Wrexham man, Anthony Forde and his partner, Laura have opened up about their struggles and how Rob McElhenney, Ryan Reynolds and Phil Parkinson helped them through it.
Last season was one to remember for Wrexham as they secured promotion from the National League for the first time since their relegation in 2008.
Under the tutelage of Phil Parkinson, the Reds fended off the advances of Notts County to take top spot and automatic promotion.
It wasn’t an easy campaign by any means and behind the scenes there were issues which affected members of the squad.
One of which was Anthony Forde. He signed for the Reds in 2022 from Oxford United following three years with the U’s. He has played for various EFL clubs across his career with Wolves, Walsall and Rotherham United in the past.
So far he has made 52 appearances in North Wales, but it definitely hasn’t been plain sailing for the Irishman.
What has Anthony Forde said?
It was discussed in the ‘Welcome to Wrexham‘ documentary about Forde’s wife and her troubles with health in the past year.
Speaking with The Times, Forde and his partner have opened up on that. On this, she said: “The neurologist told us it was inoperable and you have a timeline. We said then we didn’t want to know how long.”
With that came some issues when it came to playing for Forde as football obviously didn’t come first for him. This saw him ask to take some time away from Wrexham.
On that, Forde said: “The manager was absolutely brilliant with me, along with the owners. They said do what’s right for you and take as long as you like.”
Yet another loving gesture from the co-owners of the club and just another reason to like Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. They put so much into the club and it just shows in the actions they make.
Even Forde’s partner, Laura was full of kind words for the pair: “They are so on it, so involved to another level, it is amazing. I don’t think I ever even met the owners of the other clubs Anthony played for.”
Although this offer of leave could have been enough for most, Reynolds wasn’t done there as he offered, ‘the opportunity of getting a second opinion from one of the leading neurosurgeons in New York.”
This allowed her to learn more about her illness which she has subsequently recovered from, much to the joy of everyone associated with Wrexham.
The kindness and love shown by the co-owners never ceases to amaze and with these sort of gestures, especially behind closed doors just show what they are all about.