>> NOW TO THE RISE OF WREXHAM F.C.. HOLLYWOOD STARS RYAN REYNOLDS AND ROB McELHENNEY DECIDED TO BUY A STRUGGLING FOOTBALL TEAM IN A SMALL TOWN IN NORTH WALES.

IT WAS THEIR MISSION TO MAKE THE 160-YEAR-OLD CLUB FLOURISH AGAIN.

AND IT HAS BEEN CLIMBING UP THE LEAGUE RANKINGS EVER SINCE.

YOU CAN WATCH THEIR SUCCESS BEHIND THE SCENES IN THE DOCUSERIES, WELCOME TO WREXHAM.

WITH MORE, HUMPHREY KER AND ARTHUR OKONKWO JOIN HARI >> BIANNA, THANK YOU.

HUMPHREY KER AS WELL AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE SHOW WELCOME TO WREXHAM, AND ARTHUR OKONKWO, THE STARTING GOALKEEPER FOR THE ACTUAL TEAM.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND FOR OUR FANS, FAIR WARNING.

WE MIGHT DISCUSS SPOILERS, SO IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO THE TEAM, ALONG WITH THE SHOW, BE WARNED.

SO, HUMPHREY, THIS IS A STORY ABOUT A FOOTBALL CLUB IN THE MIDDLE OF WALES, BUT ALSO A TOWN AND SO MUCH MORE.

YOU HAVE BEEN THERE WITH ROB -- ROB McELHENNEY AND RYAN REYNOLDS, THESE TWO BIG HOLLYWOOD STARS AFTER THEY TOOK OVER THE TEAM.

YOU HAVE BEEN THERE FROM BEGINNING.

HOW DID THIS COME TOGETHER?

DID THEY SAY, WE KNOW THE SKY THAT IS KIND OF THING WAS.

MAYBE HE WILL WANT TO WORK ON THIS?

>> I MEAN, BASICALLY, YES.

COULD TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY DURING LOCKDOWN.

THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUALIFICATIONS.

I WORKED FOR ROB ON HIS TV SHOW MANY QUEST AND KIND OF GOT TEASED BY HIM A LOT FOR BEING A FOOTBALL FAN.

HE WAS VERY AMERICAN ABOUT IT AND SAID, COME ON.

THERE IS NO POINT.

HE WAS A BIG MAC IN FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL FAN.

HE WANTED MORE ACTION, I THINK, BUT I WON HIM OVER SLOWLY BUT SURELY.

AND IT ALL STARTED IN 2020.

I MADE HIM WATCH A DOCUMENTARY WHICH EXPLAINS VERY BRILLIANTLY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FANS AND FOOTBALL CLUBS IN THE UK AND HOW MUCH JOY WE TAKE FROM THE FOOTBALL TEAMS AND HOW MUCH PAIN WE SUFFER BECAUSE OF THEM.

ALL THOSE THINGS.

AND IN TYPICAL ROB FASHION, HE WAS LIKE, WE SHOULD DO THIS.

WE SHOULD BUY A SOCCER TEAM AND TURNED INTO A DOCUMENTARY.

IT WAS A TEAM THAT WAS ON THE DECLINE AT THAT STAGE.

HE SAID, WE SHOULD DO ONE ON A CLUB --LET'S SEE IF WE CAN TAKE ON ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP.

AND THEY ARE SO GOOD.

>> HOW DID YOU FIND WREXHAM AND SAY THIS IS GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY?

THE FIRST THING YOU WATCH IS THAT THE TIME WAS RESISTANT TO THESE HOLLYWOOD OUTSIDERS COMING IN AND THINKING THEY KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO.

>> SURE.

WELL, WREXHAM HAS A HISTORY.

IT WAS A CLUB THAT HISTORICALLY HAD CLAIMS AS BEING IN THE SECOND TIER OF ANGUISH FOOTBALL.

THEY PLAYED IN EUROPE AND HAD ALL SORTS OF --THEY WERE THE SECOND PROFESSIONAL CLUB IN THE WORLD.

BUT THEY HIT TOUGH TIMES.

THEY HAD UNSCRUPULOUS OWNERS IN THE PAST WHO REALLY USED THE FOOTBALL CLUB FOR ENRICHING THEMSELVES RATHER THAN BEING STEWARDS OF IT.

AND, YEAH, WHEN WE CAME IN, I THINK PEOPLE WERE LIKE, WHY ON EARTH IS THE BLOKE FROM IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA OR THE MAN FROM JUST FRIENDS -- HERE.

ARE THEIR INTENTIONS CORRECT?

FORTUNATELY, I THINK WE WERE ABLE TO ALLAY THOSE CONCERNS EARLY ON BECAUSE IT WAS GREAT.

IT IS VERY EASY TO PRESENT YOURSELF AS A GOOD OWNER IF YOU HAVE THE INTENTIONS OF A GOOD HONOR.

IT IS HARD TO PRETEND TO BE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THE FOOTBALL CLUB AND I THINK ARTHUR CAN ATTEST AS ONE OF OUR CURRENT PLAYERS THAT THEY REALLY CARE AND THEY FOLLOW EVERY GAME, AND THEY HAVE REALLY COTTON THE BUG.

AND THAT'S VERY INFECTIOUS.

THAT IS A THING THAT OUR FANS LOVE ABOUT THEM.

>> SO, ARTHUR, HAVE YOU WATCHED THE FIRST SEASON OF THIS SHOW?

DID YOU FOLLOWED ON -- FOLLOW IT?

ARE YOU A DEADPOOL FAN?

HE WERE FROM ARSENAL.

DID YOU HAVE TO GO, WHERE IS FIVE WHEN YOUR AGENT CALLED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY?

WHEN MY AGENT TOLD ME ABOUT WREXHAM, I HAD TO, TO BE HONEST.

I KNEW A BIT ABOUT THE CLUB BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW WELL THEY WERE DOING.

OBVIOUSLY, THE OWNERS ARE SO WELL-KNOWN.

WHEN THEY'RE CALLING YOU AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT YOUR PHONE AND SPEAKING TO THEM, IT'S STILL SURREAL.

IT'S ALL BEEN INTERESTING AND SLIGHTLY WEIRD.

JOURNEY.

>> OUT TO PLAY A CLIP OF RYAN AND ROB TALKING ABOUT THE IMMEASURABLE GOOD LUCK THEY'VE HAD AND ALSO HOW IT HAS BEEN SUCH A ROLLER COASTER JOURNEY FOR THEM.

>> WE ARE SO FORTUNATE THAT WE KEEP GETTING REALLY, REALLY LUCKY.

YES.

WE HAVE INCREDIBLE FOUNDATION OF PEOPLE THAT KEEP PUTTING US LUCKY, BUT WE ARE GETTING LUCKY.

>> THE ONE THING WE DID DO THAT I THINK WE PLANNED FOR AND HOPED FOR WAS THAT SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY.

THE FEELING IN WREXHAM AND THE CLUB, THE HIGH TIDE RAISING.

>> IT FEELS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS LIKE IT'S BEEN THIS ROLLER COASTER OF MAGIC.

>> HUMPHREY, KIND OF TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CONNECTION AND THE IMPACT THAT THIS CLUB HAS HAD ON THIS TOWN BEFORE THE DOCUSERIES GOT THERE, AND FROM AFTER ROB AND BRIAN AND THE REVAMPING OF WREXHAM TODAY.

>> YEAH, WELL, WREXHAM A.F.C., THE FOOTBALL CLUB HAS REALLY BEEN THE BEATING HEART OF THE TOWN.

YOU KNOW, AS VARIOUS INDUSTRIES WENT AWAY, AND THE COAL MINING INDUSTRY WENT AWAY, THE BREWING INDUSTRY WENT AWAY, THEY WERE MAKING STEEL AT WREXHAM --THE ONE THING THAT KEPT EVERYONE TOGETHER WAS THE FOOTBALL CLUB.

THE FORTUNES OF THE FOOTBALL CLUB DECLINED OVER THE TICKETS.

THEY HAD 15 YEARS IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE, WHICH, FOR THE PEOPLE OF WREXHAM, IS A SOURCE OF GREAT SHAME.

THEY FELT LIKE THIS THING THAT THEY LOVED FELL INTO THE DOLDRUMS OF FOOTBALL.

WHEN WE CAME ON --ALONG AND INJECTED, YES, FINANCE, BUT PROBABLY HOPE IN A WAY, INTO THIS INSTITUTION AND STARTED TO GET THEM TO COME ALONG BACK INTEREST AND RECLAIM SOMETHING THEY HAD LOST IN THEMSELVES, AND THEN, YEAH.

WE DID GET VERY LUCKY IN HIRING PHIL PARKINSON, OUR MANAGER WHO DID THIS A STERNER JOB OF ASSEMBLING THIS GROUP OF PLAYERS OVER THE COAST OF A FEW YEARS, WHO COMPLETELY REIGNITED THE PEOPLE OF WREXHAM'S LOVE FOR THE FOOTBALL CLUB AND THAT BROUGHT BACK HOPE AND ASPIRATIONS AND EXCITEMENT.

AND WE SAW THIS ISSUE TRANSFORMATION, REALLY.

MANY PEOPLE SAY WHEN THEY GO AWAY ON BUSINESS, THEY WOULD GO TO LONDON, AND IT WILL SAY, I'M FROM NEAR CHESTER.

AND NOW THEY SAY THEY ARE FROM WREXHAM.

WE SEE YOUNG PEOPLE USE TO MOVE AWAY TO MANCHESTER AND LIVERPOOL.

AND THEY WANT TO STAY IN WREXHAM.

THEY WANT TO BE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES AND WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BE A SMALL PART OF THAT.

>> ARTHUR, I HEARD RUMORS, AND CONFIRMED THEM OR WHATEVER -- IN THIS PROCESS, I AM ASSUMING YOU HAD OPPORTUNITIES FROM OTHER PLACES WHO WATCHED YOU ON THE TV SHOW.

WATCH YOUR PERFORMANCES ON THE FIELD, AND PROBABLY OFFERED YOU MORE MONEY.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO STAY WITH WREXHAM?

>> YEAH.

THERE'S A LOT OF RUMORS AND TRANSFER POTENTIALS WHEN YOU ARE IN THAT SITUATION AND YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THINK ABOUT YOU WANT TO DO.

WHAT IS THE BEST COURSE FOR YOUR CAREER?

I KNEW --I ALWAYS KNEW THAT WREXHAM WAS THE RIGHT MOVE FOR ME.

THE FANS WANTED ME BACK.

THE PLAYERS WANTED ME BACK.

THEY COULDN'T TELL ME ANYMORE.

AND I KNEW IT WAS A PLACE WHERE IT WOULD BE A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR ME TO COME BACK AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I'M YOUNG.

I NEED A PLACE WHERE I CAN PLAY AND SOMEWHERE WHERE I CAN ENJOY MY FOOTBALL.

AND WREXHAM WAS THAT FOR ME.

YOU KNOW.

>> WHAT'S INTERESTING IS AS YOU PEOPLE WATCH THE SHOW, YOU CONNECT WITH THE PLAYERS.

AS HE GO UP INTO THE COMPETITIVE LEVELS, WHAT YOU SEE IS THAT AS FAMILIAL AS IT MIGHT BE, AS YOU SEE ROB AND RYAN'S INSTAGRAM, HE SEE THE PALLING AROUND WITH SOME OF ALSO HANGING OUT WITH PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT BE CONTINUING ON WITH THE CLUB BECAUSE THERE IS A PRETTY HARD BUSINESS SIDE TO IT THAT IF YOU WANT TO BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE, YOU HAVE TO BE BUYING OR GETTING PLAYERS WITH GREATER SKILL LEVELS TO PLAY AND PERFORM.

>> THE COOLEST IRONY OF THIS WHOLE THING IS THE SUCCESS THAT THESE PLAYERS DELIVER FOR THE CLUB CREATES A HUGE CHALLENGE FOR THEM IN TERMS OF THEIR ABILITY TO CONTINUE WITH THE CLUB AS IT GOES UP THROUGH THE LEVELS.

HE IS A FANTASTIC PLAYER.

HE IS SOMEONE THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK HAS A VERY LONG FUTURE WITH THE CLUB IF HE SO CHOOSES.

IF WE CAN HOLD ONTO THEM.

IF HE DOESN'T GET SIGNED BY REAL MADRID OR ONE OF THOSE SCUMBAGS.

YOU KNOW, WE SET GOODBYE TO STEPHEN FLETCHER AND MARK HOWARD, WHO HAVE BEEN CHOMP, AS YOU KNOW, SOMEONE THAT HAS BEEN WITH US FROM THE NATIONAL LEAGUE.

ARE NOT ONLY FANTASTIC PLAYERS, BUT THEY ARE GREAT PEOPLE.

I MEAN THEY ARE A HUGE BASIS OF THE SUCCESS THAT WE'VE ENJOYED AS A CLUB.

IT HAS BEEN THE QUALITY OF NOT ONLY THE PLAYER BUT THE PERSON THAT THE MANAGER HAS BEEN ABLE TO BRING IN, AND IT'S BRUTAL.

IT'S REALLY, REALLY TOUGH.

IT'S SUCH A TIGHTKNIT GROUP.

IT'S SUCH AN INCREDIBLE DRESSING ROOM AS WE CALL IT -- LOCKER ROOM AS HE THINK OF IT IN THE STATES --AND THAT CHARACTER IS REALLY THE MOST VALUABLE THING WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO UNEARTH, THE INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS, YOU KNOW, THE GREAT PLAYERS, GREAT VALUE IN TERMS OF TRANSFER FEES AND WAGES AND ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF, BUT ACTUALLY, THE THING THAT HAS DELIVERED THREE SUCCESSIVE PROMOTIONS --THAT STARTS WITH THE PEOPLE.

THE CHARACTERS, THE PERSONALITIES, AND, SO YEAH, SAYING GOODBYE TO THOSE PEOPLE IS VERY HARD.

IT'S VERY HARD.

>> SO, ARTHUR, YOU KNOW YOU'VE ALSO BEEN IN THE DRESSING ROOMS OF SUPER CLUBS WHERE THERE IS ALMOST A SEPARATE LAMBORGHINI PARKING LOT FOR THESE GUYS WHO ARE MAKING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, RIGHT?

VERSES, YOU KNOW, THE TINY RAMP THAT WE SEE ON THE SHOW WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING IN AND EVERYBODY'S ASKING FOR AUTOGRAPHS AND REALLY, LIKE, THIS CLOSE TO YOU.

AND THERE'S NO HUGE SECURITY FEELINGS.

>> YEAH.

I'VE SEEN BOTH SIDES.

WHEN I WAS AT ARSENAL, THE TEAM GOT ESCORTED EVERYWHERE YOU GO.

YOU HAVE SECURITY EVERYWHERE.

I THINK THAT'S A SPECIAL THING GOING ON AT WREXHAM AT THE MOMENT.

YOU COME IN BEFORE THE GAME AND YOU SIGN EVERYONE'S STUFF AND YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT AND IT'S REALLY SPECIAL TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH FANS BEFORE THE GAME AND THAT SOMETHING YOU DON'T REALLY GET OBVIOUSLY, THE HIGHER UP THE LEVELS.

AND LIKE I SAID, I HOPE IT STAYS LIKE THAT AND BEING ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH FANS AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

IT'S ALWAYS A SPECIAL FEELING.

>> THIS MAN'S ON FIRE.

WHAT A BRILLIANT STRETCH.

HE SLOW TO GET UP.

>> EARLY INTO THE GAME, THEY COME TO SPREAD AND SMOTHER.

MY HAND GETS IN BETWEEN HIM AND MAX.

IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY.

GOING INTO HALFTIME, I WAS THINKING MAYBE HAVE JUST DONE A SPRAIN OR JUST A KNOCK --NOT.

THEY WERE ABLE TO WRAP UP MY HAND.

I DIDN'T WANT TO COME OFF THE PITCH.

>> THERE'S A TIME, ALSO, I SHOULD SAY THAT YOU BUSTED YOUR JOB, AND YOU HAD A PHANTOM OF THE OPERA SORT OF MASK GOING ON FOR A FEW GAMES.

I'M WONDERING WHAT IT IS ABOUT BEING AN ATHLETE THAT MAKES YOU PLAY THROUGH --I MEAN, YOU ARE PLAYING WITH AN ACTUAL BROKEN WRIST FOR TWO MINUTES MUST BE EXCRUCIATING.

I JUST BATHED IN ADRENALINE?

WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR HEAD THAT KEEPS YOU ON THE FIELD?

>> YEAH.

I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF IT IS ADRENALINE.

I THINK A LOT OF IT IS JUST WANTING TO STAY ON THE PITCH, AND WANTING TO WIN THE GAME.

WANTING TO FINISH THE GAME.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR A GOALKEEPER, THE HARDEST THING IS COMING ONTO THE PITCH --SO I KNOW, IF I COME OFF, CAL BURTON OR CHOMP HAS TO COME IN.

I KNOW HOW THAT FEELS.

PART OF ME ALSO THINKS ABOUT THAT, AND IT'S NOT EASY COMING INTO THE GAME COLD, BUT YEAH, IT IS VERY PAINFUL.

BUT I'VE DONE IT --I'VE DONE IT LAST YEAR.

BROKEN JAW.

THIS YEAR, BROKEN WRIST.

YOU GET USED TO IT.

JUST PAIN.

>> SO, GOING INTO THIS NEXT LEAGUE, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU -- DO YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT DIET?

ARE YOU EATING MORE BROCCOLI?

DOING?

BECAUSE YOU'VE WATCHED ENOUGH OF THESE GAMES.

YOU'VE PLAYED AGAINST SOME OF THESE PEOPLE BEFORE.

YOU KNOW THE CALIBER OF PLAYER AND HOW GOOD THEY ARE ALREADY.

SO HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR THAT INCREASED INTENSITY?

>> YEAH.

IT'S HARD TO PREPARE FOR A LEAGUE I'VE NEVER PLAYED IN BEFORE, BUT, THE MOST I CAN DO IS OBVIOUSLY INCREASE MY TRAINING THIS SUMMER.

TO MAKE SURE I'M PHYSICALLY READY.

THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

AND THEN, YEAH.

YOU KNOW, THE MANAGER WILL HAVE PLANS IN PLACE ON HOW WE CAN ACHIEVE BIG THINGS THIS SEASON AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND TAKING THOSE THINGS ON BOARD AND THE BIGGEST THING IS ADAPTATION, BEING ABLE TO ADAPT FROM WEEK ONE TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP BECAUSE IT'S A HUGE SHIFT, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WITH THE MANAGER, THE PLAYERS HE BRINGS IN, THE PLAYERS WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE GOING INTO NEXT SEASON.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THE SUMMER, I'M GOING TO JUMP OUT OF A LOT OF CUPBOARDS TO SURPRISE HIM.

FACE EVERY NOW AND THEN AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> OKAY.

YOU'VE GOT A TRICK.

YEAH.

>> ISLANDER, HUMPHREY, HOW DOES THE ORGANIZATION ADAPT?

BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THE BIG FISH, THE TYPE OF MONEY THAT THE TEAMS IN THIS LEAK WILL SPEND ON THEIR PLAYERS IS ENORMOUS.

A LOT OF THEM HAVE PLAYED IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE AND ARE JUST KIND OF HOLDING THEIR OWN UNTIL THEY GET BACK UP.

EVEN SOME OF THE FIRST TEAMS THAT YOU PLAYED HAVE MULTIBILLIONAIRE BACKING.

I'M NOT SAYING MONEY AUTOMATICALLY EQUALS GREATER QUALITY.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU COMPETE?

>> IT WILL BE A HUGE CHALLENGE.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

AS YOU SAY, THERE'S A LOT OF TEMPORARILY EMBARRASSED PREMIER LEAGUE TEAMS.

THERE ARE TEAMS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY SPENT MOST OF THEIR LIFE IN TOP-FLIGHT.

THERE'S A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS LITTERED THROUGHOUT THE LEAK.

SO, YES, IT WILL DEFINITELY BE A CHALLENGE, BUT WE, YOU KNOW, I WAS LAST SEASON VERY KIND OF --I THINK THE DRUM FOR QUITE A LONG TIME, FOR 12th PLACE.

12th PLACE IS FINE.

IF WE GET 12 PLACE, WE SHOULD ALL BE VERY PROUD OF OURSELVES.

FORTUNATELY, PHIL AND ARTHUR AND THE REST OF THE LADS WERE NOT INTERESTED IN THAT NONSENSE.

THIS YEAR, I'M SAYING, WE ARE GOING TO GO IN AND GIVE IT OUR BEST AND SHOOT ARE SHOT AND THAT KIND OF THING.

SEE WHERE WE WIND UP AT THE END OF THE SEASON.

BUT, YEAH.

I HAVE FAITH.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT AFTER WATCHING THREE PROMOTIONS IN A ROW NOT HAVE FAITH IN THESE GUYS.

>> WHAT ABOUT YOU?

WHAT --HOW DO YOU BRACE YOUR BRAIN TO IT?

I MEAN, ARE YOU A TAKE IT ONE GAME AT A TIME KIND OF GUY?

>> YOU KNOW, I SAID THE SAME THING LAST YEAR.

FOR ME, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO HOPE FOR 10th OR 12.

I'M ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE THE MENTALITY THAT WE ARE GOING TO GO FOR PROMOTION AND IF WE WHAT IT IS, BUT, YEAH.

I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD BE POSITIVE AND WE ARE GOING TO TRY AND GO FOR IT AGAIN.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS YEAR, IT'S MUCH MORE CHALLENGING, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE IN MY MIND TO THINK ABOUT FINISHING IN THE MIDDLE WHEN THEY'RE SO MUCH HIGHER YOU CAN AIM FOR.

>> ARTHUR OKONKWO, HEAD GOALKEEPER, AND HUMPHREY KER, HAD DIRECTOR OF WREXHAM F.C., THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WELCOME TO WREXHAM AIRS THURSDAY ON FX AND IS STREAMING THE NEXT DAY ON HULU IN THE US AND DISNEY PLUS IN UK.