LL THIS WEEK
Field of dreams
‘
Hopefully it’ll get them to want to play, get them more involved
By EMILY ASH
F
ootball fans across the globe have had their attention drawn to a small Welsh football club for all the right reasons. Wrexham FC, an historical club which up until recently had fallen into hard times, caught the attention of two A-list celebrities, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who have now completed their official takeover of the fifth-tier club, bringing a touch of Hollywood magic to North Wales. They have announced that they have big plans for the club going forward, with a mission to “always beat Chester”. They have also announced that they will be looking at getting the women’s teams kickstarted in the future. Most recently they said that they will be giving wages lost from employees on furlough back to them. This means that those who received 80% of their wages in the government scheme will now get their full pay. Sian Smith, a local football coach
in Wrexham, thinks that it’ll have a positive impact on the local young girls as well as the boys. She says: “Hopefully it’ll get them to want to want to play, get them more involved.” She did however have some concerns for current local teams if it takes off: “They have a Wrexham Centre of excellence for them, so that’s like an academy but there is no girls sector.” Ms. Smith, however, remains positive: “It might affect us to start off with but them they might help the other clubs in Wrexham.” There is no doubt that the takeover has positively affected the town. Ms Smith sums it with three words: “It sure has!” Finally, for anyone wanting to raise a glass to celebrate the club’s good fortune, it has produced its own limited edition “The Takeover” Aviation Gin with a special Wrexham FC logo on it rather than the iconic black and white label. The gin sold out in a few short hours and they are currently working on making it available for pre-order again.
Under new management: The Racecourse ground in Wrexham (above) and a tweet from the club promoting their partnership with Aviation Gin (below, right)
’
Reynolds and McElhenney’s faces projected on a building in Wrexham to celebrate the takeover
9
