Wrexham's dressing room mentality laid bare by A-list guest of Ryan Reynolds
A global music icon has provided a fascinating insight into the high standards being maintained at Wrexham under co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac. Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has reflected on his visit to the Racecourse Ground in December 2024, where he attended a League One match as Reynolds' guest.
Whilst the club's Hollywood connections frequently draw attention, Armstrong revealed how one post-match incident demonstrated that celebrity status counts for nothing when performances disappoint. The musician, who follows the Disney Plus documentary Welcome to Wrexham, watched from the directors' box as Wrexham held a 2-1 advantage late on against Cambridge United.
However, an 89th-minute penalty for the away side salvaged a 2-2 draw, leaving the home dressing room in no state for celebrity meet-and-greets. Armstrong revealed he was invited to meet the squad after the final whistle but was informed they were too disappointed to receive visitors following the late leveller, a reaction he said he completely respected.
Speaking on the
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"He (Reynolds) invited me to come to a game. I went and it was funny, because we were sitting in the owner's box and I was like, 'I feel uncomfortable here. I need my coffee mug and my scarf.'
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"I was sitting down and there were a bunch of Ryan's friends. They were chatting and talking. I was like, 'Please shut up. I'm trying to see what's going on here.'
"Then they ended up tying (drawing) and they go, 'Hey, Billy, do you want to meet the team?' I was like, 'No, I don't.' Then they were like, 'Yeah, they don't want to meet Billy right now. They're a little bit pissed off.' I'm like, 'No problem. I'm not going into that locker room.'"
Armstrong suggested that this response highlighted the mindset within the squad, where the disappointment of losing two points overshadowed the presence of a celebrity guest. Wrexham have experienced an extraordinary rise through the leagues since the Hollywood takeover was finalised in February 2021.
The Red Dragons have soared from the National League to the Championship via three consecutive promotions and are currently vying for a play-off spot in the second tier. Armstrong isn't the only famous face to have received a chilly welcome from the dressing room during this time.
Former Wrexham captain Ben Tozer disclosed how Reynolds' Deadpool and Wolverine co-star Hugh Jackman received a similar response after a loss to MK Dons in August 2023.
He said: "Unfortunately, when Hugh Jackman came into the dressing room, he got the cold shoulder because we'd lost the game. He walked in and no one was bothered. Everyone was just a bit like, 'Can you get out please? We don't want anyone in here.'"