Latest news with #FreedomofWrexham
Leader Live
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Phil Parkinson could be set to receive Freedom of Wrexham
The Wrexham AFC manager could be granted freedom of the county borough, following the club's historic back-to-back-to-back promotions. Parkinson joined the club in 2021 and has overseen a meteoric rise from the National League to the Championship. At a meeting on Tuesday (May 13), the Executive Board will consider recommending to full Council that Parkinson is granted the honour, after steering the club to promotion over three successive seasons. If the board agrees, the recommendations will then be considered at a later meeting of full Council, which includes all 56 councillors from across the county borough. Parkinson would join Reds co-owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds in having the Freedom of Wrexham, who were granted the privilege in 2022. MOST READ: Leader of the Council, Councillor Mark Pritchard, said: 'In 2022 the council granted freedom of the county borough to the club's owners, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. 'It now seems fitting to have a similar discussion about granting the same honour to Phil Parkinson, as he's done an incredible job in taking the team from National League to Championship football over the past three seasons. 'What the club has achieved is phenomenal – not just in terms of success on the pitch, but also in terms of the knock-on effect for the city as a whole. It's given Wrexham renewed confidence.'
Leader Live
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Wrexham fans would like to see Phil Parkinson get a statue
The Wrexham fairy-tale has often seen co-chairmen Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney steal the spotlight - and rightly so, for their contributions to club and community. The pair's influence has been so great on the football club and the city that they were awarded the 'Freedom of Wrexham' honour back in December 2022. But, there is another man who perhaps deserves even greater credit for having guided the football club and its players to three promotions in a row. Phil Parkinson took over as Wrexham manager in July 2021, having previously been with the likes of Sunderland, Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City. Since then, he has taken the Reds from the wilderness of the National League to playing in the second tier of English football next season. A 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic on Saturday (April 26) meant that Wrexham will be moving on up to the EFL Championship for 2025/26. And that level of success led us to asking our readers/Wrexham fans; 'Is it time for Parkinson to receive some sort of honour for his achievements with Wrexham?'. Here's what some of them had to say... Andy Smith said: "He needs a statue!" Cath Morris added: "Statue of Parky in the town centre." Rob Jones agreed, saying: "Or to the entrance of the new stand, no one will ever achieve this again." Jay Mansell said: "He should be given a knighthood. Not that I think that matters but if Gareth Southgate got one for winning nothing, Parky should be in with a shout." RELATED READING Paul Jackson said: "He's got legend status now whatever happens. But, his win rate in the championship is just 18 percent, it's going to be interesting to see how he does next season." Ian Evans added: "He has achieved what many people thought was impossible. His management of the players and belief in them has been proven right. "Great manager and deserves all the respect and recognition we can give him including the Freedom of the City!" Bryan Pritchard said: "Definitely name the the new Kop Stand after the man who made it happen." Speaking after the historic win on Saturday, Parkinson said: 'Everybody has been talking about making history all season, and right at the start, we knew what was at stake, and nobody can ever take that away from us. 'Every supporter, the owner and everybody connected with the club, such as the staff and players, these medals mean a lot and they're worth a lot. 'We created history today with these three promotions, and hard work has to go in. I go into every season thinking we can go in and achieve promotion, but to do it is amazing. 'The trajectory has been a rapid one. We have had to evolve continually, and I think this season we have evolved as a team.'
