14 July 2023 , 11:46
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Wrexham star Elliot Lee was left stunned when he received a personal phone call from Ryan Reynolds welcoming him to the Red Dragons.
Attacker Lee arrived at the Racecourse Ground last summer, stepping down from Championship side Luton Town to the then National League side. He began an immediate starter, making 45 appearances as Wrexham won promotion to League Two in record-breaking fashion.
That promotion was fuelled by the financial backing of Reynolds and co-owner Rob McElhenney, in what was the duo's second full season in control. The Hollywood duo have developed a repuatation for their down-to-earth approach since taking over.
That has helped them to foster a close relationship with the squad they have created for boss Phil Parkinson. That relationship starts as soon as a player arrives, as Lee found out when Reynolds phoned him after his arrival.
"I had just signed and was staying in a local hotel. I had an American number pop up on my phone. I don't answer unknown numbers. I thought I will leave that. It took me three or four seconds but then I thought it's an American number, could it be?" Lee told BBC Sport.
Ryan Reynolds mispronounces name of new Wrexham signing in hilarious video
"It was just Ryan introducing himself and welcoming me to the club telling me how much he loves it, how, if he could be at every game, he would be. I think he has done that with a few of the players if not all of them.
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Elliot Lee was left stunned when he was called by Ryan Reynolds (Getty Images)"It's just made them special owners and special people, because they actually take an interest in who you are as a human being. I met Rob shortly after that in person and it took a few months for Ryan to get over and I met Ryan.
"They are just as genuine as they come across on the TV. If you ask any of the lads they go above and beyond for all of us. That is not a common thing in football. The surreal at Wrexham becomes normal."
The striker is the son of Newcastle legend Rob Lee, who revealed in April that Reynolds' presence likely swung the 28-year-old in favour of dropping down three divisions.
“I jokingly said to him because he is a huge Ryan Reynolds fan, huge, he absolutely loves ‘Deadpool’, what would happen if Ryan rings you with an offer? I was just messing about. He said there was no way he was dropping down into the National League," he told Mirror Football.
“A couple of days later his agent rang me and coincidently said Wrexham had come in for him, should he bother telling Elliot. I said he had to tell him. Then Phil Parkinson (the manager) started ringing him.
"Phil kept reassuring him about the club’s ambitions and then Ryan Reynolds followed him on Instagram. He eventually agreed to join. It was a bit of a gamble but he has always liked a challenge.”