Hollywood backers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney help springboard a Welsh soccer club back into the big leagues

cnbc.com:

Wrexham, the Welsh soccer club owned by Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, secured promotion back to the English Football League (EFL) system for the first time in 15 years.

A 3-1 victory on Saturday over London-based Boreham Wood saw the club win the Vanarama National League title, powered by two second-half goals from talismanic striker Paul Mullin.

The win meant Wrexham wrapped up the league title with one game to spare after a fierce challenge from Notts County. It will see the club ascend next season from the National League, the fifth tier of the English football pyramid, into the EFL League Two for the first time since its relegation in 2007/8.

Reynolds and McElhenney purchased Wrexham, the third-oldest professional soccer club in the world, for £2 million ($2.5 million) in November 2020, despite neither having much prior knowledge of the sport or of North Wales, where the club is based.

The Hollywood investment and commercial interest resulting from the popularity of the behind-the-scenes Disney+ documentary series «Welcome to Wrexham» helped build the club a cult following around the world, and provided a financial boost that has enabled Wrexham to attain promotion at the second time of asking.

Last season, Wrexham narrowly missed out on promotion after losing 5-4 in a thrilling play-off semi-final against Grimsby Town, which went on to gain promotion and now also plays in League Two. It also fell short in the FA Trophy cup competition, being beaten 1-0 at Wembley by Bromley FC.

Promotion to the EFL is highly lucrative for small clubs, and Wrexham will receive a payment from the EFL of £1.1 million. Reynolds and McElhenney have promised to reinvest a substantial portion of the winnings in