Wrexham AFC has arrived in the capital, ready to take on the Wellington Phoenix.
Midfielder for the Welsh side, Elliot Lee, joined Adam Cooper to delve into the club’s transformation and their smash hit Disney+ series ‘Welcome to Wrexham’.
He also touches on his ambitions as a footballer, and what to expect from this weekend’s A-League class.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldegrave from News Talk SEDB Well.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Wrexham football club based in Wales, and even though they've
stunned the footballing scene in the UK with three consecutive
years of promotion up to the Championship, now well they're
pretty much more famous thanks to the Netflix series on them,
Welcome to Rexham, and of course the publicity brought to
them by celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Macklhenny. Wrexham
(00:35):
find themselves in New Zealand this weekend. Tonight as part
of their pre season we'll take on the Phoenix at
Sky Stadium and Wellington in a match that has so
much interest around it and pretty much largely thanks to
Rexham's huge following. To look ahead to this game, lucky
enough to be joined by one of the Wrexham players
taking the field in tonight's game, midfielder Elliott's Lee. Morning
(00:59):
to you, Elliott, and the past week you've had a
win over Melbourne, victory a loss against Sydney and you're
in Wellington for this game. How are you enjoying your
trip down under?
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Yeah, it's an incredible feeling. I mean, I don't think
many of the team expected to be the other side
of the world in Australia and New Zealand, and to
have a fan base out here and to playing in
front of thousands of fans and people over the other
side of the world, knowing our names and knowing the
team we played for and being passionate about it is.
It's an amazing feeling, it really is, and one we
all don't take for granted. So we're just enjoying, enjoying
(01:31):
every moment of this amazing experience.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
In terms of Rixham as a club and the transformation
it's head under Robert and Ryan as the owners, I
guess you, as someone that's been there for quite some
time now, since twenty twenty two, you would have really
seen firsthand how things have changed. Can you just run
us through, I guess how things have changed for as
a ricks and footballer through these crazy few years. I'm
(01:54):
sure it's been.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Yeah, it's been. It's been an incredible journey. I get
asked about it a lot. I mean, if I could
describe to you my first day at the club though
there was no training ground and we trained up over
a local park where there was actual fire and during
sprinkling the pits to try and make it a little
bit better. That was my it's a joke we have
at this club. That was my last day at the club,
which is it's complete chalk or cheese now. It's obviously
(02:17):
we don't have a training facility yet, but the training
facilities where we are out here, and the way the
club's come on with the players, the fan base and
even the facilities around Wrexham again better the town, the community.
It's just unbelievable. The change since I joined three years
ago there has been unbelievable and I'm I'm really proud
to be a part of it myself and to be
a proud proud to be a part of a team
(02:38):
that's been able to achieve so much for a town
and a community and on a worldwide wide fan base.
It's yeah, it's just a surreal experience and I'm loving
every minute of it.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
So when you joined from loos in town did you
know what was a hit in any sense? Was there
any sort of indication that you know, Robin Ryan would
be taking charge and bringing this team to life at all?
Or were you taking a punt just with your own career.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
No, I think I knew there was ambition at the club,
and that's well I've always said when I left Loot
and it was an ambitious club that they started lower
down the leagues and we made our way up, and
I always wanted something similar to that I had. I
had offers from higher up in leagues, but I wanted
I wanted to be a part of something and I
felt that Wrexham could be that. It may not paid off.
It was a risk that I took to drop down leagues,
(03:23):
but from what I'll always say it now is the
best decision I ever made. It was the best risk
I ever took. But I think you know, I mean
there's no no, no, no risk, no reward, is what
I say. So yeah, I took the risk and a
few other boys took the risk, but you could see
that there was a vision, there was there was ambition,
and I jumped at the chance to join. And it's
(03:45):
probably gone better than I ever expected. I mean I
expected good things and success, but to be a part
of a history making team of a back to back
to back promotions is probably beyond why I could have
dreamt off as well. And I'm so proud to be
a part of it.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Quick question on the TV series, is there a distraction
and camp knowing that you know the cameras are out,
they're following you around or do you sort of just
accept that's part out of this whole journey. And and
as what's scene on the TV I'm sure you've had
a look at it, you know, a genuine capture of
what it's like in camp.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Yeah, yeah, No, I wouldn't say it's a distraction as such.
It's different. It's different to what any of the other
lads have experienced another club, but you quickly get used
to it. And then as I said, the manager is
very good at at keeping the lads grounded and letting
us know always that the task at hand is to
be a professional footballer and come in and work hard
every day and give everything you've got for the badge
(04:34):
and for the people of the community, and that's instilled
into us every day. Anything else that comes with it
as a bonus, but we focus on doing our jobs
all the time, and as I said, I think the
manager is the perfect man to keep a lid on
all that things will also letting us enjoy it. But
also we always know what's what's first and it's been
a footballer and representing Wrexham and the people and bringing
(04:56):
success to the town. So yeah, and as the what's
portrayed on a documentary, yeah, it is what it's exactly
what it is and you might not. I think they
do a great job of portray in the feeling around
the community and the club, but you probably have to
come to Wrexham to see it and feel it, because
it is a feeling you get. It's a feeling of
this is a town and community. The football is the
heartbeat and because we've done so well, everyone's so happy
(05:18):
that everyone's lively, everyone's buzzing, everyone's everyone's doing well. They
always say when when the rex and the football teams
are doing well, in everyone and then the whole town
the community is happy. So yeah, I think and maybe
get yourself down to Wrexham and you're feeling for yourself.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Yeah great, I'm sure a lot of people will and
their travels to the UK and and welles Rob and
Ryan how often do you see them, how often do
you hang out with them? Like? How how involved are
they with the actual day today club operations?
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Yeah? I think obviously from a business side. I don't
know that much, but I know how they'll communicate with players,
which is rare for owners, but they're not they won't
be really. They might say to you, how do you
think the game? When they might say, well, congratulations playing well,
scoring or whatever, but mainly it's about how are you doing?
How's the family? And that's what makes them different because
some owners wouldn't care as much as they do, and
(06:04):
I know the lads really appreciate how much they care.
And just a message after a game, even if we've lost,
it might be come onunching up or if, as I said,
if you score, you play well, there'll be the first
one to congratulate you, send you a message or send
you a video, and little things like that it just
makes you. It makes you want to give that extra
percent for the club, for the owners because it's just
(06:24):
nice touches like that that makes us all so close.
And yeah, I can't speak highly enough of both of them.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
And just finally, Elliott, and really appreciate your time. It's
been great insight and awesome to have your thoughts. A
hit of theres this final game. If you toured down underhere,
what do you want to get out of this final game.
You've obviously had those couple of games in Australia. Coming
off the loss against Sydney the other night, is a
game you're sort of putting much onus on in terms
of fine tuning things for the season a here or
is it more go out there and have a bit
of fun with your teammates. How's the team approaching this
(06:51):
final one against the Phoenix.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
No, I think any game we go into we want
to win. We were disappointed to lose against Sydney, but
we know we know it is preseason and the main
thing is we don't come out of any injuries, but
we also get to work we need so there'll be
another good chance for to get minutes in their legs
and prepare for the season ahead. But no, we want
to go out and we want to win, and we
also we also want to show the people of New
(07:13):
Zealand what Wrexham is about and how we play and
portray the town and the community and the way we
have always and that's given everything for the Badge. But
as I said, yeah, the result of the minute isn't
the main thing, but we always want to win and
we want to get everything that we want out of
the game and it's fitness and hopefully you'll win.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Yeah, great, well Elliot. We really appreciate you joining us
here on Newstalk ZB and I hope you managed to
get out and about and look around into the parts
of Wellington that you're near and enjoy our city and
country as you get ready for another season. So thanks
for your time, mate, and go well this weekend.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Thanks very much, looking forward to it. Thanks mate.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Good on you Elliott Lee. Great to chat one of
the midfielders for Wrexham. Yeah, big interest in this game.
Five o'clock kickoff at Sky Stadium this evening. I hear
is around twenty to twenty five thousand people expected for
the game to light side. Just shows what some TV
coverage and a series can do to publicity and entry.
(08:06):
And I do believe that there will be no sign
of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the people spotting the
team when they landed on their charter flight and Wellington
the other day. No sign of the high profile owners.
But you never know, you never know. You've got to
be there just in case.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News talk set be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldegrave from News Talk SEDB Well.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Wrexham football club based in Wales, and even though they've
stunned the footballing scene in the UK with three consecutive
years of promotion up to the Championship, now well they're
pretty much more famous thanks to the Netflix series on them,
Welcome to Rexham, and of course the publicity brought to
them by celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Macklhenny. Wrexham
(00:35):
find themselves in New Zealand this weekend. Tonight as part
of their pre season we'll take on the Phoenix at
Sky Stadium and Wellington in a match that has so
much interest around it and pretty much largely thanks to
Rexham's huge following. To look ahead to this game, lucky
enough to be joined by one of the Wrexham players
taking the field in tonight's game, midfielder Elliott's Lee. Morning
(00:59):
to you, Elliott, and the past week you've had a
win over Melbourne, victory a loss against Sydney and you're
in Wellington for this game. How are you enjoying your
trip down under?
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Yeah, it's an incredible feeling. I mean, I don't think
many of the team expected to be the other side
of the world in Australia and New Zealand, and to
have a fan base out here and to playing in
front of thousands of fans and people over the other
side of the world, knowing our names and knowing the
team we played for and being passionate about it is.
It's an amazing feeling, it really is, and one we
all don't take for granted. So we're just enjoying, enjoying
(01:31):
every moment of this amazing experience.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
In terms of Rixham as a club and the transformation
it's head under Robert and Ryan as the owners, I
guess you, as someone that's been there for quite some
time now, since twenty twenty two, you would have really
seen firsthand how things have changed. Can you just run
us through, I guess how things have changed for as
a ricks and footballer through these crazy few years. I'm
(01:54):
sure it's been.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Yeah, it's been. It's been an incredible journey. I get
asked about it a lot. I mean, if I could
describe to you my first day at the club though
there was no training ground and we trained up over
a local park where there was actual fire and during
sprinkling the pits to try and make it a little
bit better. That was my it's a joke we have
at this club. That was my last day at the club,
which is it's complete chalk or cheese now. It's obviously
(02:17):
we don't have a training facility yet, but the training
facilities where we are out here, and the way the
club's come on with the players, the fan base and
even the facilities around Wrexham again better the town, the community.
It's just unbelievable. The change since I joined three years
ago there has been unbelievable and I'm I'm really proud
to be a part of it myself and to be
a proud proud to be a part of a team
(02:38):
that's been able to achieve so much for a town
and a community and on a worldwide wide fan base.
It's yeah, it's just a surreal experience and I'm loving
every minute of it.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
So when you joined from loos in town did you
know what was a hit in any sense? Was there
any sort of indication that you know, Robin Ryan would
be taking charge and bringing this team to life at all?
Or were you taking a punt just with your own career.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
No, I think I knew there was ambition at the club,
and that's well I've always said when I left Loot
and it was an ambitious club that they started lower
down the leagues and we made our way up, and
I always wanted something similar to that I had. I
had offers from higher up in leagues, but I wanted
I wanted to be a part of something and I
felt that Wrexham could be that. It may not paid off.
It was a risk that I took to drop down leagues,
(03:23):
but from what I'll always say it now is the
best decision I ever made. It was the best risk
I ever took. But I think you know, I mean
there's no no, no, no risk, no reward, is what
I say. So yeah, I took the risk and a
few other boys took the risk, but you could see
that there was a vision, there was there was ambition,
and I jumped at the chance to join. And it's
(03:45):
probably gone better than I ever expected. I mean I
expected good things and success, but to be a part
of a history making team of a back to back
to back promotions is probably beyond why I could have
dreamt off as well. And I'm so proud to be
a part of it.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Quick question on the TV series, is there a distraction
and camp knowing that you know the cameras are out,
they're following you around or do you sort of just
accept that's part out of this whole journey. And and
as what's scene on the TV I'm sure you've had
a look at it, you know, a genuine capture of
what it's like in camp.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Yeah, yeah, No, I wouldn't say it's a distraction as such.
It's different. It's different to what any of the other
lads have experienced another club, but you quickly get used
to it. And then as I said, the manager is
very good at at keeping the lads grounded and letting
us know always that the task at hand is to
be a professional footballer and come in and work hard
every day and give everything you've got for the badge
(04:34):
and for the people of the community, and that's instilled
into us every day. Anything else that comes with it
as a bonus, but we focus on doing our jobs
all the time, and as I said, I think the
manager is the perfect man to keep a lid on
all that things will also letting us enjoy it. But
also we always know what's what's first and it's been
a footballer and representing Wrexham and the people and bringing
(04:56):
success to the town. So yeah, and as the what's
portrayed on a documentary, yeah, it is what it's exactly
what it is and you might not. I think they
do a great job of portray in the feeling around
the community and the club, but you probably have to
come to Wrexham to see it and feel it, because
it is a feeling you get. It's a feeling of
this is a town and community. The football is the
heartbeat and because we've done so well, everyone's so happy
(05:18):
that everyone's lively, everyone's buzzing, everyone's everyone's doing well. They
always say when when the rex and the football teams
are doing well, in everyone and then the whole town
the community is happy. So yeah, I think and maybe
get yourself down to Wrexham and you're feeling for yourself.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Yeah great, I'm sure a lot of people will and
their travels to the UK and and welles Rob and
Ryan how often do you see them, how often do
you hang out with them? Like? How how involved are
they with the actual day today club operations?
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Yeah? I think obviously from a business side. I don't
know that much, but I know how they'll communicate with players,
which is rare for owners, but they're not they won't
be really. They might say to you, how do you
think the game? When they might say, well, congratulations playing well,
scoring or whatever, but mainly it's about how are you doing?
How's the family? And that's what makes them different because
some owners wouldn't care as much as they do, and
(06:04):
I know the lads really appreciate how much they care.
And just a message after a game, even if we've lost,
it might be come onunching up or if, as I said,
if you score, you play well, there'll be the first
one to congratulate you, send you a message or send
you a video, and little things like that it just
makes you. It makes you want to give that extra
percent for the club, for the owners because it's just
(06:24):
nice touches like that that makes us all so close.
And yeah, I can't speak highly enough of both of them.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
And just finally, Elliott, and really appreciate your time. It's
been great insight and awesome to have your thoughts. A
hit of theres this final game. If you toured down underhere,
what do you want to get out of this final game.
You've obviously had those couple of games in Australia. Coming
off the loss against Sydney the other night, is a
game you're sort of putting much onus on in terms
of fine tuning things for the season a here or
is it more go out there and have a bit
of fun with your teammates. How's the team approaching this
(06:51):
final one against the Phoenix.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
No, I think any game we go into we want
to win. We were disappointed to lose against Sydney, but
we know we know it is preseason and the main
thing is we don't come out of any injuries, but
we also get to work we need so there'll be
another good chance for to get minutes in their legs
and prepare for the season ahead. But no, we want
to go out and we want to win, and we
also we also want to show the people of New
(07:13):
Zealand what Wrexham is about and how we play and
portray the town and the community and the way we
have always and that's given everything for the Badge. But
as I said, yeah, the result of the minute isn't
the main thing, but we always want to win and
we want to get everything that we want out of
the game and it's fitness and hopefully you'll win.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Yeah, great, well Elliot. We really appreciate you joining us
here on Newstalk ZB and I hope you managed to
get out and about and look around into the parts
of Wellington that you're near and enjoy our city and
country as you get ready for another season. So thanks
for your time, mate, and go well this weekend.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Thanks very much, looking forward to it. Thanks mate.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Good on you Elliott Lee. Great to chat one of
the midfielders for Wrexham. Yeah, big interest in this game.
Five o'clock kickoff at Sky Stadium this evening. I hear
is around twenty to twenty five thousand people expected for
the game to light side. Just shows what some TV
coverage and a series can do to publicity and entry.
(08:06):
And I do believe that there will be no sign
of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the people spotting the
team when they landed on their charter flight and Wellington
the other day. No sign of the high profile owners.
But you never know, you never know. You've got to
be there just in case.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News talk set be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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