Phil Parkinson’s brilliance has been recognised after being awarded the Freedom of the Wrexham County Borough.
Wrexham’s rise through the leagues has captured hearts and minds all over the world.
Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds have helped create new Wrexham fans from every corner of the globe off the back of ‘Welcome to Wrexham’.
We cannot forget about the die-hard, local Wrexham fans who have held this club so dear to their hearts for many years – long before Mac and Reynolds arrived.
Phil Parkinson has masterminded Wrexham’s run of three straight promotions, and has now had his achievements recognised in the local area.
Phil Parkinson reacts after receiving the Freedom of the Wrexham County Borough
Boss Parkinson has been awarded the the Freedom of the Wrexham County Borough after more than four brilliant years at the STōK Cae Ras.
Parkinson doesn’t even really know what this entitles him to, but it’s all about the honour and recognition of his fantastic work.
Speaking on Wrexham Match Day Live, Parkinson admitted that it was a ‘very humbling experience’ to hear from people in the ‘heartbeat of the city’.
Local Wrexham fans told Parkinson of how the team’s success has impacted them and the local area, which is something everybody knew, but hearing it first-hand was an emotional experience.
Parkinson touched on how Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds set out to positively impact the local area as well as the football team, and it was ‘amazing’ to hear positive stories from supporters.
“Yeah, a real honour,” said Parkinson. “It really is.
“It was a very humbling experience to go down the Guildhall and be sat in with the counsellors at the meeting, and yeah, it was interesting because, sometimes as a manager, you kind of live in a bubble and going into the heartbeat of the city and listening to people’s stories of how the club’s success has impacted on the area was very heartwarming for myself and everybody, because we know the impact, but just being there and speaking to people, the uplift in the community, what Rob and Ryan set out to do right at the start and the team success has helped.
“That was just amazing to be there and obviously very very honoured,” he added.
Wrexham’s story isn’t close to being finished yet
Rob Mac wanted promotion to the Championship within five years of his takeover alongside Ryan Reynolds being completed.
Wrexham actually eclipsed that goal, making it to the second tier inside four years.
Wrexham may have achieved Mac’s first major goal, but that does not mean that everybody is just happy to settle in the Championship.
Wrexham want to reach the Premier League, and why not shoot for the stars?
Nathan Broadhead noted Wrexham’s desire to reach the top flight just days ago, and while it’s a big ask to win another promotion this season, the long-term vision is clear.
That means there are a few more chapters to be written in this incredible Wrexham story, and we would love to see Parkinson being the man to lead the club forward for a long time yet.