On Saturday, April 22nd, 2023, Wrexham FC were promoted back to the Football League following 15 years of exile from the big time.
The euphoria experienced by supporters from Wrexham and surrounding areas of Wales and England was testimony to the progressive thinking and enlightened leadership of Ryan Reynolds and Rod McElhenny.
A Managerial Structure
The two Hollywood stars have created a managerial structure that is the envy of many clubs in the football league. They have galvanised a re-awakening of the club’s aspirations to regain former experiences of success. Paul Mullin’s My Wrexham Story is a compelling, inspirational, down-to-earth, and at times emotionally challenging and humbling reflection into his sporting journey intertwined with his life away from the field of play.
Readers, in particular, Wrexham supporters, will empathise with Paul’s enthusiasm to join Wrexham after meeting with Rob McElhenney and buying into his dream of being in the Championship within five years. The current buzz of supporters reflects an attitude that the dream of clearing the hurdle to the second tier is possibly on the horizon.
Paul’s sporting journey with Wrexham has been all-consuming, daunting, and, at times, suffocating with the tension, anguish, frustration, and eventual all-consuming euphoria of success. However, as he recognises in a lucid introduction, in real terms, success in football is nothing compared to the health and happiness of your loved ones.
A Positive Platform
Paul Mullin reflects on his childhood experiences, where he displayed a personal drive, self-motivation, and an ultra-competitive nature in common with his older sister and brother. He highlights how his parents gave the children a positive platform, pointing them in the right direction and keeping them out of troublesome situations.
His reflections on the impact of individual managers and coaches in his career highlight his positive mindset and insight with regard to his personal needs and issues such as team building. He notes the positive skills of coaches such as Phil Parkinson, Jim Bentley and Mark Bonner.
In contrast, he points to the negative motivational styles of managers such as Phil Brown and Micky Mellon. This section could be a platform for development for many coaches, teachers, and managers in the industry with ideas on how to get the best from team members and togetherness.
A Deeper Insight
The chapter on his son Albi gives the reader a deeper insight into Paul’s strengths as an individual and father. The skills of John Woodhouse, Paul’s co-writer, are evident in enabling Paul to discuss lucidly the personal and emotional dilemmas he and his wife Mollie endured before Albi was diagnosed as autistic.
He highlights the challenging situations and bureaucratic hurdles they faced. Creating a situation of “no tests, no treatment, nothing, we had to ask for everything”. In addition, readers may reflect on the outstanding work of St Christopher’s Specialist School and the Dynamic Centre in Wrexham. Helping parents unload and handle the emotional baton by providing support and enabling their children to gain experiences.
Paul’s warmth and strengths as a father shine through in the text and in the range of photographs, which illustrate the importance of routine and efforts to promote confidence and independence in Albi’s life.
Exceptional Leadership
Paul Mullin and John Woodhouse are to be congratulated on an outstanding investigation into the real strengths of determination, resolve, and resilience of a star footballer who displays exceptional leadership skills by promoting team togetherness in the dressing room and within his family.
“Diolch yn fawr” (Many thanks).
For more book reviews, click here.
