Hollywood-backed Wrexham is now just one division below the Premier League after securing yet another promotion

CNN - Apr 26th, 2025
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Wrexham AFC has achieved another milestone in its remarkable journey by securing a promotion to the Championship, just one tier below the Premier League. The Welsh club, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, finished second in League One following a 3-0 victory over Charlton Athletic and a crucial result with Wycombe losing to Leyton Orient. The promotion marks Wrexham's third consecutive rise in the league system, a testament to the significant turnaround since the Hollywood duo took over in 2021. Celebrations erupted at the Racecourse Ground with Reynolds, McElhenney, and Blake Lively in attendance, highlighting the club's transformation from its struggling past.

Wrexham's ascent, fueled by the investment and global attention brought by its celebrity owners, has been closely followed by fans worldwide, particularly in the US, through the FX documentary series "Welcome to Wrexham." This latest promotion places Wrexham in the highly competitive Championship, known for its thrilling football and financial stakes as clubs vie for a spot in the Premier League. While Wrexham cannot win the League One title this season, with Birmingham already crowned champions, their focus will now be on competing against financially robust teams in the Championship, aiming for the ultimate promotion to the Premier League. This development not only elevates the club's status but also continues to captivate audiences with its Hollywood-backed narrative of success against the odds.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.0
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides an engaging and timely account of Wrexham's promotion to the Championship, highlighting the club's success under the ownership of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. It excels in readability and clarity, offering a compelling narrative that captures the excitement surrounding the team's achievements. However, the story lacks balance and transparency, as it focuses heavily on the positive aspects of celebrity ownership without exploring potential challenges or providing clear sourcing. While the article holds public interest and potential impact within the sports community, its broader influence is limited. Overall, the story is a well-written and engaging piece that could benefit from more balanced perspectives and transparent sourcing.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story accurately reports Wrexham's promotion to the Championship, supported by the club's recent victory over Charlton Athletic and the loss by Wycombe, which were key results leading to their second-place finish in League One. The ownership by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney is correctly stated, although the purchase year is slightly misrepresented as 2021 instead of 2020. The claim of three consecutive promotions is also accurate, reflecting Wrexham's rapid ascent through the leagues. However, the mention of Birmingham City's ownership by Tom Brady lacks supporting evidence, suggesting a need for further verification. Overall, the story is mostly factual but requires minor corrections and additional source verification for certain claims.

6
Balance

The article presents a positive narrative about Wrexham's success under its celebrity owners, emphasizing their role in the club's resurgence and global popularity. While it highlights the team's achievements and the excitement surrounding their promotion, it lacks a balanced perspective by not exploring potential challenges or criticisms, such as the financial pressures of competing in the Championship. The focus on the owners and their influence could overshadow the contributions of players, coaches, and other staff members, leading to an imbalanced portrayal of the club's success.

8
Clarity

The article is well-written and easy to follow, with a clear narrative structure that guides the reader through Wrexham's journey from struggling club to Championship contender. The language is straightforward and engaging, effectively conveying the excitement surrounding the team's achievements. The use of vivid descriptions, such as the 'jubilant scenes' at the Racecourse Ground, enhances the story's readability and appeal. However, the inclusion of unsupported claims, like Tom Brady's involvement, detracts slightly from the overall clarity.

5
Source quality

The article does not explicitly cite any sources, which affects its credibility and reliability. While the claims about Wrexham's promotion and ownership are verifiable through external sources, the lack of direct attribution weakens the story's authority. The absence of diverse sources or expert opinions further limits the depth of the article, as it relies heavily on the narrative of the club's owners without incorporating insights from other stakeholders or industry experts.

4
Transparency

The story lacks transparency in its sourcing and methodology, as it does not disclose how the information was obtained or provide context for certain claims, such as the involvement of Tom Brady with Birmingham City. There is no explanation of the basis for the claims made, which could help readers understand the article's foundation and potential biases. The article could improve transparency by clearly outlining the sources of its information and any potential conflicts of interest.

Sources

  1. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/44851435/wrexham-promotion-championship-league-one-ryan-reynolds
  2. https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/wrexham-is-on-the-verge-of-promotion-after-20295838.php
  3. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11719/13356121/wrexham-promoted-ryan-reynolds-and-rob-mcelhenney-owned-side-earn-historic-promotion-to-championship
  4. https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/news/wrexham-afc-promoted-to-championship-going-up-for-third-straight-season