How Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney fell in love with football | Tifo Football Podcast

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In a special edition of the Tifo Football Podcast, we chat to Executive Director of Wrexham AFC and star of Disney+ documentary, Humphrey Ker.
Humphrey is the man who introduced football to Rob McElhenney and helped put him on the path to Non-League club ownership with good friend and Hollywood megastar Ryan Reynolds.
Joe Devine, JJ Bull and Seb Stafford-Bloor chat to Humphrey to discover the inner workings at the club and his new found celebrity status following his appearances in Welcome to Wrexham.
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About Tifo Football:
Tifo loves football. We create In-depth tactical, historical and geopolitical breakdowns of the beautiful game.
We know there’s an appetite for thoughtful, intelligent content. For stuff that makes the complicated simple.
We provide analysis on the Premier League, Champions League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, World Cup and more.
Our podcasts interview some of the game’s leading figures. And our editorial covers football with depth and insight.
Founded in 2017 and became a part of The Athletic in 2020. For business inquiries, reach out to [e-mail].
Music sourced from epidemicsound.com
Additional footage sourced from freestockfootagearchive.com
#WelcomeToWrexham #DisneyPlus #Wrexham

[@twistymcnoggins]

This is a great interview. Really glad to see the VAR guy in the background not getting involved and just letting the interview run on. Fantastic implementation of the system. Bravo Tifo!

[@abeining]

Haha.😂

[@safespacebear]

Hahahaha

[@franzirijillo2384]

He's actually playing Galaga

[@jamesmufc6634]

Joe and Humphrey is like when Ross meets Russ on Friends

[@craigo5030]

🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂

[@warrbury]

Or when Alan Partridge met Dan.

[@mj200]

This comment is amongst my favourites 😂

[@Taidgh17]

Which is which

[@ednicolle2456]

best comment ever lad

[@freddythef]

Love JJ’s lovely little smile the moment Humphrey mentions Football Manager

[@Adam-lz7sr]

I would obsessively watch him if he streamed FM on twitch

[@vidinaxio]

Playing it while watching this haha

[@Hyde_Hill]

I would have burst out laughing if he answered Ibrahim Sangare for his dream signing.

[@dylanfh1]

Its amazing how humphreys energy fits so well with the guys' vibe, really great podcast. I dont why but i get goosebumps hearing about ryan and rob catching the football bug 😁

[@matthewjones2271]

I’m American and I caught the bug after going to a Tottenham game vs Leicester in 2019 at Wembley. I became obsessed, and I had to learn more about the history and tactics of this game. That’s how I found Tifo. Thank you guys for educating an ignorant American.

[@VeteranHedonist]

Ah you should of come up to Turf Moor to watch the mighty Clarets aka Burnley FC, to see the real, passionate, gritty, no glitz football. 👌☝

[@matthewjones2271]

@@VeteranHedonist that’s exactly what I’m looking for! I wanna travel thru the United Kingdom and see all the smaller clubs and stadiums.

[@VeteranHedonist]

@@matthewjones2271 There's so much history at the grounds round the UK. Burnley were one of the founding members of the football league. A towns football club is at the heart of the community. It's almost tribal, following your club, through good times and bad. Burnley were one game away from being knocked out of the football league in 1987. We had to win against Leyton Orient and hoped that other matches went our way to stay up. We did it through the skin of our teeth. And now we're top of the championship and it's looking like we're going straight back into the Premier league next season with our unassailable lead. We play Luton away today at 3pm GMT fingers crossed 🤞

[@VeteranHedonist]

@@matthewjones2271 If you ever make it to Burnley, I'll meet you and we'll go for the obligatory few beers before we go on the game and our most famous drink Bene and hot, which is a liquour drink with medicinal properties, that was brought back to Burnley during the first World War off the Benedictine monks in France.

[@matthewjones2271]

@@VeteranHedonist I’m team Burnley now all the way! Spurs will always be my first love, but reading your passion for the Clarets has me intrigued. And I like y’all’s jerseys.. sorry kits. And Burnley seems like a cold, well loved little city, which reminds me of my city. Good luck today!

[@Omar_Little]

JJ must love talking to Humphrey as a sunny fan. He's worked on the show and his wife Megan is one of the head writers of recent series and a producer/co-host on the sunny podcast. And I have definitely heard JJ say "cut that cut that cut that".

[@Adam-lz7sr]

Where ?

[@LordSeth-hf8ew]

That’s some good facts

[@boywifemoder]

cool bit of tifo lore, yet another reason to love JJ, thanks mate

[@ThePheasantPluckerr]

In going to see the sunny podcast live in dublin next week Megan is a legend

[@benturner2727]

HIS WIFE IS MEGAN!!

[@Bryan_Harding]

This was quite possibly the best hour I've spent on the internet in quite some time. Thank you!

[@PrabhavKhandelwal]

really feeling this

[@Bigturboguy]

im australian and never watched a game of football until this doco, now im hooked on wrexham and the game. always waiting for the wrexham youtube channel to post current results and highlights.

[@gimmibox]

This was a wonderful podcast, bravo tifo and Humphrey

[@m0nchh]

this was absolutely wonderful. throughout the pod, i couldn’t help but smile at how sentimental and grounded and, especially, human the whole story around wrexham is, and i think it’s fantastic that we’re able to see how someone on the inside approaches and lives the situation. loving tifo talks, keep up the great works guys!

[@tommyberrabe4364]

That Wrexham documentary was brilliant! Loved the passion of the fans and what the takeover did for the town! Ryan and Rob are great guys

[@thecallawaykid1763]

The town is buzzing! It’s only the mighty Wrexham 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@HonestDre]

The documentary got me watching Wrexham weekly. Wrexham fan from Africa.

[@Hyde_Hill]

How can you watch Wrexham weekly?

[@jadkinsbayern3]

KZbin highlights. And you can stream audio from their website!

[@playboicartiismydad4842]

My African brother 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦

[@brenhyde]

@@Hyde_HilliFollow

[@mrraccoon6264]

JJ looks like a lead singer of a band from the early 2000’s

[@andyBbuckley]

Definite McBusted vibe.....

[@thecallawaykid1763]

Humphrey comes over incredibly well, great to be apart of my club! It’s only the mighty Wrexham… up the town 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@themindofben]

what a sensational interview. tifo continues to be the greatest football thing in the world - better than actual football, even.

[@harryharvey8158]

greatest thing in the world*

[@JamesDuffield1]

What this shows is that we need more Humphrey's in football. What a genuine, sound, and reasoned guy!

[@PirateRadioDude]

It’s one thing to have two Hollywood actors fully committing their time and money to become co-owners of a football club but to have a comedian committing himself as the executive director/board member is something else. I really love how committed Humphrey is to the club from the get go, when he couldve easily said no and focus on his main job.

[@manksitheblade]

Anyone notice how similar Joe and Humphrey sound 😂

[@franalytics5995]

they don't sound alike lol, humphreys voice is much deeper

[@freddythef]

The inflection is very similar, Humphrey bounds between words just like our beloved bovine

[@FootballAndSuch]

@@franalytics5995 they do though lmao

[@VaucluseVanguard]

English private school education...... it's why Humphrey has known the Prince of Wales since they went to the same very expensive private schools together.

[@dkwhattocallthis4161]

Been uploaded for 6 minutes and here I am, but no mention of sebs gates in the intro? Shocked and appalled.

[@tomcarter595]

Yeah something's defo going on with his gates.

[@Liam021]

Genuinely starting to get concerned for his gates.

[@jonno212]

KZbin suggested this video as an autoplay and I have stayed and watched the whole thing because it is brilliant. Well done. I especially love the painting of the tech guy in the back you put up. I swear it looks like he's moving occasionally 😂

[@malachys2146]

Loved this podcast as a wrexham fan, Humphery seems really genuine and is great to have him at the club. Great work boys

[@VeteranHedonist]

I remember travelling to Wrexham back in the day to follow Burnley. It's great to see you're getting some good attention and backing.

[@TtotheCizzel]

It was a stroke of genius to do this. Pay off the club with the tv money, free exposure and huge fan uptake from the tv show. Pure profit moving onwards and they can continue to invest back into the club if they want

[@Ccccc-mi3tr]

The money goes to the club they can’t just take it out without approval. They’d need to take a dividend

[@tadastyle]

Look at their financials, the owners are 11 mil plus in the hole

[@samhill93]

American here, catching the bug as well. Great pod, gents. Regarding the parallels Humphrey drew between the Las Vegas Raiders fandom and in essence, American sports fandom, to that of Wrexham and UK fandom- he is correct in the saying the Raiders fans are the opposite of Wrexham fans. I would add that many fan bases across America are similar to the Raiders fan base. However, I would point to the American Midwest, more specifically the rust belt, in being a massive difference. Along with some others on the east coast. I’m from northeast Ohio and a die-hard Cleveland sports fan. Just like many cities in the rust belt, we have watched the bottom fall out of our industry-rich economy for decades. There were lots of bleak times and nasty winters. But the sports are what tied us all together, good and bad. And let me tell you, as a Cleveland Browns fan, bad doesn’t even begin to describe it. But we are born into the beautiful suffering just like the UK football fans. Cities like Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Detroit, Cleveland, etc. are all the same as Wrexham. I would compare Cleveland and Detroit to Wrexham especially, the football organizations and the communities. All have a long history of greatness in a working class town with the most loyal fan bases who eat sleep and breath everything football. Proud of our history, but yearning for something great once again. America might be portrayed one way in Hollywood and the media, but I’m here to tell you now, most of us are working class folks who love their football teams.

[@davidfacca8899]

The American Midwest ….. truly great people who are loyal to their clubs, and from my personal experience, represent all that is good about the USA. Cheers from 🇨🇦 🏈

[@TheCrazyCloon]

I feel this 100%. From St. Louis.

[@Jdkieddj]

I love this episode, I've watched it like 3 times now. I'm just infatuated with the Wrexham story. And have dived in head first with some FM saves. Super exciting to see what the club can accomplish. Hope success continues.

[@ryan5752]

This is an excellent episode. Absolutely brilliant. Great listen. Keep it up guys

[@CGWW]

If this didn't come with a video I would be convinced that Humphrey was a character played by Joe their voices sound pretty similar lol

[@Nqwilliams]

Love the shout out I would be more than happy to play for the club some day!

[@conornestor160]

Can we make this a weekly podcast? Brilliant stuff

[@scraps7624]

Such a great interview, gotta respect owners who have the club's fans as their highest priority

[@markjones127]

I grew up in Mochdre in Colwyn Bay and there were quite a few Wrexham fans there in the 70's because of Mickey Thomas who was a Mochdre lad too and started his career at Wrexham before going to Utd, who of course returned to Wrexham towards the end of his career and scored that famous freekick against Arsenal in the FA Cup, cementing his status as club legend!

[@SubjectRandom21]

The guy in the background sitting infront of the blue shelves is sitting incredibly still.

[@Memme14]

Danish TV has a comedy set in a 2nd division proffesional football club called “Sunday”. Named after the player the clum scout/coach brings home from Africa. The club and town are real, the community and types of people who work, play and help out in the club feels real and the main character (Sunday) is played by comedian, writer and co-creator Melvin Kakoosa. It has become so popular that present and former football players and journalists all love to come on for cameos or small roles. Thomas Gravesen (of Everton & Real Madrid:) did one - and was great!

[@heretustay]

interesting rewatching this now after they've finally secured promotion and won the league. humphrey is a gem, and this podcast ep in particular is really interesting as a snapshot in that team's journey

[@Louback33]

FYI: Peacock is also how many Americans enjoy the Premier League, as it streams most games. Now I just want Joe's voice say, "Peacock!" when i log in to it

[@scottishtaco0335]

Absolutely loved this pod. Also, Humphrey and Joe would seem like the same person if you were only listening to this lol

[@eyedeasneverdie3348]

"you're charming in a whoopsie-daisy kind of way" is now my favourite compliment and insult all wrapped in one.

[@ThatsTheCombinationOnMyLudgage]

@RyanReynolds you should make a humphrey team Jersey! He is so modest and kind. What a great asset and representative of your club.

[@trassalane]

Hello Liverpool Fan: Humphrey - my Granma lived in Bootle. Even after watching WTW and watching every match and being solid with our Welsh Brethren, I didn't understand... now I get the true back story. I'm an American by birth, but lived close to Liverpool growing up... thanks for the adventure, much love from St. Croix, USVI.

[@Reticulosis]

This is an amazing episode, I love it. Honestly I can’t get enough of Wrexham AFC, I just bought the package for todays game and will purchase the next 2 games that are left.

[@WrexhamCookie]

Loved this. Humphrey is class and an absolute gent. Always approachable at the ground

[@familydinner1]

I love this man. Humphrey you are a treasure!

[@greggen63]

This was absolutely fascinating and really entertaining. Couldn't stop watching. Great episode.

[@sheffsteel7]

You can see that the US owners at Wrexham finally get "football". Someone who doesn't understand might say "did you enjoy the match". When I watch a match as a neutral then I can enjoy it but watching my team Sheff Utd is like being present at your childs birth and someone asking "did you enjoy it". Enjoy is not really the most appropriate word, often watching my team is an ordeal, it's nerve racking and can be horrible but I'm addicted. They are my family and I stick by them regardless of success or failure.

[@gobsmack84]

US/Canadian

[@robstafford8306]

Sunderland guy here but Mr. Ker is a nice, genuine and charming bloke.

[@jacobreeve5169]

Love this podcast, no matter that u guys do on the shows. Love the in depth football analysis and this was an incredible choice of guest. Very interesting. Keep up the good work TIFO team 👍

[@RedDevilDog1207]

Love that you brought Humphrey in to speak direct on the topic instead of speculating for clicks. Well done gents

[@pl3629]

This was really good guys. Nice work, glad to see a lil more of Humphrey. He comes across well in the doco and here.

[@markjones127]

I grew up in Mochdre in Colwyn Bay and there were quite a few Wrexham fans in the area in the 70's because of Mickey Thomas who started his career there before going to Man Utd, he was a Mochdre lad too.

[@johngarrett7861]

what an incredible story, looking forward to following their journey through the leagues

[@NOHOPHOTO]

Firstly, great interview with HK. It's clear why he's an integral part of this Wrexham adventure and entrusted wholeheartedly by RR McReynolds. I'm an LA native and huge sportz fan of my city teams. And, I'm a newly minted Wrecsam fanatic who yawned & fast forwarded thru every soccer game I've ever watched. I wasn't invested till now. Everyone of us converts went thru the same transformation as Ryan. UK and other football supporters got the bug when they were 8ish years old. We are doing it as full-blown adults!! Now the WorldWideReds army are watching, listening to every 7am match, injury update, new signing, KZbin updates, learning chants, planning trips, reading social media posts, etc. The high hopes for Wales and Wrexham AFC are off the Mark Griffiths decibel meter! It's Dodgers, Rams, Lakers, USC & Wrexham till I die! Lol. 🤞🙏❤️👍✌️

[@cristianduplaga4387]

I dare say... we football fans around the world are nurtured from a far younger age than 8. Anyway, I'm glad you are taking a liking for the beautiful game!

[@joannefairclough7960]

I adore Humphrey! Humorous, humble, knowledgeable and self effacing, and the most wonderful advertisement for all the values of Wrexham FC, the town and Rob and Ryan. He has only become more valuable to the ethos of the club and the documentary in this second season and in the success of both. A wonderful interview! Thank you!

[@CianMcCabe98]

Mad to think it was sunderland til I die that inspired the whole thing, watching welcome to wrexham I was reminded so much of STID

[@tomhill2376]

This Wrexham story is so much better than if Reynolds and McElheny had been a lot wealthier and had bought a Premier League club.

[@DESTSO]

I'm South African and Wrexham is the latest team I support. Love the passion of the owners. 1. Orlando Pirates (SA) 2. Arsenal (ENG) 3. Wrexham (is Wrexham a Welsh fc?)

[@eddiel7635]

Yes but plays in the English leagues, same as Cardiff and Swansea, which are in South Wales. There is a separate welsh league as well.

[@rvoswald]

Fantastic interview. Please do more of these!

[@comet28x]

Humphrey is such a great honest guy

[@Bawamba]

Started to watch episode 1 of Wrexham last night, and was done with episode 18 this morning. Best serie I've watched since SoA and Breaking Bad! I was so hooked, and I'm now a new fan of Wrexham :D Never seer or heard about the club before, but I'm all in on them :D Want season 2 now!

[@freddie4613]

What a guy Humphrey. Defo gonna watch the Wrexham docco now

[@ambyth3177]

Really good interview, Humphrey sounds like a genuine down to earth guy, the series has some great characters, think series 2 will be a huge hit! Thanks putting Wales on the map!

[@377745]

Hi, lads and lassies. Wrexham are currently in 2nd place of League TWO. Bear in mind that 4 teams will be promoted to League ONE at the end of the season (3 directly and 1 through Play-offs).

[@funkdoc2001]

Really enjoyable listen. Hopefully we get a follow up after this season/ season 2.

[@Tomlear99]

Da iawn guys fantastic pod brilliant insight from Humphries and fit the vibe perfectly 👏

[@TheIrrationalLottery]

I remember Humphrey from Fast and Loose on BBC2 yonks ago. He was good on it I'm glad he's still doing stuff

[@peacemac3164]

Was incredible hulk in the studio? Wat heck happened to the wall

[@tvgcmma9215]

That Humphrey was good on the omorig show fast and loose which had the brilliant interpretative dance

[@cristianduplaga4387]

I just found this interview by chance and it was quite an enjoyable insight of what managing a town football club is like. I specially appreciated the last question, where he mentioned some cases of why some players left or declined the club for just earthly reasons that we almost never consider as fans.

[@ReidGameX]

BRILLIANT having Humphrey on. Love it.

[@benshorthouse2979]

My favourite podcast you guys have done so far (Behind the weekly football review)

[@mundea]

Hello, and welcome... to another Tifo football podcast

[@TSTypeR]

I’m Joe Devine

[@RedWazzies]

Great video. Thanks all!!!

[@bodidley1]

It took me until 32:57 to realise that the guy behind wasn't a picture or a statue 😂

[@SirNickyT]

I'm an American listener/viewer. Both the show and this channel as a whole. Great interview!

[@sinclairgonsalves1418]

So candid. Love it

[@rainsmakker]

Great as always!

[@Hyde_Hill]

Watched welcome to Wrexham. Was a fun and interesting series.

[@jeffortl4495]

This was such a great pod. I'm an American and loved the origin behind the scenes detail

[@elife55]

Love the podcast - great content

[@Eric-yp7ho]

Welcome to Wrexham is a great watch

[@Slaphappy1975]

The one hour just flew by. He definitely living the dream!

[@j1nn88]

Only just seen this podcast and so glad to know more of the background to how Rob ended up wanting to buy a football club. 🙂 (Wrexham fan from New Zealand)

[@JuliusCaribou]

Sunderland til I die was great, what's not to like about watching Sunderland struggle to even get out of League One. One of my favourite comedies

[@hutchhound3788]

Found the Geordie.

[@jamesduncan7521]

You guys should do a Tifo / Wrexham collaboration. Thinking sensible Wrexham transfers or get John / JJ to do a post match analysis.

[@akhillmufc19]

The Eton representation is off the charts here Seb must be pleased

[@claireb8675]

Loved this episode. Glad Humphrey is a Liverpool fan ❤️

[@breenmcgeough806]

Great content guys!

[@DavidAugustine-lc4cj]

Im goning to watch the whole Season 1 of the doc again now! It was the best one anyway, S2 was great though fr the promotion ending especially, with the play on the Rocky Music! Brilliant! 😂

[@nathandc2669]

What a great Collab guest

[@StealnSoulz105]

Great interview! Humphrey is amazing. I wouldnt exactly call myself a Wrexham fan but I definitely keep an eye on them now. Wish it was easier to get the games in the states though

[@vickimann3262]

Is it on ESPN?

[@craigbuckland6584]

One of the greatest videos on YT

[@adrianpaull487]

so thanks to this i found out about mythic quest its great! Also this show was good which i found from Wrexham... thx

[@SwankSinatra007]

American here, just had an argument with a coworker about flopping in basketball vs football (soccer) absolutely ridiculous

[@carriew5106]

So much is made of Rob and Ryan, but none of it would have happened without Humphrey.

[@tomwilson5822]

Enjoy the film enormously

[@JuanCanuck]

humphrey as a guest is an instant classic

[@davidlasoff8261]

We need a great football TV serial, don't we? Not another sitcom but a boss drama that's very inside the real thing but not a docudrama. It needs fiction for the grit and passion of the beautiful game and the insights of what it's like to be a player, a family member and the back office/management/ownership too.

[@jonisilk]

I've got one, it's called Sweet FA. developed it a few years back, but couldn't get anyone interested at the Beeb and smaller productions companies couldn't afford to finance an 8-10 episode season (though I was also asked to develop it as a screenplay for film, but that didn't go anywhere and I was never happy with contracting so much of the story and character development - which would've reduced most of the characters to caricatures). It was pitche with Ralf Little, in the lead role as a veteran striker (was going to be the next Michael Owen, but never fully recovered from injuries and has been on a slow decline), back at his home town club which is on the verge of bankruptcy and favourites for relegation. Over the course of the season, he goes from player to manager and inspires them on a giant-killing cup run that financially saves the club, but the real heart of the story is his relationship with his kids and ex-wife, especially his son. Although he's the central character, the rest of the ensemble (and the large cast was always a problem with limited funds), is equally fleshed out with fully realised characters, that add to the tapestry of the club and what it means to everyone involved, from the fans to the players, coaching staff and the owners (one of whom is a life-long fan, the other of which is a mercenary businessman and "bad" owner, though even he comes good in the end). It's been sitting on the shelf for the last 4 or 5 years, but every episode is outlined, all characters are broken down, I suppose I'll just rework it into a novel instead (I also like the idea of doing it in the style an "Official Club Annual" with interviews and articles on the games, player bios, etc). Though getting published isn't any easier that getting produced if you don't have money.

[@davidlasoff8261]

@@jonisilk Don't give up!

[@matthewstein5854]

@@jonisilk sounds pretty great tbh and seems like u really put the effort and heart into it. Hope u r able to get it produced one day. Cld definitely try the novel route. If u ever do feel free to dm me as my mom knows a few publishers and a lot of ppl in writing groups/workshops.

[@alexanderrose1071]

@@jonisilk I hope that Welcome to Wrexham makes it so that more networks want something like what you’ve made, as they see the success of this series. Television is a copycat business sometimes. Everyone wants their own version of something that’s already working for someone else

[@Stegibbon]

Is Humphrey married to Meg from the sunny podcast? Said his wife works with Rob, is a TV writer and I remember Meg telling a story about going to London to visit her husband's family.

[@Brad02K]

Yes

[@travismonk2804]

Great insightful interview. Wonderful ambassador for wrexham FC. I can tell he's straightforward and that's charming.

[@tobytaylor2154]

That's deffo the best part for me, watching them fall in love with our game and football culture.

[@smokealotofpotamous1864]

MythicQuest is phenomenal