Book review: Stronger Than You Think, by Kerry Evans

Stronger Than You Think – Kerry Evans, The Autobiography, with Katie Whyatt; published by Biteback Publishing; price: £22

It’s fair to say that Kerry Evans never expected to one day be in the media glare when she became Wrexham’s disability liaison officer just under a decade ago. But when Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney completed their takeover of the then-National League side in early 2021, it took the club into a different stratosphere overnight.

Suddenly the previously cash-strapped, supporters trust owned Welsh club could look forward to a bright new future, even if there were doubts at the time as to why the A-Listers wanted to get involved with a club so low down the football pecking order.

The first people they wanted to speak to in their bid to win over the trust of the supporters were club legend Dixie McNeil – and Kerry Evans. It was an early sign of their smart work.

In the prologue of the compelling Stronger Than You Think, Evans recounts that first phone call with McElhenney and how the whole thing was so hard to believe. Afterwards, she writes: “My hands shook as I tapped out an update to Facebook: ‘It’s not every day you get a call from Rob McElhenney from Hollywood.’”

She mentions that he knew about the fundraising she’d done to put on accessible away travel for wheelchair users, that she’d turned a derelict old kiosk into a sensory room to make the stadium an autism-friendly environment, had brought the club in line with accessibility standards set for higher division clubs and was looking to set up a powerchair football team for wheelchair users – all as a volunteer.

What Rob and Ryan wouldn’t have known at that time was how she had got to that point of becoming a key part of Wrexham’s community efforts.

Born with cerebral palsy, she recounts in no-holds-barred fashion some of the difficulties she faced in her early life, such as relentless bullying at school and later domestic violence.

Fortunately, a loving family and friends helped her through those dark times. Then, at 30, she suffered a brain bleed that left her with no feeling on her right side and unable to walk. Husband Kings had to take on the role of one of her carers.

She lost confidence and felt worthless, but becoming involved at Wrexham as their first disability liaison officer gave her life new purpose, helped her make friends and showed her that she still had so much to offer.

When Rob and Ryan came calling, they could see her determined approach to make a difference and humble attitude. It’s probably why she’s become one of the stars of the award-winning Welcome to Wrexham documentary series that has shone a light on the club on and off the pitch.

In the epilogue, she adds: “My other dream is that you, the reader, finish this book feeling inspired. We are all stronger than we think, and we all have something to offer. If you take one thing from my book, I hope that it’s this.” Job done.

John Lyons

Rating: 9/10