Hollywood came to Accrington Stanley on Saturday as actor James Dryden returned to his hometown club for a special visit, watching the Reds secure an impressive 3-1 victory over Gillingham at the Wham Stadium.
The Clayton-born actor, who has appeared in some of Hollywood’s biggest productions alongside the likes of Ryan Reynolds and Tom Cruise, was back on familiar territory as he enjoyed an afternoon of matchday hospitality with his mum and dad.
James, who grew up on Devonshire Drive in Clayton and attended Mount Pleasant Primary School, was a season ticket holder at Accrington Stanley when he was just 12 years old.
Having first developed his passion for acting through local amateur dramatics, James has gone on to build an impressive career in the film industry, appearing in a host of major Hollywood productions.
Among his most notable roles was playing a TVA Tech in Marvel’s blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, which grossed more than $1.3 billion worldwide.
He has also played Brad in Digger alongside Tom Cruise and appeared in Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-nominated blockbuster Ready Player One.
His extensive acting credits also include Wicked, Matilda: The Musical, Goodbye June and The Dig, among many others.
And there is more excitement on the horizon for the Lancashire actor, who is set to appear as Mr Hurst in Netflix’s highly anticipated six-part adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, which is due for release in December.
Despite his success on the big screen, James has never forgotten his roots, making Saturday’s return to Accrington Stanley an especially memorable occasion.
The actor and his parents were treated to the club’s matchday hospitality experience before watching Stanley claim all three points with a 3-1 win over Gillingham.
James was also invited onto the pitch at half-time, whilst he was also interviewed by Stephen Lowe about his Hollywood career, his upbringing in Clayton and his memories of supporting Stanley as a youngster.
He was then presented with an Accrington Stanley scarf to mark his return to the Wham Stadium.
Speaking about his visit, James was full of praise for the welcome he and his family had received.
“It has been absolutely incredible. We have been so well looked after since the minute we got through that door. The food is delicious and what you have done to the place is fantastic, it looks so smart, it’s amazing.
“Thank you so much for making it so special. I saw so many people that day who I hadn’t seen for years! It was an amazing result and well deserved. What a great performance!”
James also had an inspiring message for young people across Hyndburn and beyond who dream of following in his footsteps and pursuing a career in acting.
“Just go for it and do it. If you want to do it and you want to follow your dreams, keep enjoying it, trying it and you’ll get there for sure.”
Accrington Stanley CEO Warren Eastham was delighted to welcome James and his family back to the club. He said: “It was a real privilege to welcome James back to Stanley. He’s a fantastic example of a local lad going on to achieve incredible things, and it was brilliant to have him and his family with us.”
James’s remarkable journey from performing in local amateur dramatics to appearing alongside some of the biggest names in Hollywood is a proud success story for Clayton and the wider Hyndburn area.
And with another major television appearance on the horizon, the former Stanley season ticket holder continues to fly the flag for his hometown on the international stage.
