Wrexham have unearthed an absolute gem in Max Cleworth but his rise started long before Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds arrived at the STōK Cae Ras.
One look at the League One table will show you that Wrexham are gunning for another promotion.
Back-to-back promotions under Phil Parkinson just wasn’t enough; Wrexham are going for a third.
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds’ 2021 takeover has set Wrexham on a quite incredible path and it could lead to Championship action.
Parkinson has been backed brilliantly and has largely focused on signing experienced performers who can bring Wrexham forward quickly.
Elliot Lee, Paul Mullin, Ollie Palmer, James McClean and Steven Fletcher spring to mind, but Wrexham have also seen a homegrown star shine.
Bryan Hughes saw the future with Wrexham’s Max Cleworth
Defender Max Cleworth has risen up through the Wrexham ranks to become an absolute star.
The 22-year-old was seen as a fresh-faced teenager on ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ as Humphrey Ker addressed the squad for the first team.
Cleworth has kicked on to become one of the first names on the Wrexham team sheet and one of the top young defenders in the EFL.
Wrexham would love more academy success in the coming years with Cleworth the shining example for all young Wrexham talents.
Parkinson has nurtured Cleworth into a star, but his path to success was actually started under Bryan Hughes.
Speaking to The Athletic in 2024, Hughes highlighted that he made a clear request over Cleworth before leaving Wrexham.
Hughes departed Wrexham in 2019 following a defeat to AFC Fylde, paving the way for Dean Keates to return.
When speaking to former board member Spencer Harris, Hughes made a ‘parting comment’ – sort out ‘good contracts’ for both Cleworth and Jake Bickerstaff.
Cleworth was only 17 at the time but Hughes saw the future, believing that the defender would go on to become a top player.
Cleworth was duly given a professional deal in 2020 but was sent out on loan to Caernarfon Town in 2021.
Keates never picked Cleworth for a league game but Hughes’ recommendation ensured that Parkinson inherited a star of the future – and that foresight has paid off.
“I gave something like seven first-team debuts to lads from the under-18s,” said Hughes.
“One of my parting comments to Spencer when I left after the defeat to Fylde was to secure Jake Bickerstaff and Max Cleworth on good contracts.
“They were in the youth team at the time but I’d given them their debuts. Bickerstaff had a natural instinct and Max is a super player. They both needed a bit of work, but there was definitely something there. What I didn’t want to see was talent pushed out again. It has been great to see them both involved this season under Phil,” he added.
Max Cleworth could break Bryan Hughes record
Nobody at Wrexham is looking for Cleworth to leave any time soon.
Ben Tozer is backing Cleworth for a huge future and we hope that future lies with Wrexham for at least a few years yet.
The reality is that Premier League clubs are surely keeping tabs on Cleworth given how impressive he has been in League One this season.
Cleworth’s athletic ability and comfort in possession will attract interest and rather than being forced into selling, Wrexham can command a huge fee if anybody comes calling thanks to McElhenney and Reynolds.
If that day does come, Cleworth would be in line to become Wrexham’s most expensive sale of all time – and ironically eclipse Hughes in the process.
Hughes left Wrexham for Birmingham City back in 1997 and remains the only seven-figure sale in Wrexham’s history.
Cleworth would likely shatter that record if sold down the line, but we would like to see him shine for Wrexham for a while yet – and maybe even wear the captain’s armband down the line.