Wrexham: Rob McElhenney’s support act in promotion sequel

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are used to being the star attractions, both in their day jobs as actors and in their roles as Wrexham’s owners.

It may have been something of a novelty for the Hollywood pair, then, when their football club shared a stage with Stockport County on Saturday.

This was a celebration of Wrexham’s second successive promotion but, in front of another sell-out crowd at their Stok Racecourse home, the League Two A-listers were the support act for the day.

That was because their visitors had already been crowned the division’s champions and, as a graceful nod to that achievement, Wrexham’s players gave their Stockport counterparts a guard of honour on to the field before kick-off.

Standard as that might be for newly-minted league winners, it was still a significant gesture from Wrexham towards rivals who had pipped them to promotion from the National League two years before they had beaten them to the League Two title.

A boxer might say one needs a dance partner to bring out the best in them. In the parlance of Reynolds and McElhenney’s industry, a superhero needs a villain for the most fulfilling narrative arc.

On this occasion, with Reynolds tied up with filming commitments, it was only McElhenney at the Racecourse.

“I spoke with Ryan quite a bit though the match,” McElhenney said. “I FaceTimed him, I couldn’t hear him and he can’t hear me because there’s 12,000 screaming people.

“He was obviously disappointed to miss it but work is work. I’m not complaining, it’s been a magical season.”

Celebratory as the mood undoubtedly was – and fans had been gathering outside the stadium since mid-morning – it was certainly more muted than the delirious scenes which greeted their National League triumph here a year earlier.

That was catharsis for Wrexham, a moment of glorious release after 15 years in the non-league wilderness; fans streaming on to the pitch, a visibly emotional Reynolds and McElhenney holding the trophy aloft.

This time was low key by comparison. Where there were tears of joy 12 months ago, this celebration was coloured with calmer hues of quiet contentment, smiles of satisfaction.

McElhenney aside, there were no celebrities in attendance. The referee was Steve Martin. Just not that one.