Ranking the top 5 Wrexham games from 5 years of Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac’s 2021 Wrexham takeover.
Wrexham were founded in 1864 however, 9th February 2021 is no less than a second birthday for the club. 5 years ago, Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac took over the club. With that, came a ray of hope for the Reds fanbase that Wrexham can make it back into the Football League one day.
Today, on the fifth anniversary of the Hollywood takeover, Wrexham fans are witnessing Championship matchdays taking place at the Racecourse. Very few Wrexham fans expected this turnaround within five seasons.
And who knows, when this 2025/26 campaign ends Phil Parkinson’s men bring the Premier League nights for the first time in the club’s history. That would be epic, hands down. Credit must be given to the owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, boss Phil Parkinson and the players who have had a huge hand in it.
They made this wonderful five-year ride possible. On that note, let’s rewind to the top 5 Wrexham games from the 5 years of Hollywood takeover.
Top 5 Wrexham games from 5 years of Hollywood takeover
1. Wrexham 3-2 Notts County
Phil Parkinson’s first season at Wrexham ended in a heartbreaking fashion. The Reds amassed 88 points but missed out on direct promotion with just 6 points. If that wasn’t enough, a 5-4 playoffs defeat to Grimsby Town had fans fearing the playoffs route to promotion.
Hence, direct promotion was on Wrexham’s mind for the next 2022/23 season. With hundred points the task could have been easier, but Notts County had also smashed 100 points in that historic national league campaign. The 43rd league game between them at the Racecourse was set to be the virtual direct promotion decider.
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Moments before half-time, Notts County took the 1-0 lead and sent flashbacks of another playoffs run among the home fans. Thankfully, Paul Mullin and Jacob Mendy turned the tide early in the second half. Notts County did net the 2-2 equaliser but Elliot Lee was at hand to swiftly restore Wrexham’s lead at 3-2.
It wasn’t over yet. Wrexham gave away a sloppy handball penalty in injury time, but former goalkeeper Ben Foster saved the day and the 3 points. Had Foster not gone the right way, maybe Wrexham would still be grinding it out in the fifth tier to this day.
2. Wrexham 3-1 Boreham Wood
Two matches on from the 3-2 Notts County thriller, Wrexham were standing on the brink of League Two promotion. All the Reds needed was a win against Boreham Wood to directly advance from the National League without needing any result from the final matchday at all.
Although Boreham were seventh in the league back then, Wrexham were playing at home being the runaway National league leaders. Still, Boreham Wood claimed a 1-0 minute somehow in the opening minute of the match. Again, Elliot Lee and Super Paul Mullin turned heroes and netted thrice to avoid any sensational upset in the 2022/23 National league automatic promotion race.
A 3-1 Boreham Wood win ensured Wrexham’s first promotion under bods Phil Parkinson. That promotion streak has now grown to 3, with strong hopes of a fourth one coming in May.
3. Wrexham 4-3 Coventry City
During the same 2022/23 season, Wrexham managed to string a brilliant FA Cup run alongside seeing off a successful direct promotion. The Reds saw off Blyth Spartans in the fourth qualifying round, to enter the FA Cup first round proper. Fortunately, Wrexham got National League peers Oldham Athletic there whom they defeated 3-0 to march onto the second round.
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Again, national league fellow in Farnborough followed and Wrexham hammered them 4-1. After that, the real thrill began. Championship side Coventry City drawn in the third round, and away from home meaning Wrexham were massive underdogs heading into the tie.
Sam Dalby and Elliot Lee had other intentions, though. The duo struck two goals in quick succession to help Wrexham race to a 2-0 lead within 20 minutes. Current Reds midfielder Ben Sheaf was in the Coventry City team that day, and even pulled one back in the first half.
After the restart, Phil Parkinson’s men took a 4-1 lead and held it to 4-3 to complete a Coventry City upset. Not to forget, that same Coventry side went on to lose the Championship promotion playoffs final in a few months while having current Arsenal star Viktor Gyokeres in their ranks.
4. Wrexham 3-0 Charlton Athletic
Next up in this list, is the Wrexham vs Charlton Athletic fixture at the tail end of the 2024/25 League One season. After 44 games, Wrexham had developed a strong hold of the second position with 86 points. Wycombe Wanderers and Charlton Athletic were the Reds closest direct promotion threats with 84 and 82 points respectively.
Earlier in the 45th matchday, Wycombe fell to a surprise 1-0 defeat to Leyton Orient. That paved the way for Phil Parkinson’s men to head to the big Charlton showdown aiming for a win to seal their automatic Championship ticket.
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A day prior to the Wrexham vs Charlton Athletic fixture, the Addicks boss Nathan Jones delivered his notorious circus comment on Wrexham’s promotion successes. Lowkey, that fueled the Reds even more as Ollie Rathbone and Sam Smith put the game to bed in the first half itself.
Smith netted a brace later to seal a memorable 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic and the subsequent Championship promotion.
5. Wrexham 7-6 Nottingham Forest (on penalties)
This Nottingham Forest FA Cup win is barely a month old memory right now. Riding on the back of four consecutive Championship wins, Wrexham faced Forest in the best shape they have had this season. Plus, Nottingham Forest’s struggling Premier League position meant that very soon the Reds might swap places with Sean Dyche’s men in the top-flight.
Hence, this FA Cup 3rd round matchup was perfectly balanced. Phil Parkinson’s men ticked the scoreboard first. From 0-0 at the half an hour mark, Wrexham rushed into a 2-0 lead going into half-time. Nottingham responded well after the break, still, the Reds had the 3-1 upper hand needed to see out the win.
Call it a sloppy finish, but Wrexham surrendered to a 3-3 scoreline within regulation time. Matters escalated to extra-time and then penalty shootouts, where Arthur Okonkwo saved two penalties to cap off a 7-6 upset over Nottingham Forest.
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