29 April 2023 , 19:30
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It doesn’t get much better for Newcastle United legend Rob Lee than watching son Elliot help Wrexham clinch promotion followed by the Toon hitting six against Spurs.
“I went to Wrexham for the game against Boreham Wood on Saturday evening 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.” he enthused.
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, and his intelligent playmaking role has endeared himself to the Racecourse fans.
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.
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“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.
Elliot Lee scored Wrexham's equaliser in their historic win over Boreham Wood (Getty Images)“A couple of days later his agent rang me and coincidently 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.”
Elliot was a huge fan of Ryan Reynolds before his move to Wrexham (Getty Images)Thanks to Elliot, Rob Lee has sampled the Hollywood effect at the club and has himself become immersed in the feel good factor surrounding all things Wrexham.
“You can see that Ryan and Rob McElhenney just love the club and everything connected with it," Lee senior said.
“The interest they take in the community, the club, the players. 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.
“Elliot rang me up and asked if I wanted to go to the game as guests of Ryan and Rob 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. “There’s no more M25 going to Charlton and Luton being stuck for hours. He says he has swapped it for pot holes and tractors but couldn’t be happier,” Lee senior added.
“It’s about the right time, right place, right manager and that was the situation when I joined up with Kevin Keegan at Newcastle United. If things hadn’t aligned the way they did then I probably wouldn’t have had the career I had.”
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Rob Lee played 381 games for Newcastle (Getty Images)Now says Lee the only way is up. “The league they have just got out of is the hardest one to get out of with just one automatic promotion spot. It’s madness. I feel sorry for Notts County. I will be cheering them on in the play offs,” he stated.
“You’ve got more chance of getting out of League Two with the top three going up and finishing in seventh gets you into the playoffs. The majority of players they have now have all played in the Football League.”