with two quick goals, prompting chants from the home fans aimed at Jones' earlier remarks. Charlton had a couple of half-chances, with Okonkwo making a sharp save from Tennai Watson, but it was Wrexham who looked the more dangerous throughout. Late substitutions helped Wrexham see the game out comfortably before Smith's second goal sparked wild celebrations, marking a historic day for the club — who were playing in non-league football just two years ago. Next Fixtures Wrexham travel to Lincoln City for the final day of the season. Charlton host Burton Albion ahead of their play-off campaign.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wrexham seal third promotion in a row as Sam Smith double sinks Charlton
Wrexham have been promoted for the third season in a row after a 3-0 home win over Charlton took them into the Championship, seizing their opportunity after Wycombe's defeat in their 3pm kick-off at Leyton Orient. Since the actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds bought the club in the 2020-21 season, Wrexham have been transformed. After missing out in the National League playoffs in 2021-22, they won the division a year later before coming second in League Two in 2023-24. Advertisement Charlton, guaranteed a playoff spot, had automatic promotion hopes of their own at kick-off: they were four points behind their opponents and looking to follow up their 4-0 Easter Monday win at Wycombe. But two goals in three minutes, for Oliver Rathbone and Sam Smith, gave Wrexham control. In the 17th minute Rathbone seized on a short corner and shortly afterwards Smith's volley doubled the lead. Smith's third, with nine minutes left, confirmed Wrexham would finish second behind Birmingham. Dominic Booth's report from the STōK Cae Ras to follow
The Guardian
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Wrexham seal third promotion in a row as Sam Smith double sinks Charlton
The Hollywood scriptwriters have etched another extraordinary chapter in the Wrexham story. The Welsh club made English Football League history by claiming a third successive promotion, becoming the first club to achieve that feat in the top five tiers. The Racecourse Ground is living up to its English name; Wrexham are racing a course through the divisions under the ownership of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Ollie Rathbone and Sam Smith's first-half goals against Charlton put the Reds on the path to League One promotion with a game to spare, and consigned the Addicks, along with Wycombe and Stockport, to the playoffs. The celebrations in north Wales will go on for days but they reached a cacophonous climax on the 80-minute mark, the 12,774 sell-out crowd erupting when Smith nodded his second of the afternoon to make it 3-0. 'We are going up,' they chanted. They did not stop. They had arrived expectant, having got their first win of the day four hours before kick-off, when Leyton Orient's Randell Williams scored what proved to be the only goal of the game against Wycombe. If that left the Chairboys in a precarious position, two points behind Wrexham having played a game more, it also served as a perfect pre-match pep talk for Phil Parkinson. Not that Wrexham needed an extra boost, even with Charlton sensing the chance to throw an almighty spanner in the works. The Addicks had won 15 of their previous 20 games and another three points would have set up a final day for the ages. Their manager, Nathan Jones, had referred to Wrexham as a 'circus' in the buildup – a comment that irked Parkinson – although with Reynolds and McElhenney in situ and a further spike in media coverage with promotion on the line, it was clear this would be no ordinary day at the STōK Cae Ras. The Wrexham fans didn't miss a beat, singing 'football in a circus' throughout the game. And their side responded swiftly to the sizzling atmosphere with strikes on 15 and 18 minutes to set another perfect picture in motion. Smith almost broke through the Charlton defence early on but after the visitors snuffed him out, it was from the resulting corner that Rathbone ignited the party. The set piece was tapped short by James McClean, with Matty James rolling it on to Rathbone to lash home. The blockbuster goal prompted a big bear hug between Reynolds and McElhenney in the directors' box, and even wilder celebrations in the terraces. The jubilation was to get wilder still. The second goal stemmed from a delicious chip over the defence from James, with Smith swivelling to volley a cute chip into the corner. Even the seldom extravagant Parkinson struggled to contain his emotions this time. Red balloons and pyro went up in the stands. Charlton had to respond, knowing even a draw would do nothing to resuscitate their fading hopes of automatic promotion. And as Arthur Okonkwo in Wrexham's goal denied Tennai Watson the visitors' clearest first-half opportunity, 2-0 still didn't feel comfortable at the break. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion A nervy second half brought little in the way of chances as the hosts sought to hold on. It seemed Charlton had become resigned to their fate, dominating the ball but producing next to nothing. Smith's header from Max Cleworth's cross was the final red stamp to seal it. From there the day belonged to Wrexham, their fans – who invaded the pitch at full time – the players and, of course the owners, who may soon start plotting a path to the Premier League. For now, celebrating yet another promotion and place in the Championship will more than suffice.
