FA Cup: Wrexham’s wish finally comes true as the match against Nottingham Forest awaits

Wrexham boast a rich FA Cup heritage, with their 2-1 win over Arsenal in 1992 still standing as one of the greatest shocks in the competition’s history.

They reached the quarter-finals in 1973–74, 1977–78 and 1996–97 and beat top-flight opponents including Ipswich Town, Newcastle United, West Ham United and Middlesbrough over the years.

The scale of the task ahead of two-time champions Forest will not be lost on Parkinson and his team at all, especially as the club enters the FA Cup at the third round for the first time in 43 years.

But while the Premier League target is still in sight, the world’s oldest national football competition is undoubtedly an integral part of Wrexham’s culture.

“This morning we had a meeting with the players and discussed what we expect Nottingham Forest to do in terms of football,” Parkinson said.

“But we also talked about the club’s history in the FA Cup and showed them some footage of the Arsenal win, the Newcastle win, the West Ham win and obviously going into the game in Coventry and what it means to everyone to continue the tradition.

“We touched on the Sheffield United game here as well and showed Ryan footage [Reynolds] He walked into the dressing room with emotion in the way he spoke to the players because the atmosphere on the ground that night was something special.

He added: “So it’s important for everyone to understand that we have a long tradition of FA Cup memories here at the club.”