**Wrexham Owners’ Compassion Helped Ex-Captain Cope With Grief After Father’s Sudden Passing**
Wrexham AFC’s remarkable revival under Hollywood ownership has garnered international attention, but it’s the club’s spirit of care that recently came to the fore, thanks to a moving account from former captain Ben Tozer. The experienced defender has paid warm tribute to owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, alongside other key figures at the north Wales club, for their heartfelt support during his most challenging personal ordeal.
Tozer, who joined Wrexham in 2021 and later skippered the side during its long-awaited return to the English Football League in 2023, was plunged into grief last July. Just months after celebrating promotion with his father, Keith, watching on with pride, Tozer lost him suddenly to leukaemia, the diagnosis coming mere days before his death.
Despite being engulfed by sorrow, Tozer made the decision to return to football almost immediately, refusing time to grieve privately. The club’s pre-season tour of the United States loomed, with high-profile friendlies against teams such as Chelsea scheduled. But the pain remained raw, and the emotional toll soon became evident. During the warm-up for the match against Chelsea in North Carolina, Tozer found himself overwhelmed, breaking down in tears as the significance of his loss hit home.
He candidly recounted the experience on the “Fearless in Devotion” podcast, admitting he was barely holding things together. “My dad had just died, but I came back the next day after it happened, and just tried to be normal. I didn’t want any sympathy.” In hindsight, Tozer concedes he might have benefited from stepping away from the spotlight, but pride kept him pushing on.
That night in America proved a turning point. Tozer described wandering out of the team’s breakfast and collapsing in tears outside, unable to contain his emotions any longer. In that moment, it was the club community that rallied around him. Physiotherapist Kevin Mulholland provided a compassionate ear, and manager Phil Parkinson offered Tozer time away to return to his family in Plymouth. Above all, the open support from Reynolds, McElhenney and executive director Humphrey Ker made a lasting impact.
“It’s not just the gaffer, it’s Humphrey, Ryan and Rob, they’re all brilliant. They’re all there if you need them. It’s more the fact that they’re open to me ringing them or texting them and saying how I feel,” Tozer said.
Wrexham’s inclusive ethos and the approachability of its high-profile owners clearly helped Tozer cope, but he admits the light had dimmed for him on the pitch. Though he went on to achieve another promotion from League Two in the 2023/24 season, the pleasure he once derived from football seemed diminished in his father’s absence. “My flame for playing died when my dad died,” he revealed, explaining how even seeing the stands would fill him with longing to spot his father amongst the crowd – a habit stretching back to his first game as a boy.
The pressure of expected performance eventually led Tozer and the club to part ways when his contract expired in May 2024. He joined Forest Green Rovers for a final season before announcing his retirement, yet still follows Wrexham’s fortunes keenly from afar. Reflecting on his exit, Tozer insisted the decision was right for both parties – he sought to be the best version of himself, and harbours only good wishes for the team that supported him during his darkest hour.
Wrexham’s story, fuelled by a remarkable journey back to league football and further publicised through the Disney+ documentary “Welcome to Wrexham,” continues to draw fans worldwide. Yet it is this personal tale of empathy and understanding from club leaders that offers a powerful reminder: sometimes, football’s most vital victories are won away from the pitch.
As Wrexham looks toward another season in the EFL, the club’s Hollywood owners have shown that their commitment extends far beyond the boardroom and touchline – delving into the lives and well-being of those who wear, and have worn, the famous red shirt.