The story surrounding Wrexham AFC is something Hollywood movies are made of, so it’s fitting that they have A-list backing.
The Welsh club were purchased by Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds and It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia actor Rob McElhenney in November 2020, and since then the non-league side has been getting the kind of attention usually reserved for top Premier League clubs.
From a Disney Plus documentary to more Hollywood talent attending games – including Reynold’s wife Blake Lively and Spirited co-star Will Ferrell – the small Welsh football club has seen its fair share of attention in the last few years.
They are also on the brink of a historic moment in the club’s history, as a victory over Notts County on the weekend has put the side on the brink of promotion.
But what league do Wrexham actually play in, and where would promotion put them?
What league is Wrexham AFC in?
Wrexham AFC – established in 1864 – play in the National League, and they have been there since 2008.
The National League occupies the fifth tier in the English football league system, below the Premier League, EFL Championship, EFL League One and EFL League Two.
It is considered to be the highest level of semi-professional football – although all but three of the league’s 24 clubs in the league are fully professional – with the next three leagues below it representing different geographical areas across the UK.
The leagues below include the National League North and South, and the Northern and Southern Premier Leagues, which have separate divisions across regions.
The National League and the ones below it are considered non-league divisions, which essentially means they include teams outside of the Premier League and EFL.
Wrexham have been in the National League for nearly 15 years after they were relegated from League Two at the end of the 2007/08 season.
Before that, they had been a presence in the top-tier football leagues for 87 years and their home stadium- the Racecourse Ground – is the world’s oldest international stadium.
What league will Wrexham go to if promoted?
Should Wrexham clinch promotion, they will head back into the English Football League with a return to the EFL League Two.
At the time of writing, Wrexham – managed by Phil Parkinson – are top of the National League table with 103 points from 42 games, three points ahead of second place Notts County with one game in hand.
Only two teams get promoted from the National League: the champions gain automatic promotion, while the next six teams compete in playoffs, with the overall winner gaining promotion.
A significant victory for Wrexham came on Easter Monday – April 10 – as they beat Notts County in a dramatic 3-2 win.
Their celebrity owners were at the Racecourse to cheer them on, with Reynolds, 46 and McElhenney, 45, barely able to contain their excitement as Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster saved a stoppage-time penalty to ensure the Red Dragons came away with the crucial three points.
Reynolds’ wife, fellow actor Balke Lively couldn’t attend the game but was ecstatic in her reaction to the game on Instagram.
‘MVP @benfosters backdropped by @bettybuzz. I’m deceased’, the A Simple Favour actress wrote, shouting out her non-alcoholic beverage brand in the advertisement slots around the pitch.
She continued: ‘@wrexham_afc you killed it today gentleman. Wow. Wow. Wow. All of you.’
With only four games left to play in the season, Wrexham will need to hold their nerve to finally secure promotion out of the National League – at least season two of Welcome To Wrexham won’t be lacking in drama.
Wrexham AFC’s final four fixtures
- April 15: Barnet vs Wrexham
- April 18: Wrexham vs Yeovil Town
- April 22: Wrexham vs Boreham Wood
- April 29: Yeovil Town vs Wrexham
MORE : Ryan Reynolds buys £1,500,000 home in sleepy Welsh village as a base for his visits to Wrexham FC
MORE : Manchester United to face Wrexham in San Diego friendly in July
Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Share your views in the comments below
var notifyQ = function () { var i = 0, l = awaitingReady.length; for (i = 0; i < l; i++) { awaitingReady[i](); } }; var ready = function (cb) { if (fbApiInit) { cb(); } else { awaitingReady.push(cb); } }; var checkLoaded = function () { return fbApiInit; }; window.fbAsyncInit = function () { FB.init({ appId: '176908729004638', xfbml: true, version: 'v2.10' }); fbApiInit = true; notifyQ(); }; return { 'ready' : ready, 'loaded' : checkLoaded }; })(); (function () { function injectFBSDK() { if ( window.fbApi && window.fbApi.loaded() ) return; var d = document, s="script", id = 'facebook-jssdk'; var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) { return; } js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.async = true; js.src = "https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); } if (window.metro) { window.addEventListener('scroll', injectFBSDK, {once: true, passive: true}); } else { window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', injectFBSDK, {once: true}); } })();
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
