Last week, Humphrey Ker, the executive director of Wrexham AFC and producer of the hit FX series that streams on Hulu, spoke with me exclusively for The Idaho Press.
This week, I sat with Mellisa Paul of "Idaho Today" to recap why this series is one to catch up on this holiday weekend and see seasons one and two. Wrexham's meteoric rise in the league is fueled by several factors, primarily the financial investment that actors and savvy business people Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds made thanks to the due diligence and the managerial oversite by Humphrey Ker, who spoke at length about the Hollywood duo's unwavering commitment to the club. Despite some British critics questioning their sincerity in the venture, Ker assures fans and Wrexham that the two are in it for the long game.
"Wrexham" is the breakout docuseries with Americans talking about small-town, lower-league soccer clubs like British locals. If you still need to start this true Cinderella sports saga, make this holiday season the time to catch up.
The Hollywood-based pair Rob and Ryan bought Wrexham Association Football Club (AFC) in 2021, bringing big money and plenty of star wattage to their now-adopted town in north Wales.
The "Ted Lasso" effect on the USA sees the interest in authentic soccer explode: Thanks to Ker, athlete names like Paul Mullin are familiar to many Americans. With Wrexham, Rob, Ryan, and Humphrey have created a factual series and all heart. Ker, an actor, writer, and producer, is the man who created the opportunity for both Wrexham and Rob and Ryan. He did the due diligence for Rob and Ryan to pick a football (soccer) club for the two to invest in.
Wrexham's finale to season two approaches, and the unfolding edge-of-the-seat journey will reveal they move up in the division.
Today, Ker splits his time between Los Angeles and Wrexham. His creative side has many accolades, from winning the Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and writing and appearing in several acclaimed BBC series, The Penny Dreadfuls, to being a writer for AppleTV+ "Mythic Quest." A series that Rob McElhenney stars in. He is the Executive Director of North Walian Football Club Wrexham AFC.
Ker's clever hires, team strategies, and team Rob and Ryan's relentless promotions and financial investments saw the Red Dragons elevate from non-league status to the National League title and promoted back to the English Football League.
What does this mean for a depressed old mining town like Wrexham? They are having a renaissance in this small town, which was the setting of one of the worst British mining disasters in the 1930s. The Gresford disaster occurred on September 22, 1934, at Gresford Colliery, near Wrexham, when an explosion and underground fire killed 266 men. Over time, the town slid into a financial depression, and this show and the club purchase have turned them into a hot tourist destination.
Even King Charles is a Wrexham fan. Ker arranged for the former Prince of Wales to meet with Ryan and Rob, who had to learn royalty meet-and-greet etiquette in the opening of season two.
TUNE IN: "Welcome to Wrexham" season 2, Episodes 1-14 are available to stream now on Hulu in the US,
Episode 15 will air on Tues., November 14 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX in the US.