• Home
  • Football
  • Wrexham’S Greatest . . . The Five Wonders Of The Phil Parkinson Universe

Wrexham’s Greatest . . . The Five Wonders of the Phil Parkinson Universe

Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo celebrates with teammates. Pic: Alamy.

Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo celebrates with teammates. Pic: Alamy.

Whenever Wrexham appear to have hit their peak, Phil Parkinson's side go on to achieve the unthinkable, as Ian Mitchelmore reports.

 

The club seem to have an ability to make even the most miserable of pessimists believe.

It has not all been plain sailing, with the dramatic 5-4 play-off semi-final loss to Grimsby Town in the manager's debut season of 2021 proving one of the real low points of an otherwise glorious tenure to date.

But there have been a whole host of stand-out moments, from their record-breaking 2022-23 National League campaign to the excellent 10-game unbeaten spell that saw them surge to automatic promotion from League One last season.

And on the back of what has been a sublime start to 2026 for the north Wales side – and with the draw handing them an FA fourth round tie at home to Ipswich - DragonSports looks at five of the top matches under Parkinson.

READ MORE: Wrexham Savour New FA Cup Heroes . . . Arthur Okonkwo, Phil Parkinson and Ryan Reynolds

5) FA Cup - Wrexham 3-3 Nottingham Forest, after extra-time (Wrexham win 4-3 on penalties) - January 9, 2026

Those who were part of the 10,603-strong crowd at the Stok Cae Ras on Friday night will be fully aware that this selection does not represent recency bias.

Wrexham were facing Premier League opposition for the first time since being taken over by Hollywood duo Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds - and the latter was in attendance, alongside his mother, to witness a real scalp.

Liberato Cacace and Dom Hyam bagged their first goals for the club either side of what was Ollie Rathbone's fourth goal in eight matches since returning from injury as the hosts battled admirably from start to finish against Sean Dyche's outfit.

Arthur Okonkwo provided the heroics in the shoot-out, keeping out penalties from Igor Jesus and Omari Hutchinson as the Red Dragons defeated top-flight opposition for the first time in just over 26 years.

It was a night that will live long in the memory, and one that served as proof that the Wrexham surge is not showing any signs of slowing down.

4) National League - Wrexham 6-5 Dover Athletic - March 26, 2022

For all of the quality, endeavour and drama there has been during Parkinson's reign as boss to date, this particular afternoon was nothing short of ridiculous.

READ MORE: Wrexham Ready to Measure the Reality of Their Premier League Dream

Michael Gyasi scored a 12-minute hat-trick in the second half to put the already-relegated Kent club 5-2 up with less than half an hour to play.

But the remainder of the contest went on to perfectly encapsulate just how Wrexham had fully embraced the mindset of believing in the seemingly impossible.

Ollie Palmer netted twice before Jordan Davies struck two goals in added time as the hosts secured a remarkable 6-5 win in north Wales after Paul Mullin and James Jones had put Wrexham 2-0 up in the first half.

It led to co-owner Reynolds writing on X: "I just lost nine years off my life. And I'm okay with that. Apologies to my family. Also, bury me in Wales."

Mac simply wrote: "I love this game. I hate this game. I love this game." 

READ MORE: Wrexham In Best Shape Possible to Test Premier League Ambition

If ever there was a match that convinced the Wrexham faithful that anything was achievable under their high-profile owners, this was it.

3) League One - Wrexham 3-0 Charlton Athletic - April 26, 2025

As far as match days go, they don't get more perfect than this one.

Even before their own game got under way, they were the grateful recipients of an enormous favour from Leyton Orient who beat Wycombe Wanderers, 1-0, to put Wrexham's destiny firmly in their own hands later in the day.

Crucially, Parkinson's men took care of their own business in remarkable fashion, and the "circus", as Addicks boss Nathan Jones described it, was subsequently in full swing.

They wasted no time in blowing Charlton away as Sam Smith struck twice after Ollie Rathbone had given Wrexham the lead, and the party on the field was a sight to behold.

A third promotion in three seasons had been achieved, and a return to the second tier for the first time in 43 years had been secured.

2) FA Cup - Coventry City 3-4 Wrexham - January 7, 2023

The recent triumph over Forest was undoubtedly a real upset, but many will rightly argue that the win at Coventry three years earlier represented a far greater shock.

Then in the National League, Parkinson's men sat 60 places behind Championship Coventry in the football pyramid but treated the 4,500 or so supporters in the away end to a day to remember.

Sam Dalby, Elliot Lee, Tom O'Connor and Paul Mullin all netted for the visitors - with current Wrexham midfielder Ben Sheaf, Arsenal frontman Viktor Gyokeres and Kasey Palmer all scoring for the Sky Blues in a true cup thriller.

Deadpool star Reynolds went on to write on social media: "I’m completely and totally speechless. What a club. What a town. What a win. Wrexham forever."

1) National League - Wrexham 3-2 Notts County - April 10, 2023

You didn't honestly think we'd exclude this corker, did you?

The fact a fifth-tier contest drew global attention summed up just how titanic a title race these two sides played out.

The club have regularly been told to "stick that in your documentary" by rival fans, and they did just that and more on this occasion as Welcome to Wrexham got arguably the most topsy turvy segment it will ever feature.

From the home crowd being silenced by John Bostock's opener to the delight of quickfire goals by Paul Mullin and then Jacob Mendy, Wrexham's emotions were toyed with from start to finish.

Kyle Cameron and then Elliot Lee got on the score sheet, but the final act saw Ben Foster pounce to his right to keep out Cedwyn Scott's penalty in added time to spark wild scenes of celebration in north Wales.

Victory moved Wrexham back to the top of the table, and they went on to clinch promotion by beating Boreham Wood 3-1 just 12 days later to truly mark the beginning of the club's resurgence.

 

Related News

Andy Fisher of Swansea City is beaten in the penalty shoot-out. Pic: Alamy

Vitor Matos Admits Swansea City Blew it After Wasteful FA Cup Exit

Vitor Matos admitted Swansea City squandered a golden opportunity to progress in the FA Cup after their dramatic third-round exit on penalties against West Brom.

David Roberts | Jan 12, 2026
Yousef Salech of Cardiff City. Pic. Alamy

Brian Barry-Murphy Insists Cardiff City can Last the Pace

Brian Barry-Murphy has insisted there remains a lot more to come from League One leaders Cardiff City, despite another draw that has trimmed their lead at the top of the table.

Gareth James | Jan 12, 2026
Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo celebrates with Dominic Hyam and team-mates. Pic: Alamy

Wrexham Savour New FA Cup Heroes . . . Arthur Okonkwo, Phil Parkinson and Ryan Reynolds

Phil Parkinson hailed a “special” night for Wrexham after his side dumped Premier League Nottingham Forest out of the FA Cup on penalties.

Gareth James | Jan 10, 2026
Wrexham players hope to be celebrating again in the FA Cup. Pic. Alamy

Wrexham Ready to Measure the Reality of Their Premier League Dream

Phil Parkinson believes Wrexham’s long-awaited meeting with Premier League opposition on Friday night offers the perfect yardstick for his side, as Graham Thomas reports.

Graham Thomas | Jan 09, 2026
JD Cymru North

Seasiders Llandudno Aim to Turn the Tide Against Newtown

Can Cymru North leaders Llandudno bounce back from their first league defeat of the season when they visit high-flyers Newtown on Saturday?

Dave Jones | Jan 09, 2026
Joel Ward of Crystal Palace. Pic. Alamy

Swansea City’s First Window Deal Will be Half a Season for a 36-Year-Old

Swansea City are set to make their first move of the transfer window by bringing in 36-year-old defender Joel Ward.

Paul Jones | Jan 09, 2026