Rexham Football Club, known by its fans as the "Dragons", is a Welsh football team currently playing in the National League - the fifth football league in England.
More importantly, it is the third oldest professional football team in the world (playing at Racecourse Ground, the world's oldest international football stadium).
It was founded no less than 157 years ago, in 1864, and its achievements include a record number of 23 Welsh Cup wins, alongside other local wins, but when it comes to European successes, the biggest achievement to date is qualifying for the quarter-finals, somewhere in the middle 70s, of the European Cup Winners' Cup Tournament.
In other words, not from the lions of the continent.
Still, the Dragons enjoy tremendous support in a city of 65,000 people, about 200 kilometers from the capital Cardiff, and boasts fans who declare that "the group is more important than life and death."
Another interesting fact: in 2020, when it was in danger of disbanding and against the backdrop of the start of the Corona plague, Rexham was acquired by Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds and actor-creator Rob McAlney ("Philadelphia Shines"), for a modest £ 2million. Although not. The two had some experience running a football team (and they also never worked with each other), their goal was to "turn Rexham from the underdog into a success story that the whole world will encourage and applaud."
Between renovating the pitch, upgrading the gym and mingling with the suspicious fans ("My dad and I thought you bought the team because it's red and also because Deadpool is red"), the two also produced, along the way, a new documentary series called Welcome to Wrexham, which will air on service Disney Plus at the end of August.
The series can be defined, more or less, as "Ted Lasso for real", only that instead of a kind but incomprehensible coach in football, these are glittering owners from the City of Angels who come to save the situation.
"Rob and Ryan are taking a crash course in managing a football team and learning about the complex and inseparable connection between a team and a town that trusts the two players who will bring hope and change to a community that desperately needs them," the series' official description said yesterday (Wednesday).
We will of course avoid spoilers (those interested are welcome to watch the entertaining and exciting trailer and understand how important this group is to the residents of the city and its surroundings), but let’s say something like this: Rexham’s situation is much better today than it was a few years ago.
It is likely that the series - along with the buzz, publicity and many fans who will surely join its ranks after watching it - will help it establish its renewed status, and not only recreate its great days (proportionally, yes?), But also transcend them.
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