Phil Parkinson was hesitant to take the helm at Wrexham when first approached in summer 2021 after managing teams much higher up the English football pyramid – but now believes he made the right decision.

The turning point came during a long chat with the club’s co-owner Rob McElhenney, as revealed in the popular ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ docuseries. Now, over three years on and with two promotions secured, Parkinson has shared with Sky Sports his reflections on the incredible journey that has placed Wrexham third in League One.

Under the stewardship of McElhenney and superstar Ryan Reynolds, the club has soared, turning both Wrexham and Parkinson into well-known names. The 56-year-old manager recalled the moment he grasped the full extent of the documentary’s influence during their first US tour in the summer of 2023.

Parkinson said: “It’s been great to be part of this story because Rob and Ryan bought the club with the intention of getting us out of the National League and lifting the area as well. They’ve certainly done that and the uplift in Wrexham has been fantastic. There’s a real passion for the club here and in the surrounding area of North Wales.

“Every home game, we’ve got a sell-out crowd, and away from home, we also sell out all our tickets. It wasn’t until we went to the US on the first tour that we realised how much the story had captivated people’s attention over there.”

He added: “The following we had was amazing and you almost had to be there to believe it. We went back this year, and the way we were welcomed was amazing.”

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson ( 

Image:

Jess Hornby/Getty Images)

Parkinson pops up a lot in the Disney+ documentary showcasing the journey of Reynolds and McElhenney with Wrexham AFC, where fans have been particularly tickled by his raw locker-room speeches. When probed on his feelings about being caught on film incessantly, Parkinson confessed that the initial scrutiny made him squirm at Wrexham – but he also praised the bond with the documentary crew.

He said: “You forget the cameras are there, because for me, Steve (Parkin), and the rest of the staff, the job is to concentrate on what we’ve got to do at half time, before the game or during the week in training. We’re used to having the cameras around now. It took a few weeks to get used to it at first and it was a little bit strange, but we’ve got a good relationship with the guys who are doing the filming.”

He added: “There’s a trust element that has to be in place because we’ve got to work together to help tell the story.”