Wrexham have become one of the most recognisable football clubs in the world over the last few years, following their purchase by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
The duo’s documentary about their ownership of the club, Welcome to Wrexham, is one of the most-watched shows in America and has gained the club news fans all over the world.
It’s seen the club go from non-league to League Two before this season being promoted to League One at the first time of asking.
Part of the reason for this is their ability to attract players of such quality that teams at their level are not usually capable of signing.
They’ve signed a number of players from League One and the Championship, including when they were a non-league side, such as club icon Paul Mullin, his strike partner Ollie Palmer and attacking midfielder Elliot Lee.
All three feature prominently on the Welcome to Wrexham documentary and have been key players in the club’s ascent to League One.
Lee, whose father Rob player for Premier League sides Newcastle United and West Ham as well as representing England, arrived at the club from Luton, having started his career with the Hammers himself.
He wore the No.36 shirt at West Ham and was teammates and close friends with the late Dylan Tombides, who wore No.38, with the duo coming through the youth system together in east London.
Australian-born Tombides sadly passed away aged 20 in 2014 after being diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Since then, Lee has opted to wear Tombides’ No.38 shirt, which is one of only two shirt numbers ever retired by West Ham United, along with legendary former England World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore.
After leaving West Ham, Lee wore the No.38 shirt in Tombides’ memory during loan spells at Luton Town, Blackpool and Colchester United before signing for Wrexham, where he also wears Tombides’ shirt number.
Speaking to BBC Wales about his friendship with Tombides, Lee said: “I wear the No.38 for my friend Dylan Tombides. I grew up with him throughout the West Ham academy and unfortunately he got diagnosed with testicular cancer and he lost his battle when I was around 19 in 2014.
“It was really tough to deal with, as a whole academy and everyone who was close with him. There are a few of the lads now who also wear his number, No.38
