Ryan Reynolds looked cool, calm and collected as the Hollywood A-lister arrived at the Racecourse Ground for Wrexham’s blockbuster fifth-round FA Cup tie against Chelsea.
The Deadpool actor and club co-owner, 49, was pictured pacing on the pitch inside the 12,500-seater stadium, soaking in his surroundings before Liam Rosenior’s Blues arrive.
Pairing a navy jacket with a gilet and a light blue shirt, the Hollywood star also wore a huge grin and stopped to take pictures alongside mascots for the match on Saturday evening.
Reynolds will be joined by club co-owner and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Rob Mac, 48 – who flew in on a private jet for the match – as Wrexham look to claim back-to-back Premier League scalps.
Phil Parkinson’s men, who are vying for a promotion place in the Championship, beat Nottingham Forest on penalties in the third round of the competition after a thrilling 3-3 draw in north-east Wales.
It was a watershed moment for the club, who have battled their way back into the English Football League under the stewardship of Reynolds and Mac (formerly McElhenney), following their shock takeover five years ago.
Ryan Reynolds has arrived at the Racecourse Stadium for Wrexham’s FA Cup tie vs Chelsea
He let out huge laughs and smiles but will surely be feeling the nerves ahead of Chelsea’s visit
Wrexham co-owner Rob Mac was also seen arriving after jetting in for Saturday’s FA Cup tie
The It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star greeted staff after disembarking his private jet
While Wrexham have previously played Chelsea as part of their pre-season tours of the United States in 2023 and 2024, the FA Cup clash marks the first competitive fixture between the sides.
Reynolds discovered Wrexham had been drawn against Chelsea while he was with Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman, and posted a video of his shocked reaction when the draw was made.
‘Wait, wait, wait – we’re at home to Chelsea?,’ Reynolds asked at the time. ‘That’s what you wanted,’ Jackman responded before the two men high-fived.
‘Yes, f***!’ Reynolds said, adding a shocked ‘what the f***?’ as the reality of the fixture sunk in.
‘Chelsea at the Racecourse,’ Reynolds finished in near-disbelief.
Chelsea boss Rosenior has been keen to ensure his side are not on the end of an upset, saying pre-match: ‘We know it’s going to be a really, really difficult game.
‘It’s a club that’s on the rise, and there’s a good energy and a good vibe around. It’s hard to play against that. We take the game really seriously. For us, it’s an opportunity to win a trophy.’
On the other hand, Parkinson – who has won three successive promotions with Wrexham since taking the post in 2021 – has urged his players to harness their ‘underdog spirit’.
The Deadpool actor stopped to pose with club mascots on the pitch prior to the game starting
Reynolds bought Wrexham with Rob Mac in 2021 and the club have since risen up the divisions
Wrexham have gone from National League to fighting for Premier League promotion recently
‘It’s like any game, really,’ he said. ‘You’ve got to look at the opposition, how they play, how they build from the back, their key strengths in the game, and adapt at times towards that.
‘Of course, you’re always concentrating on picking our team and getting us to play and to function to the best of our ability.
‘That underdog fighting spirit has got to be there because we know we’re up against a team that are Club World Champions and they’ve got a lot of talent.
‘However, It’s all about us giving a really good account of ourselves, and we’ll see where that takes us on the night.’
After beating Forest in January, Wrexham knocked out fellow Championship side Ipswich Town to find themselves in fifth round for the first time in 29 years.
Chelsea also had to contend with Championship opposition to make it to this stage, comfortably beating Hull City 4-0 in the fourth round last month.
The Blues have won eight FA Cups in their history. Meanwhile, Wrexham’s most famous night in the competition came in 1992, when they beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Racecourse Ground.
