As if the hype around a trip to Wrexham these days isn't large enough, for Reading it marks another special meeting as Phil Parkinson lines up in the opposing dugout yet again.

A club legend with more than 400 appearances to his name between 1992 and 2003, you can still hear his name chanted by Royals supporters around the festive period.

Now a vastly experienced EFL boss with promotions under his belt at Bolton Wanderers, Bradford City and Wrexham, the Lancastrian actually has a very even record against his former employers, having won just once and lost once, drawing the other five.

Take a look below at the Royals' previous meetings with the much-loved skipper ahead of tomorrow's reunion.

(Image: PA)

March 9, 2009: Reading 2-2 Charlton Athletic

Six years on from his Berkshire exit, Parkinson made an emotional return for the first time as boss of doomed Charlton Athletic. Having originally arrived at the Valley as Alan Pardew’s assistant; Parkinson took over but was unable to prevent their slide into the third tier for the first time since 1981. Shane Long grabbed a brace for Steve Coppell’s promotion-chasing side, but Nicky Baily and Mark Hudson ensured the spoils were shared.

March 7, 2015: Bradford City 0-0 Reading

Six years later, it was time for round two. Parkinson took over at Bradford in 2011 and enjoyed remarkable success, leading the Bantams into the 2013 League Cup final while in the fourth tier and an FA Cup quarter-final in 2015. A bit of a non-event at Valley Parade, a blood-and-thunder lunchtime clash had to be settled by a replay back down south.

March 16, 2015: Reading 3-0 Bradford

To date, Reading have only gotten the better of Parkinson once. This came in the most memorable meeting, where the Royals booked a place in their first FA Cup semi-final for 127 years. Garath McCleary and Hal Robson-Kanu found the net inside 10 minutes and Felipe Morias’ first-half red card killed any hint of a comeback. Jamie Mackie sealed the win in the second half and Steve Clarke’s men were walking back up Wembley Way.

November 21, 2017: Bolton Wanderers 2-2 Reading

A third club Parkinson had led up against his former club, Bolton and Reading spent the end of the 2010s battling each other to avoid the drop. The Trotters looked set to have won at the University of Bolton Stadium after taking a two-goal lead through Reece Burke and Darren Pratley. However, Liam Moore and Leandro Bacuna struck twice inside 10 minutes to ensure Jaap Stam’s side took a point back to Berkshire.

March 6, 2018: Reading 1-1 Bolton Wanderers

Not just Parkinson’s returning to Reading, goalscoring hero Adam Le Fondre marked his first return by doing what he does best, scoring. Mo Barrow put Reading ahead on a bitterly cold evening which drew out only 8,600 supporters, but ‘Alfie’ grabbed an equaliser before the break and should have made it a brace with a hatful of chances.

August 18, 2018: Reading 0-1 Bolton Wanderers

An early season encounter with two sides tipped to struggle, it was a close-fought contest and Yanic Wildschut’s goal was all to separate the sides on Parkinson’s most recent return to a club he called home for over a decade.

January 29, 2019: Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Reading

Jose Gomes’ rejuvenated side looked set to have won a narrow contest in the North-West when Nelson Oliveira marked his debut, but Jack Hobbs’ stoppage time equaliser did little to ease fears at the time of a drop into League One. Ultimately, the Royals would survive until 2023 while Bolton succumbed and are yet to have returned to the second tier since.