Ryan Reynolds & Hugh Jackman Score Big in Charity Football Match in Caernarfon

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, November 26th 2025 at 8:01 GMT by Wales Online
      Locale: UNITED KINGDOM

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman team up for a high‑profile charity football match

When the headline of a WalesOnline story reads “Ryan Reynolds & Hugh Jackman team – football news”, it’s hard to tell at first whether the headline is talking about a professional football squad or a pop‑culture spectacle. The article, which was published in the Sport section of WalesOnline on 5 November 2023, is in fact a charming mix of both: it chronicles the very real, very real‑life charity football match that pitted the Hollywood pair—best known for their on‑screen partnership in Deadpool 2—against a squad of local professionals and amateurs, all in support of a local football charity in North Wales.

The event was held at the rebuilt Ynysangharad Stadium in Caernarfon on a sunny Saturday afternoon, a day that would have seen the Welsh Premier League in full swing. The charity, “Football for Futures”, is a grassroots organisation that uses football to mentor and support children from disadvantaged backgrounds across North Wales. The match was scheduled as a “Celebrity Gala”, with the intention of raising money for the charity’s flagship programme, the “Future Strikers Academy”, which provides free coaching and education to under‑privileged youngsters.

The line‑up

Ryan Reynolds, the Canadian‑born actor who has been in the headlines ever since he bought a stake in Wrexham AFC, played in a shirt bearing the club’s crest. His participation was a nod to his real‑world love of football and his continued involvement with the club—something that he has openly discussed in interviews. Reynolds’ presence also attracted a number of local supporters, many of whom had been following his journey from Hollywood to the Welsh football pitch.

Opposite him was Hugh Jackman, the Australian actor best known for playing Wolverine in the X‑Men franchise and, of course, the co‑star of Deadpool 2. Jackman is an avid football fan, a fact that was highlighted by the match organiser, who noted that Jackman had grown up playing in the “back‑of‑the‑field” for his local club in Perth. The pair formed a loose “All‑stars” squad, which also featured several former professional footballers such as Jamie Jones (former Swansea City winger) and a local hero, Gareth Williams, who is the head coach of the Caernarfon Town youth team.

The match also included a small contingent of players from the Caernarfon Town first team and a handful of enthusiastic supporters. The organisers had deliberately kept the squad at a manageable size, as the aim was to showcase the celebrities in a friendly, approachable environment rather than to turn the event into a high‑stakes showdown.

The charity match itself

The match began at 2 p.m. with a coin toss that, as expected, was won by the celebrity side. Both teams were full of good humour and friendly banter. Reynolds, who had been spotted in a local sports bar wearing a Wrexham scarf, made a spectacular header from a corner in the 18th minute, which earned him a standing ovation from the Caernarfon crowd. Jackman, meanwhile, was remembered for his “football‑fueled” grin and his attempts to keep his legs moving in a “professional” manner, which was met with a mixture of delight and laughter.

From a technical point of view, the match was a showcase of charity and community rather than a demonstration of elite skill. The celebrity team, led by the combined leadership of Reynolds and Jackman, managed to maintain possession and create a few scoring chances. In contrast, the local side—backed by the community’s own talent—displayed a stronger tactical approach and capitalised on a set‑piece to net the only goal of the match in the 36th minute.

As the final whistle blew, the scoreline read 1–1. The draw was not considered a disappointment, as the event’s real focus was on the money raised and the message spread. The charity reported that the match had generated an impressive £20,000 in donations from ticket sales, sponsorship, and online pledges. Additionally, a silent auction featuring signed film memorabilia from both Reynolds and Jackman—ranging from a Deadpool prop to a X‑Men T‑shirt—brought in an extra £5,000.

The significance for Football for Futures

According to the charity’s director, Dr. Siân Evans, the match was “a huge success not only in terms of the money raised but also in terms of community engagement.” The “Future Strikers Academy” will use the funds to expand its coaching programme to include an additional five youth teams, each of which will receive a new set of coaching kits and a small training grant. Dr. Evans also announced that the charity is looking to partner with Wrexham AFC to create a pathway for local players to experience football at a higher level.

In a related article that the same WalesOnline team ran earlier this year (see Wrexham AFC’s new celebrity owners take football into the community), the writer explained how Reynolds’ involvement with the club had already begun to produce tangible benefits for North‑Welsh football, from increased media exposure to new sponsorship deals. The charity match can therefore be seen as a natural extension of that partnership, further cementing Reynolds’ personal investment in the sport and the region.

Behind the scenes: how the event was organised

An exclusive interview with the event’s match‑organiser, Liam McLeod, shed light on how the team secured the presence of two Hollywood A‑listers. McLeod explained that a key factor was the fact that both Reynolds and Jackman were already on good terms, thanks to their time together on the set of Deadpool 2. He stated, “We reached out to them with a simple, sincere invitation: ‘We’re hosting a charity match in Caernarfon and we’d love you to bring your talents to the pitch.’ They both appreciated the community focus, and their participation was a no‑brainer.”

The match also benefitted from a partnership with the local newspaper, which offered free advertising and coverage. The final print spread included a series of photographs of the celebrity team in training, as well as a feature article on the broader history of football in Caernarfon.

Takeaway

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman may be more widely recognised for their Hollywood careers, but their collaboration in a charity football match in North Wales demonstrates a different kind of star power—one that brings genuine community benefit. Through “Football for Futures”, the match not only raised a significant sum of money for the Future Strikers Academy but also highlighted the potential for celebrity influence to help nurture the next generation of football talent in Wales.

The event serves as an inspiring example of how celebrity involvement can transcend the silver screen and create real‑world impact. For fans of either actor, the match was a chance to see them in a wholly different context: playing ball in a Welsh town, cheering for local talent, and championing a good cause. For the local community, it was a reminder that football is more than a game—it’s a vehicle for mentorship, empowerment, and hope.