Ryan Reynolds and the fans of Wrexham grieved the passing of Ben Tozer’s father a few months ago. The English defender, after taking his time to deal with the loss, has opened up about his father’s untimely passing and the last conversation he had with his father.
Keith, Ben Tozer’s father, died after a long and hard-fought battle with Leukemia. The Wrexham defender expressed how even in his father’s final moments, the gravity of the situation was hard to accept for his old man.
Ben Tozer’s final conversation with his father
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In an interview, Tozer recounts the last words he shared with his dad, as he said, “The last time I spoke with him, the last words we said was ‘I love you’.” He then continues, “It is hard for me to say but my dad was scared at the end of the day. He was scared to hear what was the matter.” Tozer then takes a pause as his emotions take over his words.
As the defender dealt with the news off the pitch, on the pitch Wrexham were fighting to secure promotion back to the EFL. Keith Tozer regularly made the round trip from Plymouth to north Wales, a journey of more than 500 miles, to watch his son play his part in Wrexham’s record-breaking campaign. “He would come to the games up here and would drive up with my uncle,” Tozer said.
“He was here the day we won the league, which was amazing for me,” he added. But amid the celebrations, the defender sensed that his father’s health was deteriorating. “He’d come to the games but he’d always get off before I got out, which I found a bit of a red flag,” he said.
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He continues to share, “Also being a bloke. In his eyes, an old-school bloke never wanted to admit anything was wrong. Like I say, ultimately, he was scared to know what was up because he knew something was up.”
“My brother said it, my wife raised concerns and my dad said ‘It’s alright, I’m getting checked, I’ll get checked.’ Obviously, it ended up too late because, by the time he got checked, he passed away a few days later,” expressed Tozer somberly.
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In another sad moment, the Wrexham co-owner and fans took to social media to express their condolences for the victims of the Gresford mine disaster. The story behind the disaster is spine-chilling as 266 lives were lost because of the harrowing incident.
Ryan Reynolds and Wrexham fans come together in solace
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On September 22nd, 1934, Wrexham bore witness to a tragic event etched in its history. A devastating mine explosion at Gresford Colliery’s Dennis section claimed the lives of 266 miners. What made this day even more poignant was the fact that some of these miners were on a double shift to catch a soccer match later.
The rescue mission that followed was fraught with extreme heat and perilous conditions. Despite the valiant efforts of brave rescuers, three of them paid the ultimate price in their attempt to save their fellow miners. Only 11 bodies were recovered.
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In a touching display of compassion, Ryan Reynolds, co-owner of Wrexham, liked and shared the club’s tribute post on Instagram. While thousands of fans shared their condolences and grief on social media, this display showcased the unity among the fans in honoring the Gresford Colliery victims.
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