Rob McElhenney considers the meaning he derives from owning Wrexham and making investments in the town and community in addition to the football team.
AHEAD OF TIME?
McElhenney talked about his feelings of warmth and affection for Wrexham and the community in an interview with The Athletic. He also talked about the global attention that the club has received since he and Ryan Reynolds became joint owners, and how this has had a transformative effect both on and off the pitch.
THE LARGER IMAGE
Ever since McElhenney and his fellow actor started the Wrexham takeover in late 2020, they have been adamant about being more than just far-off foreign owners. Rather, they have committed to improving the town as a whole; McElhenney was first motivated to buy the club because he recognised similarities between the dilapidated neighbourhood and the one he grew up in, Philadelphia. In addition, the two have contributed a total of £3,500 to save a local business that had been looted.
THOUGHS OF McELHENNEY
“We have felt so welcomed into this community,” McElhenney remarked. The residents of Wrexham were open to seeing what we were all about from the very beginning, if not from day one. enquiring and hearty. We have only experienced the community’s support during that entire process. And we simply want to give that back in any manner we can.
It was truly moving to see how individuals from all over the world, but especially Americans, ended up in this little town in north Wales. One of the biggest delights has been the fact that they eventually did what we had hoped they would do, which was to convert their love and affection for the Wrexham community into a love and interest for the football team.
FUTURE PLANS FOR WREXHAM?
Wrexham’s short-term objective is to advance from League Two to League One via back-to-back promotions; at the moment, they are only outside of the three automatic promotion spots due to goal differential. However, McElhenney’s longer-term strategy is also evident, as he intends to play in the Premier League by 2033.
