Wrexham looking for Hollywood ending in impressive FA Cup run

The Hollywood owners of Wrexham are still learning the vernacular of British soccer. They don’t need guidance, though, to set the scene for this weekend’s FA Cup match against seconddivision Sheffield United.

Rob Mcelhenney, who co-owns the fifth-tier club with fellow actor Ryan Reynolds, joked that he’s visited Sheffield and likes the people but“they of course are the enemy now and their tyrannical reign through the Championship must be stopped a la Goliath.”

Wrexham is the lowest-ranked team left in the world’s oldest soccer knockout competition, 71 places below its opponent in English soccer’s pyramid. The teams play Sunday at Wrexham’s sold-out Racecourse Ground in Wales, about 28 miles south of Liverpool.

Mcelhenney says he’s still getting used to British soccer sayings like “squeaky-bum time” — made famous by former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson when describing the tense late moments of a game. He said that one is his “absolute favorite ” so far. The celebrity owners, who completed a $2.5 million takeover of the team in November 2020, might pick up some more colloquial phrases if Wrexham can pull off another big upset in the FA Cup.

Wrexham beat second-tier Coventry City 4-3 to reach the fourth round of the competition for the first time since 2000. Reynolds, best known for starring in the “Deadpool” movies, said the win over Coventry left him“totally speechless.”

Wrexham leads the National League standings and is on course for promotion to League Two — English soccer’s fourth tier.