From non-league to Championship: Wrexham's Hollywood timeline

Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's takeover of Wrexham kicked off an adventure which would lead to the club from non-league to the Championship via an unprecedented run of three successive promotions.

Saturday's 3-0 win against Charlton Athletic prompted delirious celebrations at Stok Cae Ras as Wrexham booked their spot in English football's second tier for the first time in 43 years.

Reynolds and McElhenney witnessed events unfold as goals from Ollie Rathbone and two for January's record signing Sam Smith proved decisive following Wycombe Wanderers' 1-0 defeat at Leyton Orient earlier in the day.

Deadpool star Reynolds and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia creator McElhenney completed their takeover of the historic Welsh club in February 2021.

The club had been languishing in the fifth tier of English football since relegation from the Football League in 2008 and nearly went out of business.

The actors' involvement has not only sparked a rejuvenation in the club's fortunes on the pitch but has lifted its global profile with a fly-on-the wall documentary series and the presence of celebrity A-listers at games.

BBC Sport Wales looks back at how Hollywood's sparkle transformed Wrexham's fortunes.

Hollywood takeover and the pursuit of promotion

Early 2020: Wrexham director Spencer Harris is approached by an intermediary about a potential change in ownership.

Summer 2020: Harris and fellow directors agree to sign a non-disclosure agreement with the interested parties, not realising the need for secrecy was because of the profile of the prospective investors.

23 September 2020: Members of the Wrexham Supporters Trust (WST) vote overwhelmingly to allow talks that could lead to an entire takeover of the club to go ahead at a special general meeting.

24 September 2020: Reynolds and McElhenney are announced by Wrexham as the potential investors.

Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have owned Wrexham AFC since 2021

8 November 2020: Reynolds and McElhenney present their vision for the club to the Wrexham Supporters Trust over Zoom, saying they want to turn the club into "a global force".

16 November 2020: More than 98% of supporters vote in favour of the takeover.

18 November 2020: Reynolds and McElhenney donate £6,000 to adapt Wrexham fan Aiden Stott's home.

22 November 2020: Wrexham boss Dean Keates reveals he has spoken to Reynolds and McElhenney and predicts they will "take the club to the next level".

30 November 2020: Former Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore says he is to work as an adviser at Wrexham.

15 December 2020: Moore tells BBC Sport Wales that Reynolds and McElhenney are "in it for the long haul".

19 January 2021: Wrexham announce that the board has concluded negotiations of the Share Purchase Agreement and has exchanged contracts.

27 January 2021: Reynolds and McElhenney donate money to strengthen the Wrexham squad despite the takeover not being complete.

5 February 2021: The Financial Conduct Authority approves the proposed takeover.

9 February, 2021: Wrexham's Hollywood takeover is completed.

29 May 2021: Wrexham miss out on a National League play-off place after a final-day draw at Dagenham & Redbridge. The following day the club part company with manager Dean Keates.

Ryan Reynolds (centre) with David Beckham and Will Ferrell at Wembley

The Parkinson era begins

1 July 2021: Phil Parkinson is confirmed as the club's new manager.

23 July 2021: Striker Paul Mullin, the previous season's League Two player of the year, joins from Cambridge United - the first of a number of high-profile signings.

24 January 2022: Striker Ollie Palmer joins from AFC Wimbledon for a club record fee of £300,000.

15 May 2022: Wrexham miss out to Stockport County for the title on the final day of the season.

22 May 2022: Wrexham are beaten 1-0 by Bromley in the FA Trophy final at Wembley with Will Ferrell and David Beckham in the crowd alongside the owners.

28 May 2022: Wrexham's promotion hopes are extinguished as they are beaten 5-4 by Grimsby Town in an extraordinary play-off semi-final. The club decide to stick with Parkinson despite failing to achieve promotion.

29 June 2022: Wrexham complete the purchase of their Racecourse Ground home from Wrexham Glyndwr University.

24 August 2022: The Disney+ fly-on-the-wall documentary series Welcome to Wrexham premiers.

8 November 2022: A new Kop stand at the Racecourse Stadium receives council planning approval.

9 December 2022: King Charles lll and Camilla, the Queen Consort, meet the club's players, staff and owners during a royal visit to the Racecourse.

7 January 2023: Wrexham knock Championship side Coventry City out of the FA Cup third round in a seven-goal thriller.

29 January 2023: Wrexham are denied a famous FA Cup fourth-round victory by Sheffield United's late equaliser. They lose the replay at Bramall Lane 3-1.

3 February 2023: The club announce they will play in the United States for the first time in a 32-team, seven-a-side tournament with a $1m prize.

11 March 2023: The team set a club record 25 league matches unbeaten to stay top of the table with a hard fought 1-0 win over Southend United.

23 March 2023: Former Manchester United and England goalkeeper Ben Foster, 39, come out of retirement to return to the club he played for earlier in his career.

26 March 2023: A Welsh women's domestic record crowd of 9,511 sees Wrexham lift the Genero Adran North title at the Racecourse. The team would secure promotion to the Adran Premier a few weeks later with a play-off final win.

31 March 2023: Reynolds and McElhenney pledge to carry on backing the club, despite the financial hit of close to a £3m loss in a year since taking over.

1 April 2023: Wrexham hit the 100-point mark for the season and go to the National League summit with a comfortable 5-1 win over Oldham Athletic.

10 April 2023: Ben Foster's last-minute penalty save sends Wrexham back to the top with a crucial 3-2 win over previous leaders Notts County in an exhilarating game.

18 April 2023: A 3-0 win over Yeovil Town secures 107 points to set a professional English single-season points record.

20 April 2023: The club announce they will face Chelsea as well as Manchester United in July during pre-season in the United States.

22 April 2023: Despite conceding a goal after 43 seconds, Wrexham beat Boreham Wood 3-1 to secure the title and promotion to the Football League, sparking wild celebrations at the Racecourse.

Supporters carry Wrexham-born Jordan Davies on their shoulders as they celebrate promotion

Return to Football League

5 August 2023: Wrexham lose 5-3 at home to MK Dons on their return to league football. Actor Hugh Jackman watches from the Cae Ras stands.

15 August 2023: It takes three games but Wrexham win for the first time in League Two - 4-2 against Walsall.

19 August 2023: Late goals from James Jones and Elliott Lee see Wrexham draw 5-5 in an extraordinary game at home to Swindon. Wrexham trailed 4-1 at one stage.

23 September, 2023: A setback as old National League rivals Stockport thrash Wrexham 5-0 at Edgeley Park.

24 October 2023: Elliott Lee's 89th minute winner against Sutton moves Wrexham third in the table.

11 November 2023: Wrexham's run of form sees them in to the automatic promotion places of the league - a 2-0 win over Gillingham means they've lost just one of their last sixteen League Two matches.

25 November 2023: A Paul Mullin hat trick helps Wrexham to a 6-0 win over Morecambe.

23 December 2023: A new temporary stand is opened at the Kop End of the Cae Ras as Wrexham beat Welsh rivals Newport County 2-0.

10 February 2024: A 1-0 defeat at home to Bradford is Wrexham's third loss in a row, their worst run of the season.

13 February 2024: Wrexham return to winning ways at Sutton. Elliot Lee scores an 85th minute winner.

6 April 2024: Young defender Max Cleworth is the late goal scoring hero this time, away to Colchester.

13 April 2024: Wrexham seal promotion to League One in style, a 6-0 win over Forest Green at the Cae Ras.

27 April 2024: Wrexham beat champions Stockport 2-1 to confirm a second place finish in League Two.

Wrexham beat Forest Green to clinch promotion into League One

Historic third promotion

July 2024: Wrexham return to the United States of America for a third successive US tour.

August 11, 2024: Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria watches on as Wrexham begin their League One campaign with a 3-2 win at home to Wycombe.

16 September 2024: Wrexham's encouraging start to the season hits a stumbling block with defeat to Birmingham. The game is billed as a 'Hollywood derby' with Birmingham partly owned by NFL legend Tom Brady.

19 October 2024: Paul Mullin's goal 16 seconds into his return to the starting lineup was enough to see Wrexham beat Rotherham, but fellow striker Jack Marriott suffers a leg fracture and needs surgery.

7 December 2024: A 1-0 win at Burton, Wrexham's fourth in a row, puts them level on points with leaders Wycombe.

14 December 2024: Channing Tatum is the latest Hollywood actor to visit Wrexham as the team draw 2-2 with Cambridge. Tatum records a social media with players, teaching them how to dance when celebrating goals.

26 December 2024: Late goal specialist Steven Fletcher successfully converts a penalty to overcome Blackpool 2-1.

29 December 2024: Another late Fletcher goal sees off Wigan, 2-1, at the Cae Ras.

4 January 2025: Fletcher scores an 87th minute winner in the 1-0 win at home to Peterborough.

28 January 2025: Wrexham suffer their first home defeat of the season. 3-2 to Stevenage.

31 January 2025: Wrexham sign strikers Sam Smith and Jay Rodriguez. Smith becomes the Dragons' record signing for a fee of over £2m from Reading. Rodriguez also joins for an undisclosed fee, in his case from Championship side Burnley

1 February 2025: Wrexham return to winning ways with another late winner, this time from Elliot Lee at Crawley Town.

15 February 2024: Smith scored his first Wrexham goal in the 2-0 win at Northampton.

22 March 2024: Rodriguez gets his first Wrexham goal a winner against Stockport. Wrexham are second in the table with eight games remaining.

18 April 2025: A 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers, six days after a draw at Wigan sees Wycombe leapfrog Wrexham in to second place.

21 April 2025: Co-owner Rob McElhenney joins Wrexham fans and poses for photographs in the away end at Blackpool as Wrexham return to second on the table with a 2-1 victory.

26 April 2025: Wrexham know a win over Charlton Athletic will see them promoted after Wycombe lose 1-0 to Leyton Orient. Owners Reynolds and McElhenney are in attendance as Wrexham thrash Charlton Athletic 3-0, securing an unprecedented third successive promotion.