Despite their promotion from League Two last season, Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham won’t
have to wait long to face off against the Class of ’92’s Salford City again as they gear up for next season’s EFL Trophy.
The Red Dragons are set to play in the third tier in the upcoming campaign after another successful season under the guidance of head coach Phil Parkinson.
With the support of the club’s Hollywood owners,
the addition of former Premier League veterans James McClean and Steven Fletcher gave the existing team an extra edge, securing them the runners-up spot.
On the other hand, Salford ended up in 20th place in the table after a challenging season that saw them narrowly avoid relegation back to non-league.
The ownership group, which includes Manchester United legends Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, and David Beckham, will be hoping for better results in 2024-25.
The Greater Manchester team will get the chance to make amends in the EFL Trophy, where they’ve been drawn in North Group B alongside Wrexham. With a final draw yet to determine the single Premier League Under-21 team that will join the group, the two sides will also face Port Vale.
Salford City and Wrexham AFC have both tasted glory in the competition, with Salford lifting the trophy in the 2019-20 season and Wrexham having their moment back in 2005. In their recent encounters, Salford secured a 3-1 victory over Wrexham this February, while the Welsh team claimed a 3-2 win earlier in the season.
The club owners have also shared mutual respect, with Wrexham’s Reynolds and Rob McElhenney expressing their admiration for Beckham. The former England skipper even made an appearance at Wrexham’s FA Trophy final in 2022, where they were defeated by Bromley at Wembley.
Post-match, Wrexham’s celebrity owners praised the soccer legend, with McElhenney stating: “Another benefit of being friends with Ryan is that he’s friends with everybody. So the idea of learning the rules of football from one of the greatest footballers in the history of the sport is a pretty good aspect.”
Reynolds also had high praise for Beckham, commenting on his down-to-earth nature: “He’s possibly just the nicest guy on planet earth – what’s not to love about him? He’s a great guy, so generous with his time.”
David Beckham has also caught the Wrexham buzz, lauding McElhenney and Reynolds for shining a spotlight on the club internationally. He reflected on the surge of soccer’s popularity in the US, crediting his own move to LA Galaxy in 2007 as part of the growth.
Beckham highlighted the impact of cultural phenomena and influential figures, stating: “That’s why I moved to America in 2007 with my family to join the MLS and to join the Galaxy – because I knew that there was potential. It was always going to be a challenge, and I’m glad that I played a small role in making the league as big as it is now, but it takes moments like what we’ve just done. It takes things like ‘Ted Lasso,’ and it takes people like Ryan and Rob to give it that bit of air.”
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Source: Tampa Bay Times
