Wrexham, a Welsh side owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, has made an impressive leap from non-league to the Championship in just three seasons. This rapid rise through the divisions culminated in an unprecedented third successive promotion at the end of last season.
The team's success story has been well-documented in "Welcome to Wrexham," a series on Disney+ that put a global spotlight on the then-non-league Welsh side. However, this isn't the first time that celebrity ownership and rapid promotions have caught public attention. Before Wrexham's meteoric rise, Salford City was making headlines as another celebrity-infused team. Backed by former Manchester United defender Gary Neville and several members of his Class of '92, Salford City earned four promotions in five years after they bought the club back in 2014.
Their journey was also documented extensively by BBC cameras long before "Welcome to Wrexham" came into existence. However, despite their early successes, Salford City’s progress stalled over time with them spending six seasons in League Two.
Comparisons between Salford City and Wrexham
Despite seeing Wrexham leapfrog them recently, co-owner Gary Neville insists he does not envy their success. He remains committed to his club even though it hasn't enjoyed similar fortunes lately.
Gary Neville, Salford City co-owner, said:
“No, I don’t wish I was any other football club, I don’t work or operate like that. With new owners, we’ve got a plan whereby in four to five years, I’d like to think Salford would be more successful on the pitch. That’s the hope. We will also have invested in our training ground and stadium, and be in a position whereby we can achieve sustainability.
“That’s the real drive of this ownership, to grow revenues, be successful on the pitch, become sustainable and ensure we still meet those values of being affordable and accessible that we had from day one. There’s a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it in, but we’re committed and that’s the most important thing.”
In May 2021, Neville along with David Beckham completed a buyout of other Class of ’92 members moving ownership of Salford City to a new consortium which includes former banker Lord Mervyn Davies.
Neville who ranked no.48 on FourFourTwo’s list of greatest Premier League players ever remains optimistic about his team's future. "There’s a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it in, but we’re committed and that’s the most important thing," he said.
Salford City's future
Salford City is set to begin their 2025/26 League Two campaign with a home clash against Crewe Alexandra. They aim to build on last season’s eighth-place finish which saw them finish just one point outside the play-off spots.
While comparisons between Salford City and Wrexham are inevitable given their similar backgrounds, Neville's focus remains firmly on his team's journey. His commitment towards Salford City is unwavering, demonstrating that success in football isn't always about rapid promotions but also about resilience and long-term vision.
