Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham continued to exceed all expectations during the 2024/25 season.
Despite being predicted to finish in 20th place in their first season back in League One by a supercomputer, Wrexham managed to be in contention at the other end of the table throughout 2024/25.
Phil Parkinson’s men were able to secure automatic promotion to the Championship – a record third straight promotion in the EFL – on the penultimate matchday of the campaign, securing their place in England’s second division with a thumping 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic.
Club owners Rob and Ryan were expectedly in attendance for the crowning moment on April 26, leading celebrations both on and off the pitch on what was a joyous day at the Racecourse Ground. And speaking on a podcast, Rob McElhenney has lifted the lid on his emotions on that promotion-clinching day.
Rob McElhenney says Championship promotion was more ‘joyous’ than first promotion to EFL
Speaking on the Men In Blazers podcast, Rob explained how and why he and Ryan’s celebrations differed so much between the club’s first promotion under their tutelage and the most recent one, explaining that it was more ‘joyous’ because it didn’t feel like a weight was being lifted off their shoulders:
“I remember something Jeffrey Lurie told me, and I put it in the documentary in season one. He said ‘you have to remember that this is such an immense privilege and opportunity, and you have to have fun, because if you’re not having fun it’s truly not worth it, you should be doing something else with you life’.
“And I’m always having fun with this, but yes it’s a rollercoaster of emotions as you know.
“I think what you were seeing on our faces was joy. I, too, was doing my visualisation exercise and was going back to a place where I was a little kid and was just rooting for the Eagles, and cheering for the Eagles because nothing else mattered on that particular Sunday.
“You can see that our body language was totally different from the first promotion. The two of us, and it was not rehearsed it was in the moment, someone was shooting us from behind and you see us both sort of like slouch as if we’re like releasing the demons and something was taken off of our shoulders or something.
“In this one it was the opposite, we just rose up and we were celebrating because it was just a joyous occasion from start to finish.”
Rob and Ryan eye Premier League with Wrexham
While promotion to the Championship was a remarkable achievement, both Rob and Ryan have loftier ambitions in mind for Wrexham.
Both celebrity owners have expressed that the goal is to make Wrexham a Premier League club sooner rather than later, with Ryan once stating that he envisions the club being in the top flight “in 10 years’ time”.
Speaking on a recent Away Days episode on YouTube, Rob echoed these sentiments, saying: “Of course, our goal is to get to the Premier League, and then it’s to win the Premier League and then, like you said, now you’re in European football, and why not go out and be the best football team in the world.”
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In order to achieve promotion to the Premier League, Wrexham have plenty of work to do during the summer transfer window. Phil Parkinson’s side are expected to be very busy, with rumours already swirling regarding a number of additions, including the exciting Jamie Donley who impressed on loan at Leyton Orient from Tottenham Hotspur in 2024/25.