Ryan Reynolds meeting left one Wrexham star feeling embarrassed by team-mates

Former Wrexham ace Ben Tozer felt "embarrassed" by some of his team-mates after meeting Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney for the first time.

Speaking on Ben Foster's 'Fozcast' podcast, Tozer recounted how some players were so starstruck they even began to "follow" the celebrity pair around. The 34-year-old defender, who celebrated a National League title with Wrexham in the 2022/2023 season, spoke about the magnetic pull of Reynolds and McElhenney's fame since taking over the club in 2020.

Tozer, a towering figure in defence during his nearly three-year stint at the Racecourse, also shared details of his initial encounter with the new owners - jokingly suggesting that his teammate Ollie Palmer had become somewhat of a "shadow" to Reynolds.

Foster, who also donned the Wrexham shirt alongside Tozer, quizzed him about his earliest interactions with Deadpool actor Reynolds and fellow actor McElhenney.

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"What about your first encounters with the owners, Rob and Ryan? What was your first dealings with the guys?," enquired Foster, probing the now Forest Green Rovers player.

Tozer has disclosed that while the Hollywood glamour brought by the club's new owners impressed others, he didn't feel compelled to seek their attention.

"They came over for the Maidstone game and we're training on the pitch at The Racecourse. So they come in and it was one of them where people just gravitate toward them and stuff, and I thought I'm not," Tozer said.

"But you want it to be natural, don't you?" Tozer continued. "I mean, well, I want it to be natural because that's the way it is. You don't want to go and force yourself on someone, you know, it's going to happen naturally."

The central defender acknowledged the allure of the celebrity duo but insisted he wouldn't be swayed by their presence - though he did note some of his team-mates' reactions were close to "embarrassing".

Tozer continued: "Fair enough, they're the owners, I'm going to get a chance to meet them face-to-face but I'm not going to follow them around the pitch, like some people. It was a little bit embarrassing, some people, I won't name names."

Foster chimed in, suggesting he could identify the culprits. Tozer then made a revelation about one Wrexham player's particular admiration for Reynolds. "The man who man marks him (Reynolds) everywhere, Ollie (Palmer)," Tozer said: "Some people say when Ryan comes over, he's a shadow."

Foster subsequently joked: "Yeah, he literally is though, isn't he? Just sniffing him, smiling at him, and just looking at him, adoring him."

Foster quizzed Tozer about whether Reynolds and McElhenney are as personable as their public image suggests. Tozer answered with what Wrexham supporters already recognise, assuring that the two are "class" and further added: "They are (nice) yeah. They're good people and they care."