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Rob Mac can trace Wrexham's extraordinary ascent back to a single evening spent on his sofa.
It was just over six years ago that he finally heeded Humphrey Ker's recommendation and watched Sunderland 'Til I Die—a choice that would ultimately lead him to becoming co-owner of Wrexham AFC and one of the most recognizable figures in sports ownership.
Mac admits he knew very little about soccer and never quite grasped why Mythic Quest writer Ker was so consumed by the sport, frequently rushing to catch Champions League live streams during breaks on set. It simply never clicked for him.
Then the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020.
With an abundance of free time suddenly available, Mac finally took his friend's suggestion and gave a soccer documentary a chance to see if it would change his perspective. He settled on the Netflix sensation Sunderland 'Til I Die and swiftly came to understand just how deeply the sport was embedded in the fabric of a local community. The drama of promotion and relegation, in particular, captivated him.
As he devoured the series, Mac decided he wanted to become part of that world—not merely as a fan, but as a co-owner and guardian of a club, with the goal of restoring pride and hope to a devoted community that had been overlooked for far too long.
He asked Ker whether purchasing a club was even realistic, and after an extensive process they identified Wrexham as the perfect match. Even a fifth-division club wouldn't come cheap, however. So he reached out to Ryan Reynolds about a potential sponsorship deal and was taken aback when the actor—someone he had never actually met at that point—responded by expressing his desire to buy the club together.
Five years, three promotions and five seasons of Welcome to Wrexham later, the rest is history. Wrexham has become as integral to Mac's life as the Philadelphia Eagles, though he still holds a soft spot for Sunderland and the role that club played in igniting his passion for soccer.
This weekend, everything comes full circle as Wrexham take on the Black Cats in his home city of Philadelphia. The Red Dragons will play the final fixture of their three-game U.S. tour on Sunday, having already defeated Leeds United in Tampa before narrowly falling to Liverpool in New York.
For the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia creator, it will be a meaningful opportunity to reflect on a remarkable journey ahead of Wrexham's latest charge toward promotion to the Premier League.
"It'll definitely be a special one for me," Mac tells Sports Illustrated. "Sunderland 'Til I Die played a massive role in opening my eyes to what football clubs mean to their communities. That series showed the emotional investment supporters have in their clubs, and it absolutely shaped the conversations Ryan and I had about Wrexham.
"Now, years later, to be playing Sunderland in Philadelphia as part of this journey feels incredibly full circle. It'll be competitive on the pitch, but there's also a genuine appreciation for what that club and that documentary meant to me personally."