Wrexham AFC earned a massive three points to put themselves back at the top of the National League against title rivals Notts County, and they wouldn’t have won were it not for Ben Foster’s crucial penalty save in the final minute of the game.
Safe to say, fans inside the Racecourse Ground and celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were left breathless as they looked on helplessly at the late drama.
The home side found themselves a goal down right at the end of the first half through an impressive free-kick from John Bostock, but got back on top in the 69th minute and went on to make it three thanks to Elliot Lee just 10 minutes later.
However, after giving away a penalty in the dying embers of added time, it was all down to former Man United keeper Foster to keep the three points and their title hopes alive. 40 years old, only just back out of retirement and he does this.
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 10, 2023
Ben Foster’s save is great but you have to wait till the end for Ryan Reynolds’ reaction…
I believe the word you’re looking for is limbs.
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Wrexham are now back at the top of the National League on 103 points and with a game in hand on Notts County sat just below them. Regardless, every remaining fixture is just as huge if their dreams of automatic promotion are to come true.
All that being said, it wasn’t lost on Reynolds and McElhenney how big this match was and speaking to BT Sport’s reporter Becky Ives after the full-time whistle, the former summed up the thoughts of those in the stadium in a way only he could.
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“This beautiful, torturous game” — couldn’t have put it any better ourselves.
"That was unlike anything I've ever seen before!!" 🔥
Ryan Reynolds reacts to the unbelievable scenes in the National League today after Wrexham beat Notts County!
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 10, 2023
Watching Ryan Reynolds react to Wrexham results will never not be funny to us; the same goes for McElhenney too, who simply shared a picture of him and his co-owner wide-eyed in disbelief and happiness, along with the tweet: “I can’t believe there was a time when I thought football was boring.”
The 46-year-old Canadian-American actor went on to say, “I’m actually grateful in this moment that I didn’t actually care about this years ago because it would have just eaten me alive”.
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After showering his team and everyone involved with praise, including Notts County — adding that he believes two teams should be able to secure automatic promotion like in the EFL — he also joked that he was going to hug Ben Foster so hard that he was “going to break ribs”.
And he wasn’t lying, as was proved when they bumped into each other in the tunnel afterwards:
Moments like this 🤌
Ryan Reynolds embraces @BenFoster in the tunnel after his 97th minute heroics for @Wrexham_AFC ❤️
In typical Deadpool fashion, despite previously insisting he was “lost for words” he couldn’t help but rattle off a few more jokes, quipping that Foster was “too old for that [kind of save]”.
There were obviously a lot of expletives thrown in there too but why wouldn’t there be? We don’t suppose he’s ever sat through what could potentially be a title-deciding game packed with five goals and a last-minute penalty save at a club which he literally owns.
Football is mint and were glad these two owners are clearly well and truly aware of that fact.
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You can watch the highlights from Wrexham vs Notts County down below:
Stockport County to introduce safe standing at Edgeley Park
Danny Jones
Stockport County will soon be introducing safe standing at Edgeley Park as part of the pending stadium development plans.
The Hatters may have just missed out on promotion to the Championship, but it’s still been an exciting few years for the club that has seen a fresh surge in young new supporters in addition to their passionate lifelong followers.
In more fantastic news for fans, County have announced that brand new safe standing sections will be installed across the ground.
Confirming the news on Wednesday, the club said: “After receiving all necessary approvals and working closely with safety authorities, we are set to install rail seating in two designated areas of the stadium.
Stockport County is thrilled to announce the introduction of safe standing areas at Edgeley Park ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 season.
Visit the club site for more details on this exciting new development ⤵️#StockportCounty
— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) May 28, 2025
As detailed on the club website, there will be two new dedicated safe-standing/rail-seated zones – one in each main stand: the back five rows of seats in the Cheadle End’s upper tier and the back two rows of the Vitality Railway End.
With Stockport Council greenlighting plans for League One side to expand their home capacity, this reconfiguration is set to accommodate a total of 849 County fans and/or supporters.
Although this all depends on final approval from the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), the aim is to deliver a “vibrant and dynamic environment for both home and away fans at Edgeley Park.”
The official statement goes on to explain that the push for safe standing is not just to provide more matchday options for those in attendance, but in hopes of further “enhancing the atmosphere and improving the overall matchday experience for those who prefer to stand.”
Couty has insisted that “The rail-seating system incorporates a barrier for every seat, ensuring that supporters are protected from a sudden surge or crowd movement.”
Safe standing is part of the larger Stockport County stadium redevelopment plans.
Addressing early concerns in a ‘What This Means for You’ section, they go on to add: “Season ticket holders currently in the affected rows will be contacted directly by the Club over the coming weeks with details on their options, including relocating to a seated area if they prefer not to stand.
“Information regarding new season tickets and matchday tickets in the safe standing areas will be released in due course.
“We believe this is another significant step forward for Stockport County and will further enhance the already incredible atmosphere at Edgeley Park. We look forward to seeing and hearing the renewed energy in these new sections.”
The safe standing plan is set to be introduced for the upcoming 2025/26 season, with the administration hoping to make this their last in the third tier. Do you see them going up next year?
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Press Shot (via SCFC)
Sport
Rio Ferdinand is stepping away from TNT Sports after more than a decade
Danny Jones
Manchester United legend and ex-England international Rio Ferdinand has announced he will be stepping away from TNT Sports, leaving more than a decade with the broadcaster.
Ferdinand has spent the best part of the last 10 years serving as a leading pundit and analyst, as well as hosting his own ‘Rio Meets’ online series – the interview format of which has been replicated on his YouTube channel.
However, after having been one of their main anchors both under the BT Sport and even more so since the inception of the rebranded TNT Sports Football umbrella, the 46-year-old has confirmed he has now quit their regular coverage following the Champions League final this weekend.
In a lengthy statement on social media, the ex-Man United defender, who also played for Leeds, West Ham, Bournemouth and QPR, described it as a “difficult decision.”
Taking time to thank the network for their “tremendous support” over the years, especially those “behind the scenes, whose work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success.”
The talented centre-back retired in May 2015 after more than 500 appearances and 81 national team caps, making an almost immediate switch into punditry and remaining a household name.
Rio has also remained a popular figure at Old Trafford and, indeed, across various parts of Manchester since leaving United in 2014.
For instance, his self-titled Foundation has carried out some truly transformational local outreach across various boroughs, as it has back in his home city of London.
Responding to the news, TNT Sports said nothing more than “Thanks for everything, Rio”; meanwhile, fellow former Red, Danny Simpson (who retired last year and also works as a pundit/presenter for MUTV) added: “You’re going to be missed, bro. Every time you’re on, you give us all the mad insight.”
However, he has promised he will remain in the media industry, continuing to work under the Rio Ferdinand Presents digital brand and pursuing “other business interests”.
With his ‘Rio Reacts’ and ‘Vibe with FIVE’ series regularly raking in millions of views, he might not be on the box during European nights but you’ll still be seeing plenty of him.