Do Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney talk tactics during dressing room visits? Wrexham striker Steven Fletcher reveals how Hollywood stars ‘lift’ Phil Parkinson’s squad

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney give Wrexham a “lift” whenever they visit the dressing room, but the Hollywood stars never talk tactics with players.

The Red Dragons’ famous co-owners were in attendance for the opening game of the 2024-25 campaign. That contest, which saw Wrexham return to the third tier of English football for the first time in two decades, delivered a dramatic 3-2 win over Wycombe in front of the club’s biggest crowd in 44 years.

Reynolds and McElhenney made a point of mingling with playing and coaching staff before a ball was kicked, with veteran frontman Fletcher saying of having them around: “It’s always a lift, you can’t say it’s not. It all gives us a lift when they’re there, they bring a presence when they walk into the changing room. They were in before the game and there’s no pressure with it, no one’s taken aback, they’re just one of the lads with the way they come in which is good.”

Fletcher added on Reynolds and McElhenney leaving Parkinson and his backroom team to do their job: “There’s no messages (before the game). They don’t put any added pressure, they would never get involved in the football side, they leave that to the gaffer. They just come in as enthusiastic as they are and it’s infectious. Everyone wants to talk to them, you’d be daft if you didn’t, and they go around the whole changing room, they won’t miss anyone.”

Fletcher was on target for Wrexham as they got their League One season off to the perfect start. He helped to give Reynolds and McElhenney plenty to cheer, with Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria the latest A-lister to take in the live SToK Racecourse experience.