PHIL Parkinson is being backed to pull off another FA Cup shock on Sunday – by Phil Parkinson.

But it’s not a case of the City boss suddenly developing a split personality ahead of the Sunderland game.

There really is another football manager called Phil Parkinson – and they used to be at the same club!

Parkinson mark two, the younger one by 13 years, is the boss of Evo-Stik League Nantwich Town.

But he enjoyed a brief pro career as a youngster, including a year’s stint at Reading as an apprentice – where he even cleaned the boots of his more illustrious namesake.

“He was the Reading captain at the time and a bit of a legend at the club,” recalled the “other” Parkinson.

“I was very young and fresh into it but I remember they did a spot the difference with us in the programme once.

“He had the centre parting and so did I – when I still had hair – and we both played the same position in centre midfield.

“He probably won’t even have any recollection of it because I was only there for a bit before I left for Port Vale. I was a little bit homesick and it was a bit of a culture shock coming from leafy Cheshire to Reading down south.

“But I did used to clean his boots a few times and helped him out with his gum shield – I always remember he would wear one of them when he was playing, which was very unusual.”

But the young Parkinson did have some fun with the confusion and recalled fooling his family into thinking he had scored in the FA Cup once.

“Being a bit naive and stupid, a lot of my family thought it was me even though they knew I was only in the youth team. It was only when they saw the picture that I had to put them right.

“But it is funny when I ring up the FA and take coaching badges. They always say ‘haven’t you already done this, Phil’ and I have to explain we are different people.

“It’s quite an unusual name I suppose, it’s not as if we’re both called John Smith, and there’s the fact we are both football managers as well – although obviously at a very different level.

“He has done fantastically well and it would be amazing if I could go on to achieve even a fraction of what he has.”

The Nantwich Parkinson, a lecturer during the day at Mid-Cheshire College, may not resonate on the national scale but he is a big name with the Dabbers, as the Cheshire club are known.

He was the skipper during their finest hour in 2006 when Crewe boss Steve Davis was in charge. Nantwich lifted the FA Vase that season with a 3-1 win over Hillingdon Borough at Birmingham’s St Andrew’s.

Parkinson, who only returned as manager last week, said: “I was captain through the whole Steve Davis reign and they were great times for the club.

“As well as the FA Vase, we were also the first team from Nantwich to win the Cheshire Senior Cup for 30 years. We won double promotions and were only one game away from going up again to the Conference.”

Every Nantwich side since has been compared with that one and the latest crop that Parkinson has inherited includes former City winger Steve Jones.

The Northern Ireland international, who Stuart McCall brought to Valley Parade before taking him up to Motherwell, is now 38 and playing for his 18th club.

Parkinson said: “He’s still quick and in great shape. They normally need managing at that age and we talked about whether he sees himself more as an impact player but he has adapted his style.

“He’s still a regular starter and an absolute pleasure to work with.”

Meanwhile, the current City crop are building up to their fifth-round date with destiny at a packed Valley Parade – and one Parkinson will certainly be roaring on the other.

“I think Bradford have got a very good chance. Everybody does love an underdog and the way they’ve played over the last couple of cup matches has captured the imagination of the country.

“I will be firmly behind them and it would be great to see Phil in the headlines again. I don’t mind a bit more reflected glory and leg-pulling if he does!”

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