---
title: "Wrexham paint town red with bus parade after promotion to EFL"
description: "Wrexham's Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney ditched the star-studded Met Gala to join the Welsh soccer club's open-top-bus victory parade on Tuesday as they celebrated their promotion to the English Football League (EFL)."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "ENGLISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-05-03-wrexham-paint-town-red-with-open-top-bus-parade-after-promotion-to-efl/"
published: "2023-05-03T02:00:00"
updated: "2023-05-03T00:21:59"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 192
---

# Wrexham paint town red with bus parade after promotion to EFL

> Wrexham's Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney ditched the star-studded Met Gala to join the Welsh soccer club's open-top-bus victory parade on Tuesday as they celebrated their promotion to the English Football League (EFL).

By Reuters · Published 3 May 2023, 04:00 SAST · Updated 3 May 2023, 02:21 SAST

## Key points
- After a 15-year absence, Wrexham's promotion to the EFL has been a heart-warming story of fairytale proportions, complete with global appeal and celebrity fans.
- Wrexham secure EFL return after 15-year absence
- Global appeal and international interest gained under new ownership
- Featured on FIFA video game and Disney docu-series released
- Will Ferrell and Hugh Jackman turn up to games to show support

## Content

Wrexham secured a fairytale return to the EFL following a 15-year absence last month after beating Boreham Wood 3-1 to win the National League with a game to spare.

The dollop of Hollywood glitz has made Wrexham's promotion one of the most unlikely and heart-warming stories for many a season.

Since being taken over by Reynolds and McElhenney in November 2020, Wrexham have become a club with global appeal, gaining international interest and new fans across the world.

The Welsh side were the first minor league side to feature on the hugely popular Fifa video game in the 'rest of the world' category, while a Disney docuseries Welcome to Wrexham that followed the club's journey under the new owners was released.

The club also attracted the attention of American tourists in Wales, with celebrities such as Will Ferrell and Hugh Jackman also turning up at games to show their support.

Wrexham said the parade was also to celebrate the achievements of their women's team, who achieved promotion to Adran Premier, the highest level of league competition for the women's game in Wales.

*(Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge.)*