<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/wrexham/">Wrexham AFC</a> has experienced a remarkable transformation since <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/ryan-reynolds/">Ryan Reynolds</a> and Rob McElhenney took ownership in November 2020. The Hollywood duo not only rescued the club from financial turmoil but also built a competitive team, achieving two promotions in less than four years. Their story has not only revitalized one of soccer’s oldest clubs but also captured the hearts of fans worldwide, including a notable admirer from the NFL.



Former NFL quarterback Joey Harrington, who played for teams like the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, and Atlanta Falcons, has joined the ranks of Wrexham’s devoted supporters. Coming from a family steeped in American football history—his father and grandfather both starred at the University of Oregon—Harrington now finds himself deeply invested in a soccer club nestled in the small Welsh town of Wrexham.



“If you had told me 10 years ago that I’d be buying a subscription to something called the Vanarama National League, I’d have laughed at you,” Harrington told The Athletic, referencing Wrexham’s former fifth-tier status, that Wrexham won in 2022-23.



Harrington also admitted the way watching the club documentary “Welcome to Wrexham” lighted up, not only his passion, but his family too to go and visit the club: “Now, though, I’m up at 6.30am every Saturday to catch the 7am match. No way could I have imagined doing that just a few years ago. But, as a family, we’re totally wrapped up in the club and the journey they are on.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20241116_WST_540025_National-League-Wrexham-1200x675_6f9b46dc.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-540088" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/National-League-Wrexham-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/National-League-Wrexham-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/National-League-Wrexham-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/National-League-Wrexham-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/National-League-Wrexham-740x416.jpg 740w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/National-League-Wrexham-490x275.jpg 490w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/National-League-Wrexham-250x140.jpg 250w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/National-League-Wrexham.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



While Wrexham has a storied history, including being the third-oldest professional football club in the world, its past successes have been modest—their highest finish in English football was 15th in the old Second Division (now the EFL Championship) during the 1978-79 season. Under Reynolds and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/rob-mcElhenney/">McElhenney</a>, the club’s trajectory has shifted dramatically, and they currently sit third in <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/efl-league-one/">EFL League One</a>, just two points shy of an automatic promotion spot.


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<h2>Harrington’s connection with Wrexham</h2>



Harrington’s Wrexham fandom became deeply personal during a family trip to the U.K. His children, Jack and Emmet, both avid soccer fans and aspiring goalkeepers, persuaded him to detour from a Premier League match to visit Wrexham.



Upon arrival, the Harringtons were welcomed warmly: “The first person we bump into in the tunnel is Ben Foster. He walks straight up to the boys, and I’m not exaggerating here, starts talking to them like they were family, asking all sorts of questions.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="789" height="771" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20241116_WST_540025_Wrexham-NFL_ddadea9e.webp&amp;width=789&amp;height=771" alt="" class="wp-image-540087" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/Wrexham-NFL.png 789w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/Wrexham-NFL-300x293.png 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/Wrexham-NFL-768x750.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 789px) 100vw, 789px"></figure></figure>



Apart from meeting Foster, the Harrington family got across several character, like Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson, pub landlord Wayne Jones, and even Rob McElhenny and Kaitlin Olson, who Joey admitted to be “great” during the meeting. After this sequence, he felt like Wrexham as his home:



“I’ve seen professional sports at the highest level, including a decade in the NFL. I’ve seen what that world looks like. So, as a father, to see how everyone — literally to a person, from the club shop staff to the guy running the pub and the Premier League goalkeeper who stopped a penalty kick against Notts County just a couple of weeks later — treated my kids and my family, Wrexham could lose every single match for eternity and I would still support this club,” he stated.



<h2>Wrexham’s contrast with the NFL</h2>



The atmosphere and sense of belonging in Wrexham was nowhere to be seen in his time as a football player, neither in the University level nor in the NFL. In the interview with The Athletic, Joey Harrington made things clear between the differences in the sports’ industries:



“...I got to the NFL and it was a business — ‘What can you do for me? How am I going to get mine?’, stabbing people in the back to get another (contract) year. Which I get when you’re in a multi-billion dollar business,” he said. “There’s more to it than just putting butts on seats, there’s more to it than just scratching and clawing your way to the top. It’s how you do it and who you bring along and why you do it that also matters. Wrexham get that,” he ended.

Reynolds and McElhenney's soccer venture with Wrexham captivates NFL star

Reynolds and McElhenney's soccer venture with Wrexham captivates NFL star - World Soccer Talk

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EFL League One holds clubs steeped in history. That includes teams who have recent stints in the Premier League. For instance, Reading, Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic, and Huddersfield Town have each played in the top flight since 2010. They may have fallen on harder times, but there is always the potential for promotion. After all, many top clubs in the modern game have spent time in <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/english-league-one-tv-schedule/">EFL League One</a> throughout its history. 



For reference, League One dates back to 1920 when it was created in the English pyramid as a professional division. The 1920/21 Football League Third Division, as it was known, included many teams that modern fans have no issue recognizing. Southampton, Brighton and Hove Albion, and Brentford, all current Premier League clubs, played in the third tier. Additionally, Crystal Palace won the first iteration of League One.



That is just the surface, though. Many of the top clubs in England have played at least one season in EFL League One. Some of those may be more recent than others, but they still stand as former League One sides. Ipswich Town may not have the history of some of these other clubs. However, it is the Premier League side to play in League One most recently. That was in the 2022/23 campaign. Back-to-back promotions have sent the Tractor Boys up to the Premier League.



<h2>Most famous League One clubs</h2>



Here are ten of the top clubs to have played in the third tier of English soccer in its over 100-year history. Note that some of these teams played in the division before it rebranded to League One ahead of the 2004/04 season.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Club</td><td>Last season played in League One</td></tr><tr><td>Manchester City</td><td>1998/99</td></tr><tr><td>Aston Villa</td><td>1971/72</td></tr><tr><td>Leeds United</td><td>2009/10</td></tr><tr><td>Leicester City</td><td>2008/09</td></tr><tr><td>Nottingham Forest</td><td>2007/08</td></tr><tr><td>Wolverhampton Wanderers</td><td>2013/14</td></tr><tr><td>Southampton</td><td>2010/11</td></tr><tr><td>Birmingham City</td><td>2024/25</td></tr><tr><td>Fulham</td><td>1998/99</td></tr><tr><td>Brighton and Hove Albion</td><td>2010/11</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Going back into history, though, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-city-tv-schedule/">Manchester City</a> stands out as the top side to have played in the league. City spent the 1998/99 season in the third tier of English soccer. At the time, it was known as the ‘Second Division,’ but it was two tiers under the Premier League. That was the only campaign City spent outside the top two divisions. In that season, City finished third, which was good enough for promotion to Division One via a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jun/02/manchester-united-treble-city-third-tier-may-1999-late-goals" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">win in the playoff final</a>.



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Play-Off Final Classic Match - Gillingham 2-2 Manchester City" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JQV_PFyBLoU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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As seen, Birmingham City’s fall from grace is remarkable. Having played in the Premier League and producing top talents, Birmingham City has fallen into the third tier this season. Before then, the last time the Blues played in League One was back in the 1994/95 season. 



<h2>League One records over the years</h2>



Many of those famous clubs spent just one season in the third tier. Yet, the side with the longest stay in the third division of English soccer belongs to Bournemouth. The Cherries spent a stunning 40 seasons in the third tier before eventually succumbing to relegation. That stint lasted from 1923 to 1970.



Over that time, Bournemouth watched the most successful team in League One history, Plymouth Argyle, win the division three times. In total, Plymouth has won League One on five occasions. The most recent of those was this past season in 2023/24. Plymouth Argyle earned promotion to the Championship for the 2024/25 season as a result of its success in the third tier.



PHOTO: IMAGO.

Most famous clubs who have played in EFL League One

EFL League One currently holds clubs steeped in history. That includes famous League One clubs who have recent stints in the Premier League.

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Reynolds and McElhenney's soccer venture with Wrexham captivates NFL star

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Most famous clubs who have played in EFL League One