- Wrexham are knocking on the door for promotion from the Championship
- The Welsh side have become one of the most marketable brands in football
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Wrexham are fast becoming one of the most marketable brands in football of late, and as such a Hollywood A-lister has now made a surprise appearance in an advert alongside, the League One side’s squad.
Wrexham have broken the boundaries for what a British audience might expect from a club only recently promoted from Non-League football and working their way up the English ladder.
Thanks to their famous co-owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the club have gained a huge following in the United States, and even went on a pre-season tour across the Atlantic.
Their rise has been the subject of a documentary, titled Welcome To Wrexham, and in their latest high-profile appearance, the club’s players have appeared in an advert alongside Hollywood legend Channing Tatum.
The ad, for a cold-brewed coffee company, sees Tatum enter the Wrexham dressing-room before giving the squad a lesson on their ‘celebration dances’, with more than a slight nod to his previous films Magic Mike and Step Up.
‘Alright boys! Your bosses are not happy with your celebration dances,’ Tatum begins, after some gymnastics.
Channing Tatum has appeared in a hilarious new advertisement alongside Wrexham’s players
The Magic Mike and Step Up star showed off his dancing skills in an impressive display
Wrexham have thrived under the ownership of actors Rob McElhenney (left) and Ryan Reynolds
‘So drink up…’ he adds, throwing a bottle of the beverage at the players. ‘Try to keep up.’
The actor then bursts into a routine inspired by Magic Mike, before knee-sliding right up to star striker Steven Fletcher, tightening his laces, and saying: ‘Most important thing: eye contact.’
The clip then sees Tatum continue the show with several acrobatic moves, including a headstand, while he offers advice to his audience.
‘They saw you score, now let them feel you score’, and to goalkeeper Mark Howard: ‘ You got the gloves – now use them. Alright, you guys got it?’
The Wrexham players then show Tatum what they’ve learned from his demonstrations, and having a sip of the beverage, before the actor answers a call from an anonymous number to say: ‘Alright, doc? They’re ready,’ before joining in.
Manager Phil Parkinson makes a late appearance, too, walking into the dressing-room to find his charges dancing with Tatum, with something of a disapproving look on his face.
The clip ends with another nod to Tatum’s Magic Mike fame, with a shirt thrown into his face and a worried look coming across his face.
‘No, no! I promised Rob and Ryan I’d keep it classy! Everyone put your clothes back on!’
The squad then show off their new dance moves that they’ve learned in a hilarious sequence
Manager Phil Parkinson made an appearance late in the clip to watch on with disapproval
Hollywood A-lister Tatum ends the clip with another nod to his appearance in Magic Mike
Wrexham have earned back-to-back promotions to find themselves in League One this season, thriving still under Parkinson’s leadership.
The Welsh outfit have attracted some big names to their ranks despite their lowly standing in the ladder, with former England international Jay Rodriguez signing from Burnley in January.
They now find themselves in the hunt for promotion up to the Championship, sitting eight points behind runaway leaders Birmingham, who have two games still in hand.
Their next outing sees them take on Bolton Wanderers in an EFL Trophy quarter-final before a return to the league and a trip to Northampton Town.
