An all-time sporting great is inspiring Wrexham's manager as the club chases promotion.
Phil Parkinson has hailed Sir AP McCoy's record-breaking achievements – and says he tries to have the same drive to succeed in EFL League Two.
Wrexham, purchased for £2million by Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in 2021, are just three points behind leaders Mansfield Town.
With seven games left this season, the teams are scheduled for a huge top of the table clash at SToK Racecourse football stadium on Friday. Some 32 years ago this week, McCoy rode the first of his 4,358 winners on Legal Steps at Thurles Racecourse. And the rider turned racing pundit, 20-times champion over jumps, has influenced Parkinson's winning mentality.
The only manager to take an English fourth-tier side to a major cup final spoke of his admiration for McCoy's pursuit of a record which stood for 55 years.
In 2002, the horseman broke Sir Gordon Richards' seasonal tally, racing on to a new high of 289 winners. Later that year, McCoy overtook Richard Dunwoody to become leading jumps jockey and championship run stretched from the 1995-6 campaign to 2014-15.
Parkinson, speaking about the current challenge i n an interview with The Athletic, said: "This is enjoyable pressure, the excitement is something to thrive on.
"I was reminded of that recently when watching a documentary on McCoy. I love listening to him - his drive to win and desire were phenomenal. That, to me, is what being a football manager is like. You’ve got that overwhelming drive to win burning inside.”
Back in the Football League after a 15-year absence, Wrexham head into their next important match on the back of a 3-1 win at Grimsby.
McCoy retired at Sandown's season finale nine years ago and now has a number of roles in the sport, including at ITV Racing and William Hill.
In response to a post on X about the anniversary of his first triumph on 26 March 1992, he joked: "A great day thought I’d made it, shame it took until the 23rd of October 1993, for me to ride my 2nd winner. Thankfully, too stupid and stubborn to give up."