If you’ve only heard aboutWelcome to Wrexhamin passing, then you might just think of it as theRyan ReynoldsandRob McElhenneyfootball show. And while that is partially right, you’re missing out on one very crucial key player in the show:Humphrey Ker. He is the executive director of Wrexham A.F.C., and has become the beating heart of the show in an unprecedented way. After all, how does a British comedian become the best part of a show about owning and running a football club? Aside from being a massive soccer fan, his executive director qualifications are nada, but he’s brought the show and the team to new heights, andWelcome to Wrexhamwouldn’t be the same without him.
Humphrey Ker Helped Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney Choose Wrexham
Before joining Wrexham A.F.C. as its executive director, Ker’s resume consisted primarily of acting and comedy.He performed with theater companies and was a regular on British panel shows, and he later uprooted his talents to Los Angeles to become a screenwriter. It was through that endeavor that he met McElhenney, andKer was the one who introduced McElhenney to English football. He also helped him when McElhenney expressed interest in buying a football club, and was a big part of the selection process that ultimately led to choosing Wrexham.
So it really should come as no surprise that whenReynolds and McElhenney took over as club owners, one of their first business moves was to make Ker the executive director, despite him having no formal qualifications or experience in football administration.Ker has described his job as “translating Hollywood into football and football into Hollywood.“Despite his lack of experience, Ker has held the job for four years, and even still continues to do comedy and acts from time to time.
Ryan Reynolds Brought His ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ Love to ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’
And he is not the only player from the club to make an appearance in the film.
Humphrey Ker is the Best Part of ‘Welcome to Wrexham’
Being a comic, Ker is often cracking jokes on the show, or saying things that aren’t meant to be taken seriously. But considering he’s working with Reynolds and McElhenney, they don’t let him off the hook all that easily. This was proven whenKer jokingly said he’d run a marathon to raise money for the Wrexham Miners Project, and Reynolds and McElhenney took him up on it, even throwing in their own money if he actually went through with it. Thus,the newest season ofWelcome to Wrexhamhas showcased Ker training for this marathon, and being completely miserable about it. But he does it, and it makes for great entertainment on the show.
That’s what makes Ker such a great part of the series. Yes, he’s the executive director, but he’s not stuffy and uptight.He’s having fun, he’s running a football club with his friends, and he’s doing it because he’s genuinely passionate about it. He got the job because he’s a huge football fan, and McElhenney looked to him for advice. It’s not something that will work for every business, and it probably isn’t advisable, but watching everyone work out the kinks and figure out how to not only run a football club, but better it and make it stronger, is the charm.It’s what makes the series work, and Ker is a huge part of that.
Welcome to Wrexhamairs Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on FX. Episodes are available for streaming the next day on Hulu.
Welcome to Wrexham
