
(foto: Official TW/IG/FB account)
Mark Howard reflects on Wrexham’s wild Hollywood journey, from promotion parties to dancing with Channing Tatum, all thanks to Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s ownership.
Life at Wrexham has gone from local football grind to Hollywood spectacle, and goalkeeper Mark Howard has seen it all. From promotion parties in Vegas to dancing with Channing Tatum and meeting Will Ferrell, Howard says being part of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s project has been nothing short of surreal.
Howard, who is now a free agent after leaving the club this summer, told BBC Radio Lancashire just how wild things have become since Reynolds and McElhenney took over in 2021. The duo’s arrival at the SToK Racecourse sparked a whirlwind transformation, with three promotions and global attention thanks to the hit docuseries Welcome to Wrexham.
“Obviously, the three promotions were just incredible,” said Howard. “We’ve had some good cup runs and a few promotion parties in Vegas, they’ve been very memorable. But even the experience of meeting celebrities… it’s been mad.”
Howard described how Channing Tatum once led the team in a Magic Mike-style dance while filming a Super Bowl advert for SToK Cold Brew Coffee. “He got us all to dance. You just think, ‘When does that ever happen to a footballer?’”
(foto: Screenshot)
Over the last few years, A-list stars have regularly popped up at Wrexham matches. Blake Lively, Paul Rudd, Hugh Jackman, Eva Longoria, and Billie Joe Armstrong have all taken in EFL games, but for Howard, meeting Will Ferrell was a standout moment.
From baseball-themed promos to Marks & Spencer campaigns, Wrexham players have taken part in all kinds of media productions. “At first, it’s a bit daunting,” Howard said. “But you just embrace it. When you finally watch the full advert of us dancing with Channing Tatum, you think: ‘This is bonkers.’”
With Championship football now on the horizon, the Red Dragons are looking to strengthen their squad this summer. And if the past four years are anything to go by, more Hollywood cameos are guaranteed.