Until you’ve been dwelling below a rock for the previous 5 years, you’ve in all probability heard of Wrexham Affiliation Soccer Membership. Based in 1864, Wrexham is the oldest membership in Wales and the third-oldest skilled affiliation soccer group on the planet. Nonetheless, it wasn’t till the top of 2020 that the membership started receiving worldwide consideration following its extremely publicized takeover by actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds via Wrexham Holdings LLC.
These two Hollywood stars ushered in a brand new period of success via important funding and the worldwide fame of the Welcome to Wrexham documentary collection, serving to Wrexham obtain visibility surpassing even some Premier League golf equipment like West Ham and Brighton.
Nonetheless, McElhenney and Reynolds haven’t been the one driving forces behind Wrexham’s meteoric rise. One man who has performed a vital position within the membership’s historic ascent is Les Reed.
Born on December 12, 1952, within the London suburb of Wapping, Reed performed for England on the schoolboy degree and was one of many 97,000 in attendance for the 1966 FIFA World Cup Last at Wembley, the place England beat Germany 4–2 in additional time. Unable to make his senior debut, Reed frolicked at lower-league sides corresponding to Cambridge United, Watford, and Wycombe earlier than retiring early to pursue a training profession and a level in bodily schooling.
Reed started teaching with non-league sides Finchley and Wealdstone, successful the Soccer Convention and FA Trophy with the latter, earlier than becoming a member of the Soccer Affiliation (FA) as a growth officer in 1986. It was throughout this primary of many stints with the FA that Reed’s profession actually started to take off.
“The turning level got here throughout my first interval with the FA,” acknowledged Reed in an unique World Soccer Discuss interview. “My three-year contract was coming to an finish, and by that point, I used to be operating a few of the highest-level teaching programs on the Lilleshall FA Centre — the place the nationwide faculty was — and overseeing programs for skilled coaches. It was a time when teaching {qualifications} grew to become obligatory. Many former gamers and long-time coaches needed to full these programs, together with those that’d been within the sport on the highest degree for many years.”
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“Various them handed via my arms. One was Alan Curbishley, then reserve group coach at Charlton Athletic, who had simply been provided the full-time supervisor position. He accomplished each his preliminary and full licenses with me as his tutor. Afterward, he referred to as to ask me to affix him as his assistant. I needed to resolve — stick with the FA teaching England youth groups, or take this chance which may by no means come once more?”
“I took the possibility. I used to be with Alan for 3 years; we earned promotion to the Premier League, and that’s the place my fame began to develop. After these three years, I used to be headhunted again to the FA as Director of Technical Growth to arrange the academy packages. I oversaw all nationwide groups and have become assistant coach to Kevin Keegan with the England males’s nationwide group. That decision from Alan in all probability modified my profession — it gave me confidence and a fame I’ve carried ever since.”
Reed hasn’t simply left his mark on England’s nationwide groups but in addition throughout the globe — in Northern Eire, South Africa, the Republic of Eire, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Ghana, and Zimbabwe. After constructing a reputation at Charlton and later as Fulham’s Director of Soccer, he joined Southampton in April 2010 as Head of Soccer Growth and Help, later changing into Vice-Chairman.
At Southampton, Reed oversaw youth growth, scouting and recruitment, sports activities science, and medical operations — serving to steer the membership from England’s third division to a secure Premier League presence. One yr after his aspect reached the 2017 EFL Cup Last, Reed returned to the FA as Technical Director earlier than transferring again into membership administration in 2021 — this time, with a Welsh membership.
With practically half a century of expertise, Les Reed has established himself among the many high soccer executives within the sport — alongside names like Giuseppe Marotta and Sergey Palkin. Only a few months after buying Wrexham, McElhenney and Reynolds provided Reed a place as advisor to the board. He was instantly tasked with key selections — changing the supervisor, figuring out which gamers to retain, and which to launch — and struck gold by appointing Phil Parkinson as supervisor.
With Parkinson main from the touchline and Reed offering strategic oversight from his workplace in Spain, Wrexham have maximized their assets and risen quickly via the divisions.
“I don’t have many encounters with Rob and Ryan. You gained’t see me on the documentary. I keep very a lot within the background,” Reed defined. “Ryan as soon as described me as their secret weapon. In the event that they’re at a sport and I’m round, we’ll have a normal chat quite than a enterprise one. They’re very approachable — if one thing essential comes up, they’re open to listening to it. However as a guide, I typically work via the board and executives. As of late, I work extra intently with Michael Williamson and Phil Parkinson. Within the early days, I had extra contact with the homeowners because the membership grew, however now that it’s bigger and has extra folks on the government and operational degree, my position is extra behind the scenes.”
Wrexham have made historical past as the primary group in England’s high 5 divisions to realize three consecutive promotions, and so they’re now aiming for a fourth — which might take them to the English high flight for the primary time ever.
