Anthony Patterson reveals the impact ex-Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson had on his move to Wrexham
Anthony Patterson will once again link up with Phil Parkinson and Steve Parkin at Wrexham.
Anthony Patterson will be surrounded by a host of familiar faces in the Wrexham dressing room following his £8m move from Sunderland.
Wrexham are managed by former Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson, who still has Steve Parkin as his No2, meanwhile former Black Cats players Callum Doyle, Nathan Broadhead and George Dobson are all part of the squad.
The move brings an end to Patterson’s 16-year association with Sunderland, during which he was a key part in two promotions and made over 150 appearances for the club. Having spent the second half of last season on loan at Millwall, he has made the switch to Wrexham for an initial fee of £8 million. It’s understood that the move could bank Sunderland further funds depending on performance. He has been speaking about what made him want to sign for Wrexham - and Parkinson’s influence.
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Speaking to the Wrexham club site, Patterson said: “The ambition of the club is something that really drew me into signing here and it’s something I’m really looking forward to. The gaffer said it’s an unbelievable club, he outlined the direction the club want to go in and it suited me. I’ve been really lucky, I’ve played in some really big games, and hopefully I can use that to help the boys and use that here. My ambitions line up with the club’s, in wanting to get to the Premier League, and it’s something I really want to do with Wrexham.”
At Championship side Wrexham, Patterson has reunited with Phil Parkinson and Steve Parkin and it was under Parkinson that he was handed his professional debut at Sunderland, in an EFL Trophy match against Fleetwood in November 2020.
He added: “Having the gaffer give me my debut at Sunderland was a big pull. Knowing he trusted me at a young age to give me my debut at Sunderland, and hopefully he can trust me again here and I can repay that. I know a few of the boys from when we were together at Sunderland – Callum Doyle, Nathan Broadhead, George Dobson – so it will be nice to see some familiar faces. They’ve said all the same things the gaffer told me – the ambition of the club and what it’s like to be here, so I’m really excited.”
Patterson made one final appearance for his boyhood club during the pre-season trip of the USA, wearing the captain’s armband against his future employers in Philadelphia. On that game, Patterson added: “It was a great experience in the US. It was great to be out there in Philadelphia, and to see the Wrexham fans in their numbers who came out to support really blew me back to be honest – to see how well the club was supported out there. It was really good. I didn’t expect the stadium to be full, never mind to be full of Wrexham fans, so I’m looking forward to playing in front of them now.”