**Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively Touch Down in Wales for Crucial Wrexham Fixture and Opulent Stay**
Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, known globally for their roles on the silver screen, have arrived in Wales for a momentous occasion in Wrexham AFC’s history. The couple, who co-own the football club, are in the country ahead of a pivotal fixture that could see Wrexham secure yet another promotion—potentially taking the club into the Championship for the first time since their remarkable transformation under Reynolds’ stewardship.
Reynolds and Lively’s arrival has electrified local supporters and injected further media attention into what promises to be a dramatic afternoon at the Racecourse Ground. The match against Charlton Athletic is a critical one, with promotion rivals Wycombe Wanderers needing a win earlier in the day to keep pace. If Wycombe falter and Wrexham claim victory at home, fans could witness the team’s third consecutive promotion—an achievement previously considered beyond reach for the long-struggling club.
Adding to the anticipation, Reynolds’ co-owner and fellow actor, Rob McElhenney, has also been present in North Wales over recent days, showing the franchise’s Hollywood contingent is fully engaged. The duo’s hands-on approach since acquiring Wrexham in 2021 has confounded early expectations that they would remain absentee owners, miles away from the day-to-day realities of the club.
In the build-up to the tie, Blake Lively posted a selfie alongside Reynolds, both beaming in front of a Wrexham crest, with the rallying cry: “Let’s go boys @wrexham_afc.” The message has generated a wave of excitement across the club’s loyal fan base and underlines the owners’ genuine emotional investment in the club’s fortunes.
Reynolds, meanwhile, has spoken candidly about the strain and drama of Wrexham’s white-knuckle promotion chase. He recently lamented the toll the battle has taken, joking: “I have, literally, like an eight-inch ulcer in my stomach right now because it’s the end of the season. It all comes down to the next two weeks. They just can’t do it easy… one year, let’s do it without having receding hairlines all around. We’re all losing it. Stress is killing us.” His comments echo the nervous energy now commonplace among Wrexham supporters as their club inches ever closer to football’s upper echelons.
Speculation has persisted that Reynolds has purchased a property in the local area, but sources indicate the couple are lodging at the prestigious Carden Park estate in neighbouring Cheshire. This 1,000-acre property, just ten miles from the Racecourse, offers guests access to a sumptuous spa, several restaurants and championship-standard golf—amenities enjoyed by Wrexham’s own players during downtime. Carden Park has previous form hosting celebrities, having welcomed the cast of I’m a Celebrity after their stint at Gwrych Castle, and boasts Brazilian-style fairways co-designed by Jack Nicklaus.
Rooms at the estate cater to a broad clientele, with nightly rates starting at £169 and rising to £614 for those opting for upper-tier suites. For a couple with a reported combined fortune exceeding $350 million, such luxury is easily within reach. Yet, Reynolds and Lively’s visits to Wrexham are remembered less for extravagance and more for the A-listers they attract to humble matchdays—recent games have seen personalities like Paul Rudd and Hugh Jackman pop up in the stands and even mingle at the historic Turf pub.
Yet not everyone is rolling out the red carpet. Charlton’s Welsh manager Nathan Jones stoked pre-match tensions by referring to Wrexham as “a circus” under its new ownership. “It’s a bumper game, we have to go to the circus and see what we can get,” he quipped to Sky Sports, prompting an immediate retort from Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson. Parkinson described the remarks as disrespectful, arguing: “The comments lacked respect, I don’t think we can hide away from that. Not just for our current owners, players, staff, and supporters, but in respect to the history of this great football club. This club has been here for many years, has got a great history and a proud tradition. I think it was a bit of a lack of understanding of that, really.”
As the club readies itself for this potentially historic match, emotions are running high, and optimism abounds throughout the local community. The Hollywood owners and their high-profile supporters have undoubtedly raised the club’s global profile, yet the heart of Wrexham remains firmly rooted in its tradition and its people, both on and off the pitch. For now, all eyes await the final whistle and the verdict on whether this latest episode will end in celebration or renewed drama.