Wrexham AFC midfielder Ollie Rathbone has made a stunning confession, revealing he was on the verge of quitting professional football entirely after a devastating pre-season injury threatened to derail his career.
From Promotion Hero to Sidelines
The 29-year-old, who was crowned Wrexham's player of the season for his pivotal role in their League One promotion, saw his celebrations brutally cut short. During the club's pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia, Rathbone sustained a serious ankle injury, casting a long shadow over his participation in Wrexham's first Championship campaign in over forty years.
The former Rotherham United player, who signed for the Red Dragons in August 2024, was restricted to just one appearance for months, becoming what he described as the "forgotten man" during a gruelling rehabilitation.
A Dark Period and Parental Intervention
In a candid post on LinkedIn, Rathbone laid bare the emotional toll of his recovery, sharing two photos separated by 150 days. One showed him limping off the pitch injured; the other capturing his 90th-minute equaliser against Watford on December 13th – his first league appearance of the season.
"The time in between has been by far the most difficult period of my career," Rathbone wrote. He admitted to wallowing in self-pity and moaning to anyone who would listen. The low point came when he told his parents he was close to "completely sacking it off."
His parents, including his father, former Preston defender and physiotherapist Mick Rathbone, delivered a crucial message. "They looked at me and said, 'Oliver that's not you and it's definitely not us,'" Rathbone recalled. They made him promise to stay positive and be ready for his chance.
Dramatic Comeback Seals Vital Wins
That chance arrived spectacularly. After his late leveller against Watford, Rathbone emerged from the bench again on Monday, December 30th, to score Wrexham's decisive second goal in a 2-1 victory over Preston North End at the Racecourse Ground.
Nathan Broadhead had opened the scoring in the 29th minute, heading in a cross from Kieffer Moore. Rathbone's strike with just over ten minutes remaining proved the winner, before Alfie Devine's late consolation for Preston. The victory lifted Wrexham to 11th in the Championship, just four points off the play-offs.
Manager Phil Parkinson praised his team's mentality, emphasising the importance of backing up their Boxing Day win. Rathbone, whose parents were present to see his goal against Preston, credited them entirely for his resurgence, stating: "It only happened because of them."
