Eleven ways Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have already had an impact on life in Wrexham

The last 18 months under lockdowns, social distancing, and efforts to keep friends and family safe during a global pandemic have been tough on everyone.

WE'RE HERE! Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds at The Racecourse. Picture: GEMMA THOMAS

But there has been a light at the end of the tunnel for those of us in Wrexham. Two lights, in fact, in the shapes of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

In February, when Rob and Ryan completed the takeover of Wrexham AFC, fans began to believe in the impossible.

The masterminds behind Wrexham's Hollywood-style sign have come forward. [Images: Eastwood Media / Vanamara]

That Wrexham would return to their rightful place in the Football League. That The Racecourse would undergo much needed restoration befitting the home of the third oldest football club in the world.

But, while those things will come to pass sooner or later, the Rob and Ryan effect has been palpable in Wrexham even before they set foot in the town.

Today, we look at ten ways Ryan and Rob have boosted the town and it's people.

UPDATE: Ok, we missed a really good one so we've made it a list of 11. And, you know, a football team has 11 players!

1. Aiden Stott's specially-adapted bathroom

Wrexham fan Aiden Stott has been enjoying a specially-adapted bathroom thanks to Rob McElhenney.

Sheryl, Aiden and Terry Stott

While news of the Hollywood takeover was still new, Rob showed that the investment would be in the fans and people of Wrexham as well as the club.

Aiden Stott, 37, had recently moved from Wrexham to Manchester to be closer to his family.

It was the first time that Aiden, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, has had a place of his own.

Aiden Stott loving his new specially-adapted bath.

To make independent living easier, he had started a fundraising campaign to buy a specially-adapted bath for his new pad to help him live more independently and make things easier for his carers.

Just a day after starting the campaign, a donation for the target amount of £6,000 was made by Rob McElhenney.

2. Message of condolence to bereaved Wrexham fan

Rob McElhenney again showed the heart and humanity of Wrexham's new owners when fan Michael Archer took to social media to say that his father, Chris Archer had sadly passed away.

He said that the family had got his father his first season ticket but sadly he was never able to use it.

And he posted on Twitter to say that he hoped that the club would allow the family to put a sticker on his father's seat, as a memorial to him.

Michael was flooded with messages of condolence from fellow fans, along with a message of support and condolence from club co-owner Rob McElhenney, who spoke of what a strong sense of community there was around the club. And he said he supported the family's calls for a memorial to their dad.

Rob tweeted: "I’m so sorry to hear that Michael. If I’ve learned anything about the @Wrexham_AFC community it’s that you hold each other up. I’m sure he was proud of being a part of that tradition. And I’m sure he was proud of you. I hope we can honor his memory by continuing that legacy."

Michael then responded: "Ah Rob, thank you so much, you and Ryan have brought so much excitement to us all, my dad was genuinely excited to be coming back to watch it all unfold. He always told me about the 70’s, and I hoped I was getting to share this era with him. Alas, it wasn’t to be. Up the town!"

He later shared Rob's message of condolence, adding: "Our owners are genuinely great human beings! Diolch Rob & Ryan".

3. "Bring on the Deadpool and Rob McElhenney"

Days after the completion of the Hollywood takeover of Wrexham AFC, the impossible deal was immortalised in song.

The Declan Swans' catchy song Always Sunny in Wrexham, which celebrates the hope of things improving for Wrexham, has been heard echoing around The Racecourse and Wrexham pubs.

The Declan Swans.

And one of the first celebratory get-togethers is likely to be when North Wales' band The Declan Swans perform at the pub which is the spiritual home of many fans.

The Declan Swans on stage outside The Racecourse.

The band's songwriter Michael 'Scoot' Hett said: "It's massive. We've done a lot of gigs in the past to raise money for the cub and the Trust, but it had come to a time where we weren't getting anywhere. I don't think even the club would've survived covid to be honest. But this kind of takeover in unbelievable can't be put into words.

"Ryan and Rob seem like decent people, they are community people, and there is no nasty incentive like we've had when we've been ripped off in the past. It's all brilliant.

"Rob has said himself that he sees a lot of similarities between Wrexham and Philadelphia, which is good. I'm chuffed."

4: Ryan flooded Wrexham with gin!

Wrexham will be forever linked with its iconic lager brand, but in recent months people in the town have been developing a taste for gin.

Saith Seren, The Fat Boar, and The Turf, were among the pubs in the town to receive cases of Ryan Reynolds Aviation American Gin after the takeover deal went through.

The gin cases were accompanied by a cryptic note from the man himself that reads: "To the folks at Saith Seren: Some for you and some for me. Hopefully see you soon - Ryan Reynolds"

Welsh pub in Wrexham Saith Seren received Aviation Gin from Ryan Reynolds. (Source - @CarrieAHarper)

Chris Evans, chair of community cooperative that runs Saith Seren, said: "He's welcome to pop in anytime!

"This is such a generous gift to one of the many bars in the town that have supported the club in a practical way down the years.

"We've sponsored matches, held fundraisers for Wrexham Supporters' Trust and hosted events with managers and players here in the past.

"This season it's been very different and we've donated funds from live streaming games to keep the club going.

"Now everything's changed but it's good to see that we haven't been forgotten.

"So this is a very kind gesture by the new owners and, like the Fat Boar and The Turf, we'll be donating all money raised by selling this gin to good local causes.

Special bottles of the premium gin in Wrexham's green away colours were also only available in North Wales branches on Morrisons.

5. Free Guy premiere!

In August, Ryan Reynolds' eagerly-anticipated movie Free Guy was

As a special nod to Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s ownership of Wrexham Football Club, Disney has commissioned a private premiere of the film to take place at the Odeon ahead of its official release in cinemas a few days later.

Undated film still handout from Free Guy. Pictured: Jodie Comer as Molotov Girl, Ryan Reynolds as Guy. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/©2020 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved/Alan Markfield.

Although the main UK premier took place a few hundred miles away in Leicester Square, Disney are staging a local, invite only event to include frontline emergency service workers and charities including Nightingale House Hospice and Blood Bikes by way of a thank you for their work during the pandemic.

The film is a story of the open world video game Free City, in which Guy (Reynolds) works as a bank teller. Thanks to a program developed by programmers inserted into Free City by the publisher – Guy becomes aware of his world being a video game, and takes steps to make himself the hero, creating a race against time to save the game before the developers can shut it down.

Speaking about the event, Leader of Wrexham Council, Cllr Mark Pritchard said; “We’re all delighted and its fantastic news that Disney have considered Wrexham for this one-off event and I’m sure many of us are looking forward to watching the film and starting to safely enjoy more leisure events now that restrictions are easing further here in Wales."

6. Scarecrow trails have got a bit more Hollywood

A family has been inspired by their football team's new Hollywood owner when making an entry for their community's scarecrow trail.

The Rhostyllen Scarecrow Trail is the biggest yet, with more than 60 participants signed up.

Ellie and Arthur, 11 and 13, posed for a photo with the straw Deadpool. Image: Leanne Gibbons/Twitter

This year, the Gibbons family were inspired by Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds who completed the takeover of Wrexham AFC with fellow actor Rob McElhenney in February.

They created Ryan's most famous character Deadpool. They also included Wrexham's world-famous Hollywood-style sign.

Ellie and Arthur, 11 and 13, posed for a photo with the straw Deadpool (Shedpool?) and Leanne Gibbons tweeted it to Ryan.

Wrexham fans have shown their appreciation on Twitter.

Richard Thomas said: "Well that is just fantastic. Well done!!!"

7: The Wrexham Hollywood sign saga!

Although not directly attributed to Ryan and Rob, the Hollywood-style sign that appeared in Wrexham and subsequently news reports around the world would not have happened without them.

The giant sign resembling iconic white letters on the Hollywood hills was first set up on Bersham Bank overlooking the A483 back in August.

Model Alaw Haf in the new Wrexham AFC home shirt.

At the time of its unveiling, mystery surrounded who was responsible for setting it up in the first place.

Wrexham Council was quick to say it had nothing to do with it as was new Wrexham AFC owner Ryan Reynolds who tweeted his denial to the Leader.

Vanarama, who sponsor the National League which the Dragons play in, then went on to claim ownership of the region's newest landmark.

Carol Ann Price with grandchildren Keira and Rhys Broderick at the Wrexham sign

Hundreds of people climbed up to have their photo taken next to the sign.

It also made the news as far away as Australia and the USA.

Earlier this month, the sign disappeared without explanation but now Vanarama has confirmed it has donated it to Wrexham AFC.

8. Support for Wrexham fan and artist

An artist was overwhelmed when her work started a banter war between Wrexham AFC Hollywood owners.

Essex girl Clare Chiddicks, a postgraduate student at University of Chester, is a devoted fan of Wrexham AFC.

Clare Chiddicks was overwhelmed by the reaction to Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds to her artwork

She combined her love of the club with her artistic talents to create an artwork depicting club co-chairman and creator of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Rob McElhenney.

She posted the image and social media - and was amazed by the response.

As well as people staying they loved her work, she received a tweet reply from Rob's pal and co-chairman Ryan Reynolds.

Clare Chiddicks was overwhelmed by the reaction to Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds to her artwork

Ryan, star of Deadpool and the first post-lockdown blockbuster Free Guy, seemed a little put out that Clare had chosen Rob as her muse.

But Rob loved it, tweeting: "Clare, you’re a wonderful artist with impeccable taste."

Ryan responded, suggesting that his pal and RR McReynolds partner wallpaper the home he shares with wife and It's Always Sunny co-star Kaitlin Olson with the image.

Rob replied: "That’s fine but I’d have to get the tattoo removed. The wallpaper AND the ink would just be weird."

Clare Chiddick's images of Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds

Clare told the Leader: "It’s great what they’re doing not just for the club, but the community also. It’s great their interacting with fans - and it’s amazing they’ve reacted to my work. I’ve studied photography previously and still enjoy creating work in my free time, which is why I created those images.

"To have the reaction I’ve had to them is incredible, I’m so overwhelmed!"

9: Boosting local business (that Ifor Williams Trailers video!)

Ryan and Rob gave North Wales firm Ifor Williams Trailers a massive plug in a spoof corporate video after the fans voted in favour of the takeover of the club.

In announcing the result of the vote on Twitter, Ryan and Rob made constant references to the products of the trailer firm that had been the Wrexham’s main front of shirt sponsor since 2016.

Many of the staff who work at Ifor Williams Trailers are diehard fans and were thrilled to see the original video went viral attracting around five millions views on social media was viewed 500,000 within an hour of being posted on social media.

Wrexham players Jamie Reckord, goalkeeper Rob Lainton and Jordan Davies emerging from the Ifor Williams Trailers HBX horsebox.

The trailer firm was given a starring role again in a hilarious new video by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds to unveil TikTok as the new shirt sponsor at Wrexham AFC.

Sponsors Ifor Williams Trailers handed over the baton to the social media giant – who are also an official sponsor of UEFA EURO 2020 - whose name and logo will be across the front of the club’s new kit as part of a two-year deal.

The second video shows three of the club’s players, Jamie Reckord, goalkeeper Rob Lainton and Jordan Davies - emerging from one of their horseboxes wearing the new kit.

There’s even a cameo appearance for IWT’s head of sales, Rob Small, opening the back of the trailer for the big reveal.

In the video, the duo say: "Are you looking for something special for your horse this year?

“Consider the 2021 line of Ifor Williams Trailers. Oh, those are not horses, those are not horses!

“Oh my God, we got TikTok to sponsor our club. Yep, we want everyone to know the Wrexham name and story. Thank you TikTok for your belief in Wrexham.

“And thank you to our new shorts sponsor, Ifor Williams Trailers.”

10. Donations to foodbanks

In December, it was revealed that Rob and Ryan had made donations to support struggling families.

The news was shared as the foodbank thanked local people and organisations for their donations and support during these difficult times - including local schools, churches, businesses and individuals.

A spokesman for Wrexham Foodbank said: “Thank you so much to Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds for their recent generous financial donation that will enable us to continue to distribute food and toiletries and give help to local people in crisis.”

11. Wrexham is buzzing and believes in itself

Whether or not Wrexham makes it back into the Football League or not this season, the impact of Ryan and Rob is being felt around the town.

Fans are flocking to The Racecourse in their thousands, but there is a sense of belief outside the stadium too.

Alongside other towns, Wrexham has an opportunity to apply for city status as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

City status is a competition that would see Wrexham officially become a city.

Wrexham is also in a separate race to become the UK City of Culture 2025. Winning would see Wrexham become a focal point for cultural events and celebrations in four years’ time.

Wrexham has tried and failed to become a city before. And the naysayers and online trolls might question Wrexham's cultural credentials.

But, as Ryan and Rob's faith in our town, football club, and community has shown, Wrexham is where the impossible is possible.