Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Commentary Debut
Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds described his experience commentating on Wrexham AFC's match as the "most rewarding professional experience of my entire life." This marked his debut as a football commentator alongside actor Rob McElhenney.
Reynolds and McElhenney, who purchased Wrexham AFC five years ago, provided commentary for the club's Championship game against Swansea on Friday, broadcast on Sky Sports Football.
During the coverage, the pair shared their enthusiasm for the team and revealed that they had a video call with football legend David Beckham during Wrexham's recent match against Chelsea.
David Beckham FaceTime During Chelsea Match
Rob McElhenney told the programme,
"We do a lot of FaceTime during the game. So, in fact, during the Chelsea game, David Beckham was FaceTiming with us."
When asked about their feelings as the commentary began, Reynolds admitted,
"Nervous, nervous. As I said earlier, most of what I know about commentating live sports is from old episodes of Project Runway. So I am in big trouble tonight."
Wrexham's Historic Rise
Reynolds and McElhenney have been instrumental in Wrexham's remarkable ascent, achieving three consecutive promotions that elevated the club from non-league football to the Championship.
Reflecting on their acquisition of Wrexham for approximately £2 million in 2020, McElhenney shared,
"I Googled, how do I buy a football team?"
He further explained,
"It really got supercharged when Ryan got involved. And it went from probably a small, fun project into something that became a global phenomenon."
A Personal and Emotional Journey
Reynolds, whose wife Blake Lively frequently attends Wrexham games with him, described the team as a "story that will never end."
He added,
"It's been, easily for me, I'll say, the most rewarding professional experience of my entire life, and emotional, too. Aside from my immediate nuclear family, I can't think of anything I've done in my life that's more worthwhile and beautiful than being a part of this story in Wrexham as it unfolds."
Celebrations During the Match
As the game progressed, Reynolds and McElhenney enthusiastically celebrated Wrexham's first goal, punching the air and cheering.
They celebrated again following a second goal, with Wrexham ultimately securing a 2-0 victory over Swansea.
At the final whistle, the stadium played "Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg, who is a co-owner of Swansea.
Global Spotlight and Mixed Reactions
Wrexham's journey has been documented in the TV series Welcome To Wrexham, which has won 10 Emmy Awards and significantly increased the club's international profile.
Feedback on Reynolds and McElhenney's commentary on social media platform X was varied. One user commented,
"I wasn't gonna listen to it but I'm actually quite enjoying it."
Another wrote,
"This format is way better than regular commentary."
However, some expressed reservations, with one user stating,
"Don't get me wrong, I don't mind these two but who thought this was a good idea."
