Newcastle United CEO David Hopkinson namechecked alongside Ryan Reynolds after most dramatic promotion ever

York City owner Julie-Anne Uggla namechecked fellow Canadians Ryan Reynolds and David Hopkinson moments after the Minstermen’s dramatic promotion back to the Football League.

It has already been labelled as the greatest promotion ever as the 2025/26 National League season came right down to the wire on the final day as York faced second-place Rochdale at the Crown Oil Arena.

York went into the game on 107 points, knowing they needed a result against Rochdale in order to claim the title. Meanwhile, Rochdale were on 105 points a knew they needed to beat their title rivals to secure promotion.

And the home side thought they’d done just that with Emmanuel Dieseruvwe’s 95th-minute strike to put them 1-0 up and seemingly send them back to the Football League. A celebratory pitch invasion ensued, but the full-time whistle hadn’t been blown.

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Late drama in the National League title race

After a delay, the game finally resumed only for York’s Josh Stones to equalise in the 13th minute of additional time to draw the visitors level and claim the title.

It ends York’s 10-year exile from the Football League and now their owner, Uggla, is eyeing back-to-back promotions in the same manner Wrexham did under Ryan Reynolds’ ownership.

Hollywood star Reynolds helped Wrexham propel themselves from the National League to the Championship in three successive promotions, and could even make it four in four.

“Our ambition is to go straight through League Two, to have back-to-back promotions,” Uggla said. “I’m going to give that other Canadian a run for his money!”

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NUFC Canadian shout out

The York owner then namechecked Newcastle CEO David Hopkinson as another Canadian with a big presence in the English game.

There are three Canadians right now in the EFL [92]. There’s David Hopkinson the CEO from Newcastle, there’s Ryan Reynolds of Wrexham, and now there’s Julia-Anne Uggla.”

While York and Wrexham have had successful spells with Canadians at the helm, Newcastle are on course for its worst season since the PIF-led takeover. Hopkinson was appointed as CEO in September and has set out ambitions to make the club one of the best in the world by 2030.

But progress since those claims on the pitch hasn’t been slow; it’s been backwards.

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