A-list investment in local F.C. a game changer for Wrexham Uni’s global appeal

Comedy actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny snapped up the ailing football club in 2020, documenting the club’s journey to renewed success in a blockbusting Disney+ documentary that first aired in 2022.

But the nod from Hollywood hasn’t just changed the fortunes of Wrexham F.C. for the better.

According to Dan Griffiths, international marketing and recruitment manager at nearby Wrexham University, interest in studying at the institution from international students has seen a noticeable bump since the documentary was released.

Fresh from a visit to LA for the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) HE fair and a visit to a high school in the city, he told The PIE News that the increase in international enquiries to the university is “noticeable” – especially from US students.

“A lot of the students that came over, the first thing they said to me was ‘Ryan Reynolds,’” he explained.

“It was the effect that I wanted because I wanted to ensure that they knew that it was the same city – the same Wrexham – that the football club was in. When they came over to the stand, it meant that I could then start to talk to them about the offerings that Wrexham has, the advantages of studying in the UK more widely and, more importantly, in Wales.

“[It was then about] really honing down to the affordability of the university and the great course offerings we have here.”

Reynolds and McElhenny fans were especially impressed to hear about the proximity of the university’s campus to the football ground. Certain university buildings can be seen in some shots of the documentary, and the institution offers views out over some of the club’s land.

We’re putting in a lot of groundwork now, especially in the US market, and hopefully we’ll see an improvement there
_{^{Dan Griffiths, Wrexham University}}

“That was really exciting to a lot of students because Hollywood drew them in and then the actual offering from the university was the thing that really got them excited… I was already in conversation with a few of them who emailed me before I even landed back in the UK,” said Griffiths.

Another draw for prospective students is the university’s wide offering of courses, including – appropriately – an undergraduate degree in football coaching.

Wrexham University is taking advantage of its ties with the football club, having changed its name from Glyndwr University last year. Griffiths told The PIE he’s “excited to see what impact that will have” in the coming months.

For now, the institution’s main sources of international students include South Asian and West African countries, and Griffiths expects these trends to continue.

However, he’s hopeful that it will start to see an influx of students from other regions in the next couple of years. “We’re putting in a lot of groundwork now, especially in the US market, and hopefully we’ll see an improvement there,” he said.