Wrexham striker Fletcher enjoying Hollywood 'lift'

Wrexham striker Steven Fletcher celebrates his goal against Wycombe Wanderers

Former Scotland striker Steven Fletcher says the Hollywood aura of owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney provided the perfect boost for Wrexham on their return to League One.

After back-to-back promotions, the north Wales club played their first third-tier fixture in almost 20 years as they beat Wycombe Wanderers 3-2.

Co-chairman Reynolds joined Always Sunny in Philadelphia star McElhenney at the Stok Racecourse for the game following the release of his latest blockbuster.

Fletcher believes Deadpool actor Reynolds helped deliver a boost to the home dressing room in a visit ahead of kick-off.

“It’s always a lift, you can’t say it’s not,” said the 37-year-old forward, who was among the scorers in the opening-day win.

“It all gives us a lift when they’re there, they bring a presence when they walk into the changing room.

“They were in before the game and there’s no pressure with it, no one’s taken aback, they’re just one of the lads with the way they come in which is good.”

McElhenney was full of praise for Fletcher after the game, as he admitted the hope would be for Wrexham to earn a third straight promotion.

But Fletcher said the high-profile pair do not add pressure to the group, and leave manager Phil Parkinson very much in charge.

“There’s no messages (before the game),” Fletcher said. “They don’t put any added pressure, they would never get involved in the football side, they leave that to the gaffer.

“They just come in as enthusiastic as they are and it's infectious. Everyone wants to talk to them, you’d be daft if you didn’t, and they go around the whole changing room, they won’t miss anyone.”

Fletcher did not miss the chance to secure a first win for Wrexham at this level since 2005, when he curled home the hosts’ third goal seven minutes from time in front of the club’s biggest attendance in 44 years.

The goal meant the veteran has now scored in all four of England’s top divisions – as well as in the top tier in France and his native Scotland – and in every one of his last 22 campaigns.

Fletcher joked that he was more concerned with the 22 pre-seasons he has had to do, but showed he still had the fight and passion to achieve more as Wycombe’s late second made it a nervy finish.

“I will play until someone tells me it’s time to pack it in,” said the former Wolverhampton Wanderers forward. “I play because I love playing football, and this is obviously a great place to be.

“We have a good squad with good competition that keeps pushing you forward. For me I want to play as many games as I can, score as many goals, and hopefully push the team forward.

“As for the team, the manager has set out what he thinks we can achieve and we have to go and do that.”

Wrexham are soon back in action on Tuesday night in the first round of the League Cup, with a mouth-watering trip to Sheffield United - the side against who they played out an epic FA Cup fourth-round tie in 2023 before losing in a replay.