Wrexham hero admits he’d quit football despite ‘worries’

In his recently published autobiography, Wrexham striker Paul Mullin talked about receiving an autism diagnosis for his son Albi.

Mullin shared how a scene from the popular television show Welcome to Wrexham perfectly captured his feelings for his family, especially for his son Albi, who received an autism diagnosis in January. The legendary striker for Wrexham also gave credit to co-owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds for prioritising their personal lives over football.

“When it came to the last episode of season one and that infamous play-off game in May 2022 against Grimsby, I was in no way prepared for how what I saw on screen would affect me,” Mullins wrote in his recently published autobiography My Wrexham Story. There were clips of me playing in the garden with Albi and footage of me taking a penalty. It confirmed what I already knew to be true: spending time at home with my lovely son is far more meaningful than earning a penalty in a football game.

“They were spot on with that. Yes, it was a significant occasion, but I felt no pressure when I kicked the ball because of the perspective Albi has given me. I felt completely detached. It was only one kick in the match. I scored by placing the ball there. Rob and Ryan are admirable for never having bought into the notion that football is everything. Indeed, it is significant and touches people deeply emotionally. However, it pales in comparison to the well-being and contentment of your dear ones. In actuality, I would shake someone’s hand and respond, “Alright,” if they said, “Stop football tomorrow and all your worries with Albi will be over.”

Since his son’s diagnosis, Mullin has been a well-known advocate for charities that support people with autism. The Liverpool player frequently attends events advocating for greater inclusion of autistic children in sports, and he frequently dons boots with awareness-raising logos.

In September 2023, Wrexham became the first Welsh club to receive the National Autistic Society’s Autism Friendly Award. The club’s efforts to increase football’s inclusivity and accessibility for fans with autism were acknowledged with this award.

The bravery with which Mullin has discussed autism and his persistent efforts to raise awareness have been invaluable to the thousands of families that find themselves in a similar circumstance. The Wrexham tale never gets old—not just because of what happened on the pitch, but also because of the compassion shown in it.

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Get a copy of My Wrexham Story, Paul Mullin’s outstanding new autobiography, on Amazon.com.