Reality TV star Mark Wright has signed for League Two football team Crawley Town in a shock move that he labelled a ‘childhood dream’
The ex-Towie star signed on a non-contract basis for the team some 13 years after his first stint with the team.
A former Tottenham trainee, 33-year-old Wright could make his debut for the team in tonight’s clash against Bradford with his wife Michelle Keegan possibly watching from the stands.
Despite previously dismissing rumours he was joining Crawley labelling it “far-fetched” – the star’s dreams are seemingly coming true with the new announcement.
The 33-year-old trained with Crawley over the summer, even appearing against Championship side Reading in a friendly.
Mark has signed to Crawley Town Football Club – pictured with wife Michelle Keegan (Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
He has featured for England in Soccer Aid on numerous occasions having started out at Southend United before playing non-league football prior to his big break on TOWIE, reports The Mirror.
And he’s now back with Crawley, amusingly boasting over 2.7m Twitter followers compared with Town’s following of under 70,000.
Alongside a throwback picture from his first spell at the club, Wright tweeted: “How it started… how it’s going. Twelve years later and today I put pen to paper for Crawley Town!
“For 11 years since I fully retired from serious football, I have missed doing what I grew up loving. Now it’s time to go back & continue where I left off. What an honour.”
The former TOWIE star has always dreamed of returning to football (Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
Wright recently told Crawley’s YouTube channel: “I love playing football, it’s my number one passion.
“Obviously my career went in a different direction. The speculation is that I’m joining the Reds – it’s a bit far-fetched.
“I’ve just been training with the boys, I know the gaffer, played nine games under the gaffer.
“I’m just doing it for fitness, I love being around it, the camaraderie, the banter around the dressing room.”
He said football is his “number one passion” (Image: Getty Images Europe)
Previously speaking to MailOnline, Mark said: “I would definitely debate pursuing football. Before it’s too late that’s something I would love to do.
“I came away from football too young if you ask me. I ruined my career by my own faults when I was 21 and it’s something that has always stuck with me.”
The former TOWIE star continued: “I have definitely been toying with the idea and will review it over the next month and decide if I want to give it a go.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
