The Wrexham Legend Who Outlasted Reynolds and McElhenney and Continues to Shatter Expectations

Wrexham have brought in 83 players since Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds took over the club, yet against all expectations, one player from before those Hollywood owners arrived is still here. More impressively, he is among their most vital players, a driving force behind their recent upturn in form and the sole survivor of their triple-promotion-winning squad.

Phil Parkinson questioned the determination of certain players during the opening half of their recent loss to Sheffield United and later implied that some failed to grasp the weight of representing the club. Those are criticisms that cannot be directed at academy product Max Cleworth, the man Parkinson called upon at the interval at Bramall Lane.

Wrexham showed significant improvement following his introduction, and it came as little surprise that he retained his spot in the defence when they beat Middlesbrough five days later. That result marked just their third clean sheet of the campaign, with Cleworth having played every minute of all three.

What makes his story even more extraordinary is how he has developed in parallel with the club he joined before his teenage years. At just 24, he already boasts 187 competitive appearances for Wrexham and now looks entirely at ease performing in the Championship. His fellow players even believe he could soon be featuring in the Premier League.

Pushing It to the Max

The numbers tell their own story this season. Cleworth has featured in just one of Wrexham's six defeats across all competitions, and even then, he was brought on at halftime against Sheffield United with his team already behind.

In fact, Wrexham have conceded only two of their 20 goals with Cleworth on the field this season, one of which came after he had already sustained an injury against Burnley. It was the first muscular setback of his career, and the Red Dragons dropped half of their games while he was out with a hamstring problem.

While their win percentage is fairly comparable with and without the defender, their points per game are twice as high when he plays. Wrexham average 1.8 points per league start with Cleworth in the side, compared to just 0.9 when he is missing. It is evident what a significant contribution he makes to the defence, blending pace and physicality with the technical quality that has enabled him to rise through every level.

"I don't really reflect on it too much at the minute. It has been a mad journey, a mad five years, and when we look back in years to come, it will be something I was extremely proud to be a part of," Cleworth told Sports Illustrated of his remarkable rise.

Cleworth was named in Parkinson's starting eleven for his first National League outing against Solihull Moors in August 2021 and went on to make 29 appearances during that breakthrough season. Those displays earned him the first of his three Wrexham Young Player of the Season honours, and the following campaign, he was part of the squad that finally secured promotion from the National League.

A series of injuries restricted his involvement during the first two promotion seasons, but Cleworth has so frequently beaten the odds. He scored an impressive seven goals in 41 league outings as Wrexham went up from League One, claiming the Players' Player of the Season award, a place in the League One Team of the Season and the last of his three Young Player accolades.

With the step up to the Championship, it might have seemed as though Cleworth's influence would fade. Instead, he made a further 41 league appearances as the Red Dragons achieved the highest finish in their history. Having already cleared so many obstacles, it would be premature to suggest he is anywhere near his ceiling.

"I would say that because he has been here so long, he doesn't even get the credit he deserves in terms of how good he actually is," George Dobson says. "He is a player that you've seen grow through the leagues; he consistently performs at a higher level in every level. I am sure he could do it again in the Premier League; I really think he is that good."

Having risen through our youth ranks, Max Cleworth has gone on to make over 110 EFL league appearances and has achieved back-to-back-to-back promotions with the Club 🙌

🔴⚪ #WxmAFC #RaisedInTheEFL pic.twitter.com/DOl5repVZ1

As a graduate of the Wrexham academy, there is something particularly special about watching Cleworth take to the pitch during the club's most celebrated era. The Welsh outfit once depended on homegrown talent as a cost-cutting measure to fill their first-team roster and sell players on to generate funds simply to keep the club alive.

At a time when Wrexham have spent approximately $93 million on transfers since their promotion to the Championship last year, it speaks volumes about both Cleworth's ability and character that he continues to be an indispensable part of their squad.

Asked about that glowing praise from his teammate Dobson, Cleworth joked: "It's a nice compliment from Dobbo; he doesn't tell me that! It is a huge compliment. My focus is entirely on trying to get Wrexham to the Premier League. That is the ultimate aim. We are well aware of how difficult that is; it's a long-term project, but hopefully we can get it done."

If Wrexham are to achieve the seemingly impossible and reach the Premier League this season, there is little question that Cleworth will have been central to making that happen.