Disney+ recently released the first two episodes Welcome to Wrexhamtravel documentary Ryan Reynolds as well as Rob McElhenney as they take over Wrexham AFC, the fifth tier team in English football (only one notch above the amateur leagues). The two actors have set themselves the goal of bringing the club back into the English Football League and thereby restoring the team’s historic place among the top teams. We’ve all seen underdog stories both on screen and in real life, but this is truly a challenge in the highly competitive world of English football and will be taken up by football fans around the world. There are thousands of football teams around the world, so what drew Reynolds and McElhenney to this small town based team in Wales? Well, this story starts with Rob.
Rob McElhenney returns to his working-class roots
There’s no denying Ryan’s passion and dedication to the team when he first steps onto the field and collapses in amazement. Reynolds also spoke about his passion for the sport, explaining that he will always strive for excellence in order to get his late father’s approval. However, it was Rob, the self-proclaimed guy with TV money, who gave the project a boost. In the first episode of the series, Rob tells us about his humble origins. Together with his son and father, he invites us on a tour of the house he grew up in, a small family home in the heart of Philadelphia. This is not a modest boast to show us how far he has come and how successful he is, but rather to show us what kind of person he is and how he understands and appreciates the working class.
McElhenney goes on to explain to us how much American football means to him, discussing how meaningful the Eagles’ 2018 Super Bowl victory was to him. He attributes the victory to the birth of his children and his wedding day, realizing what “play” means to him. However, with such thoughts not only Rob. He explains that the team is an extension of the city. This is culture. The team unites the inhabitants of the city and gives them a sense of belonging. For McElhenney, Philadelphia is a city of workers and they have to work for everything they have, but football is what brings them all together and makes them forget about their lives. He sees the same thing in the Welsh town of Wrexham.
Finding common ground between Philadelphia and Wrexham
The city of Wrexham is similar to Philadelphia in many ways. Of course, there is a huge difference in size, a huge difference in population, and a huge difference in fame, but what these two places have in common is the spirit of the people. Just as Philadelphia is driven by the love of the Eagles, the hardworking residents of Wrexham are driven by their local team. This is a city not famous for career opportunities or fancy infrastructure, but a city where hope is never lost and the heart is omnipresent. It’s all about football. At first glance, this is a game in which 22 people are chasing the ball, competing to shoot it into the opponent’s goal, but the game means much more to its fans. For them, this is a chance to feel like one, away from their busy work life and feel like a part of something. Whatever their circumstances, football is a distraction and the community spirit ensures no one is left alone.
One scene that stands out, though seemingly minor, is an interview with a street food truck outside the club grounds. The owner of the van explains to the visitors how he communicates, and their mood largely depends on the latest results of the football team. Fans can be seen gathering outside, expressing their dismay over the poor results and performances, and the street vendor goes on to explain how the locals look downcast after the team’s defeat. It’s a common theme among enthusiastic football fans around the world (which I’m all too familiar with). The feeling of loss will stay with you for the entire week ahead, until the next game gives you an opportunity to make things right. This is what the people of Wrexham feel, and being such a passionate group of fans can only heighten that feeling.
Wrexham has a history of passion for football
One of the most obvious places to see this North Wales town’s passion for the beautiful game is in the opening scene. To the melancholic tune “The Time They Are A-Changing” Keb Mo, featuring images and short videos about the city’s history. The footage includes historical moments from the team’s past, intertwined with photographs of the miners. With the theme behind these shots, we get a true feel for the emotions of the city’s residents, and the use of images from both working life and football moments shows us just how intertwined the city is. Football is not a separate pastime for fans when they are free, it is firmly rooted in the culture and history of the region. As explained in the documentary, this club is the third oldest football club in the world, which means that it has a huge history associated with it, and fans have been with them every step of the way. The team’s support has been passed down through the generations and there doesn’t seem to be any sign of it fading away.
Only two episodes have been released so far, and we are already seeing what sport can mean to society. Welcome to Wrexham fascinating in that it follows the lives of normal working-class people, and not just following the owners of clubs. Reynolds and McElhenney will undoubtedly benefit the club and their passion is clear to us, but Wrexham’s story can only be told from those who live it, and that’s what this documentary does so well. For the natives of Wrexham, football is not just a game, football is life.
Source: Collider
