Westlife star Brian McFadden recently issued a playful warning to Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds after investing in a part-time club. McFadden, along with Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy from Boyzone, acquired a stake in National League North team Chorley FC last year. The club, established in 1883, has made significant improvements such as investing £250,000 in a new pitch, enhancing the safety of aging terraces at Victory Park, and setting up a new hospitality suite.
Inspired by the success of Reynolds and co-owner Rob McElhenney at Wrexham, McFadden expressed his ambitions to potentially create a documentary about Chorley FC’s journey. Despite the club currently being six tiers below the Premier League, McFadden envisions guiding them to the highest level of English football. He humorously remarked, “Teams like Salford and Wrexham, who have well-known owners, make us think, ‘Why not us?’ Gary Neville and Ryan Reynolds may need to watch out!”
Celebrities across various industries, including rapper Snoop Dogg and A$AP Rocky, have shown interest in investing in football clubs following the Wrexham success story. The duo from the music industry intends to follow in the footsteps of Reynolds and McElhenney, who led Wrexham to back-to-back promotions to League One. Moreover, Wrexham recently welcomed new investors as the Allyn family from New York acquired a minority stake in the club while Reynolds and McElhenney purchased a majority share in the city’s Wrexham Lager brewery.
The influx of celebrity investors reflects a growing trend of public figures entering the world of football ownership. McFadden’s entry into Chorley FC signals a new chapter for the club, with hopes of achieving remarkable success akin to Wrexham’s rise under Reynolds’ ownership. The football landscape continues to evolve with renowned personalities bringing their unique perspectives and resources to clubs across different tiers of the game.