Prior to the media frenzy surrounding Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchasing a football club, British actor Jonathan Sayer was quietly investing in his local non-league team, Ashton United. Sayer, known for his role in the Olivier-winning comedy troupe Mischief, became co-owner of the club alongside his father in 2019 after an SOS tweet from the club appealed for financial support.
Ashton United has a personal significance for Sayer, whose grandfather played more than 400 times for the club at one of the world’s oldest football grounds. The purchase was finalised in the unlikely setting of a flooring shop. In his new book, “Nowhere To Run,” Sayer humorously recounts his experiences running a non-league club, a reality far removed from the glamour and wealth of the Premier League.
Upon taking over Ashton United, Sayer discovered surprise debts and a disorganised operational system. Players were paid per match from the secretary’s bank account and only one person had access to the changing rooms – and he was missing. Despite initial panic and dread following early losses, Sayer grew into his role as co-owner, even though it changed his relationship with football.
While speaking to Sky News from Los Angeles, where he was opening his company’s production of “Peter Pan Goes Wrong,” Sayer shared that owning a club made him see football in a new light. He admitted to grappling with feelings of anxiety about potential losses and concerns about not being able to deliver for his community.
Volunteers have played an integral role in keeping Ashton United functioning. They offered to water the newly relaid pitch during a heatwave by sleeping out in tents and taking shifts. Some volunteers have been involved with the club for decades, working on turnstiles or painting lines around terraces.
Sayer believes some owners view their clubs merely as assets instead of community pillars. Echoing sentiments expressed by Reynolds and McElhenney in their Wrexham documentary, Sayer insists that owners should focus more on giving back to their communities.
The actor also highlighted the stark differences between his club and those in the Premier League. He called for more collaboration and support between clubs at different levels of the football pyramid. Small things such as advice from larger local clubs or more FA support for community sides could make a significant difference to non-league outfits like Ashton United.
Sayer is keen to stress he doesn’t see himself as a trendsetter for Reynolds and McElhenney’s venture into football club ownership. However, he joked that either of the Hollywood stars would do a good job playing him in a movie, given their similar physiques.