Paul Rudd has arrived in Wrexham to support pal Ryan Reynolds’ football team as fans hold their hopes for promotion to the Football League.
The American actor 54, has been spotted drinking beer and joining in on chants at Kentucky at the Turf pub in north Wales ahead of Wrexham FC’s crunch match against Borehamwood.
Non-league Wrexham are one win away from winning promotion to the Football League – and there will be millions more than the 10,000 in attendance in North Wales this weekend roaring them on for a 6.30pm kick off.
And in the second half, fans went wild as Paul Mullin scored a second goal in the top right corner, putting them in the lead for a win and a promotion.
However Wrexham have gotten off to a disappointing start, with Boreham Wood scoring in the first minute of the game. But at 15 minutes, Wrexham brought it back with a goal from Elliot Lee.
Fancy seeing you here! Paul Rudd has arrived in Wrexham to support pal Ryan Reynolds’ football team as fans hold their hopes for promotion to the Football League
Supporter: The American actor 54, has been spotted drinking beer and joining in on chants at Kentucky at the Turf pub in north Wales ahead of Wrexham FC’s crunch match against Borehamwood
Having a few: Non-league Wrexham are one win away from winning promotion to the Football League – and there will be millions more than the 10,000 in attendance in North Wales this weekend roaring them on for a 6.30pm kick off
Backed by Hollywood pair Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Wrexham have proven an enormous hit with fans in the United States, so much so that for many, the fandom has now become a daily way of life.
Rudd looked like he fit right in with the Wrexham fans who all looked in good spirits, as he enjoyed a few beers from plastic cups while singing along to the football chants.
Plenty of fans stopped the Hollywood A-lister for a selfie, and his arrival even caused ‘Paul Rudd’ to trend on Twitter.
He has been in London in recent days shooting for Ghostbusters: Afterlife alongside co-cast members William Atherton and Ernie Hudson.
They were seen stepping out on the streets outside St James’ Park Tube Station to film scenes for the follow-up to the 2021 movie, alongside an iconic prop car to go with the shoot.
Wrexham are on the cusp of ending a 15-year wait to win promotion from non-league, are preparing for a US tour this summer, where they will face Manchester United, and also have season two of Welcome to Wrexham to follow later in the year as they look to capture the hearts and minds of even more in America.
Sat in San Diego last month to announce the blockbuster friendly against Manchester United, McElhenney is convinced Wrexham can become America’s team in the coming years.
‘We said from day one we want to grow the exposure of the club and make it a global enterprise,’ McElhenney said.
Selfie: Backed by Hollywood pair Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney , Wrexham have proven an enormous hit with fans in the United States, so much so that for many, the fandom has now become a daily way of life
Getting into the swing of things: Rudd looked like he fit right in with the Wrexham fans who all looked in good spirits, as he enjoyed a few beers while singing along to the football chants
Cheers! Plenty of fans stopped the Hollywood A-lister for a selfie, and his arrival even caused ‘Paul Rudd’ to trend on Twitter
Welcome: He has been in London in recent days shooting for Ghostbusters: Afterlife alongside co-cast members William Atherton and Ernie Hudson
Team talk: Paul chatted to Wrexham fans in the local pub ahead of the 6.30pm kick off
Ready to go: Wrexham owner Ryan Reynolds waves to fans ahead of the English National League football match between Wrexham and Boreham Wood at the Racecourse Ground Stadium in Wrexham, north Wales, on Saturday
Excited: Reynolds gets into the spirit of things as he throws a signed shirt down to the fans ahead of the crunch match
‘We have been really fortunate that Americans seem to have taken to the documentary and they fell in love with the town.’
The team trends most matchdays on social media in the US and even more so in recent weeks as promotion closes in – even with competition from basketball, baseball and hockey.
Wrexham’s players will also share bonuses of £200,000 if they secure promotion to League Two by beating Boreham Wood tomorrow having chosen to forgo win bonuses during the season.
Crowds: The Turf Pub in Wrexham was rammed full of fans and Rudd’s appearance made the atmosphere even more rowdy
Fans: The Hollywood star was naturally stopped for pictures and looked pleased to do so wjo;e clasping a beer for the occasion
Happy days: Paul was soaking up the atmosphere before heading into the Wrexham grounds
Nerves: Reynolds, who on Friday said he was ‘nervous’ for the match on Saturday, is pictured at the Racecourse Ground ahead of the game
Getting ready: Wrexham co-owner Reynolds (left) and Paul Rudd watch on at the match about to begin on Saturday evening
Talking tactics: Hollywood stars Reynolds and Rudd look deep in thought as they talk ahead of the kick-off
Go Wrexham! Co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are pictured with board advisor Shaun Harvey – with Paul Rudd peeking through behind
On Friday Mail Sport learned that Phil Parkinson’s squad backed themselves to gain promotion at the start of the season by agreeing that they would only receive win bonuses if they were in the top three throughout the campaign, in return for getting a bigger pay-out if they achieved their ultimate goal.
The players’ negotiations with Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were led by captain Ben Tozer, whose faith in his team-mates appears set to pay off.
Wrexham are the highest payers in the National League, where the average weekly wage is around £1000, but a promotion bonus of around £20,000-per-man will still represent a major boost to the players.
The club will also secure an immediate financial windfall from promotion, which is worth around £1million in central revenue distribution payments from the EFL, as well as benefitting from the increased global profile of league football.
Comeback! Wrexham got off to a disappointing start, with Boreham Wood scoring in the first minute of the game. But at 15 minutes, Wrexham brought it back with a goal from Elliot Lee
In good spirits: Paul, dressed in an all-black ensemble including a baseball hat, looked in good spirits as he watched the Wrexham – Boreham Wood match
Pals: Paul looked engrossed in the game as co-owner Ryan Reynolds passionately explained something to him
Moral support: Paul Rudd, who has been in the UK in recent days for a film shoot, came to support his pal Ryan Reynolds for the match in north Wales
Looking on: Paul Rudd is pictured alongside the co-owners of Wrexham from the special box
