Wrexham’s rise showcases English football pyramid in US, says Anton Ferdinand
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PARIS – Wrexham’s exploits since being bought by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have helped lift “the bonnet” on lower-league English football and boosted its popularity in the United States, former West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand told AFP.
The 40-year-old, who is now an ambassador for the Hammers, said Wrexham’s climb up the English Football League (EFL) pyramid had “opened people’s eyes across the pond on such a great league”.
The Wales-based club have scarcely looked back since Reynolds and McElhenney’s surprise purchase of them for around £2 million (S$3.45 million) in 2021. The team are just one promotion away from the English Premier League after becoming the first club from the top five divisions of England to secure three consecutive promotions.
Ferdinand has been a keen follower of football in the US since West Ham played in the 2008 MLS All-Star game against a team featuring David Beckham.
He points to CBS Sports’ four-year broadcasting deal as proof of Wrexham’s influence – the contract covers 250 EFL and League Cup matches per season through the 2027-28 campaign. “I think what Wrexham have definitely done is open people’s eyes to outside the Premier League,” he told AFP in an interview.
“So for people, especially Americans who only see really the Premier League, Wrexham has allowed people to look underneath the bonnet, which is the Football League. It is the reason why the Premier League is so great.”
However, Ferdinand argues that winning trophies and reaching the top of English football should not be the sole measure of success – he is also a strong advocate for grassroots football.
The Englishman, who played over 130 times for West Ham, said a recent visit to the US highlighted to him how broad a cross-section of American youth are interested in the sport.
He ran an assembly and football clinic in May for over 150 students at Washington Elementary school in Kearny, New Jersey.
“The Premier League is massive for them over there, you know, and I can certainly see the way it’s changed over the years,” Ferdinand added.
“You know, it’s not just one demographic of people that like soccer, it’s becoming more diverse. A lot more different generations that want to tap into it.”
Ferdinand, who played 17 times for England’s Under-21s, also visited a local club called Ironbound, who provide opportunities for players of all backgrounds to participate and forge a career in football.
One barrier to entry though is prohibitive costs, which in some cases can be as much as US$5,000 (S$6,404) just to register a child to play. That is before factoring in travel expenses for matches in other states.
Ferdinand’s family may be football royalty – brother Rio and cousin Les both played for England and went to World Cups – but that has been achieved by hard graft.
He saw similarities between his background and the youngsters he met at Ironbound, based in Newark.
“It wasn’t a well-to-do area,” he said. “It was similar to where we grew up, and there’s a lot of challenges that come with growing up in places like Peckham (a district in south-east London).
“We have a lot of decisions that need to be made and the wrong decision, if we’re being quite frank, could end up being the wrong one for you in terms of life.”
West Ham are a historic club and their community-based ethos, Ferdinand says, is the reason why there are over 40 official fan clubs spread over the US.
“I’m indebted to West Ham United because they allowed me to be Anton Ferdinand, not Rio’s brother,” he said. “If I never had that, I probably would never have made it.”
Ferdinand also said he can relate to the “American dream” as well.
“You know there’s a lot of similarities for me with these kids,” he said.
“We talked about the American dream and I had my own West Ham dream, which was to play for the club I supported and loved as a kid. I was able to fulfil it.
“For them, it’s going to be a roller coaster of a ride, but it’s how you deal with adversity and stuff that comes your way, whether it’s good or bad.” AFP