WREXHAM’S Hollywood-style sign has been compared to Newcastle’s Angel of the North by the boss of the company that built the recent landmark.

Since last weekend, August 15, a mystery hung around the giant six-foot letters that appeared on Bersham Bank overlooking the A483 in Rhostyllen.

Most ideas about the people involved were quickly snuffed out – including Wrexham Council, Wrexham AFC and even the Hollywood co-owners of the club themselves!

On August 20, it was revealed that Vanarama were the ones behind the sign being put up and Vanarama’s CEO Andy Alderson said that a lot of planning and effort went into the idea to make it a reality.

Denbighshire Free Press:

A giant banner revealed National Football League sponsors Vanarama were behind the sign all along! [Image: Eastwood Media] 

He said: “We’ve been involved in this level of football now for eight years and have always been really keen not to just stick our badge on the sponsorship and leave it at that.

“We really like to get involved and engage with the clubs and their fans – so we are always trying to come up with creative ideas.

“Of course, with Ryan and Rob buying the club, there was the obvious link to Hollywood there - but we thought it was a great way to celebrate not just that but also the return of fans to the grounds after so long away. What better way to do that than with a bit of Hollywood glamour?”

He adds that – other than the people tasked with building the sturdy sign – the only other people ‘in the know’ were the family that owns the land.

Mr Alderson says he was amazed that they managed to keep the secret contained for so long – and has been ‘blown away’ by the reaction.

He said: “The sign took a couple of weeks to create and then there were logistical plans we had to have in place to install it.

“The mystery of whodunnit was part of the plan – we were not expecting wild speculation but it just exploded online. We saw that Ryan even had to weigh in at one point!”

The media frenzy around the sign saw outlets across the UK getting their thinking caps on to pin down the owners of the sign – and even some international media.

He said: “It was meant to get a reaction, but even we were shocked by how far it’s gone! It was on most TV channels, even abroad in the likes of America. It was a bit like when a Banksy when they pop up.

“There was a time we thought we might have to bring the reveal forward because we were worried about the secret getting out there amongst this social media wildfire. Thankfully the cat managed to stay in the bag as long as it had to!”

When asked if he’d like to see the sign stay in town permanently, he said that it became a quirky tourist attraction within hours of being set up – and said there are no plans yet to pull the sign down.

He told the Leader: “We’ll eventually be bringing the banner down that went up today - but if there’s enough demand for it, and the council are happy with it, then I see no reason it can’t stay where it is.

“It reminds me a bit of the Angel of the North. I'm from Newcastle and remember when that went in some people were not sure about it - but now people from all over go there for pictures.

"I've even heard that people have tried listing it on TripAdvisor as a local attraction already which is so surreal!"