Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
A great famiLee day out
Legend Rob: To see son win it for Wrexham and Toon hit Spurs for six is just the best
IT does not get much better for Newcastle legend Rob Lee than watching son Elliot help Wrexham clinch promotion, then the Toon hitting six past Tottenham.
He said: “I went to Wrexham for the game against Boreham Wood on Saturday and then travelled up to Newcastle to see my old club beat Spurs 6-1.
“They were two of the best days you could possibly have.”
Elliot Lee scored one of the goals in the 3-1 National League win, which ended the North Wales club’s 15-year exile from the EFL.
But it was still a surprise that Elliot rejected offers to remain in the EFL to join the Wrexham rising – or was it?
Dad explained: “Yes and no. Was I surprised he ended up signing for Wrexham? Last season, he was on loan at Charlton from Luton.
“He enjoyed it at first under Johnnie Jackson. But when he was sacked as manager, it all unravelled and I was pleased he didn’t join them permanently. He had other offers from the EFL, but I jokingly said to him – because he is a huge Ryan Reynolds fan, huge, he absolutely loves Deadpool – what would happen if Ryan rings you with an offer? I was just messing about.
“He said there was no way he was dropping down into the National League.
“A couple of days later, his agent rang me and said Wrexham had come in for him, should he bother telling Elliot. I said he had to tell him.
“Then Phil Parkinson [the manager] started ringing him. Phil kept reassuring him about the club’s ambitions and then Ryan Reynolds followed him on Instagram. He eventually agreed to join.
“It was a bit of a gamble, but he has always liked a challenge.
“It was similar to when he joined Luton Town and they went up through the leagues.
“I think he sees similarities with what happened there at
Wrexham.” Thanks to Elliot, Rob has sampled the Hollywood effect at the club and has become immersed in the feel-good factor.
Rob added: “You can see Ryan and Rob McElhenney just love the club and all connected with it.
“They are always chatting with the families. They are genuine guys and I’ve been lucky enough to have met them. I was invited into their hospitality box for a Wrexham Ladies game.
“They were really friendly and Ryan’s wife Blake Lively was there. They came over as normal people even though they are mega famous.”
Elliot is loving life on and off the pitch.
“It’s about the right time, right place, right manager and that was the situation when I joined up with Kevin Keegan at Newcastle,” said Rob. “If things hadn’t aligned as they did then, I probably wouldn’t have had the career I had.”