Couple to move from Texas to Wrexham after watching Ryan Reynolds series

A couple from Texas who are moving permanently to Wrexham after discovering the city on the "Welcome to Wrexham" documentary series say it gives them a "feeling they haven't had anywhere in the USA".

Jeff and Janice Ivey, from New Braunfels, loved watching the Disney show which follows the story of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac's stewardship of the football club.

After visiting Wales seven times in the past two and a half years, they have fallen head over heels with the city, its people and heritage.

Jeff, 62, who has UK citizenship from his Scottish ancestry, is currently in Wrexham house-hunting, while Janice, 65, is in the USA selling their home and awaiting her visa.

Jeff said their first trip to the city came about in 2024, when after watching an episode of the series featuring Wrexham band the Declan Swans, they ordered some of their merchandise.

But when the package arrived there was just one hoodie inside instead of the two expected.

Jeff emailed and another sweatshirt was sent, but the correspondence between him and the band's singer, Michael Hett, continued - and it was he who suggested the couple should visit.

"If the order had come just fine, I would have sent an email saying, 'hey, thanks, got it,' and that probably would have been it," said Jeff.

"Because we had to keep emailing after that, it really piqued our interest."

Jeff and Janice made the transatlantic journey and "fell in love" with what they found.

"We just felt so good about the community aspect of Wrexham," Jeff said, adding that it was the people who ultimately convinced them for being so "welcoming and friendly" with a "lack of elitism or snobbery".

Jeff said they also felt an affinity with the city because of their own backgrounds. Janice grew up in a mining community in Pennsylvania, while he originally came from Pittsburgh, an industrial city with a strong history of mining, steel and manufacturing - just like Wrexham.

"[Wrexham] is a working-class town. It's got a rich legacy in history," he said. "The people and the history definitely reminds us of places that we grew up."

The couple were already looking to move from their current Texan home after Jeff retired from working in finance, and thought "what about Wrexham?".

Their visits to the city got longer each time, and in April they stayed for a month so they could "carefully consider" if they really could make the move to Wales.

Jeff said they drew up a list of the pros and cons and the disadvantages were "far outweighed".

He added that though some of their friends think they are "crazy", their three adult children have been supportive despite the distance they are moving, and are excited to visit once their parents find a home.

The couple have already started putting down roots in north east Wales, volunteering at the Wrexham Miners Project and supporting the children's hospice Hope House.

Jeff, who is also trying to learn Welsh, added they also want to get involved in Wrexham's bid to become the UK's City of Culture for 2029.

He added that they would be sticking by Wrexham AFC whatever happens with the team in the future, and has put down a deposit on a season ticket.

"They can get promoted, relegated. It doesn't matter. That's our club," he said.

"We're not coming for the club, that's a plus, we're coming for the community."