Phil Parkinson, Nathan Bishop, and a Collision That Still Lingers

Phil Parkinson is one of those managers who wears his heart on his sleeve. Whether it was during his time at Sunderland, his current tenure at Wrexham, or any of his previous managerial roles, one thing has remained consistent—his fiery personality. He’s known for his passion, his ability to motivate players, and his willingness to call things as he sees them. But sometimes, that passion can boil over into outright fury, as seen in the summer of 2023, when a challenge involving a now-Sunderland goalkeeper, Nathan Bishop, left Parkinson seething.

This was no ordinary incident. It happened on a massive stage, during a pre-season friendly in the United States, where Wrexham were enjoying a high-profile tour, playing against top opposition like Chelsea and Manchester United. Their match against United, in particular, was supposed to be a landmark moment for the Welsh club—an opportunity to show how far they had come since Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took over. Instead, it became infamous for a single, brutal challenge that left Wrexham’s star striker, Paul Mullin, with a punctured lung.

A Challenge That Angered Parkinson

Mullin was Wrexham’s talisman, the man they relied on to deliver goals, and losing him to injury before the season had even started was a nightmare scenario. The challenge that caused it came from Manchester United’s young goalkeeper, Nathan Bishop. In what was supposed to be a routine pre-season game, Bishop rushed out recklessly to challenge Mullin, but instead of winning the ball, he ended up colliding hard with the forward. The result? Mullin suffered a punctured lung and was forced to miss the start of Wrexham’s season, leaving Parkinson absolutely furious.

Parkinson didn’t hold back in his post-match comments. He called the tackle “reckless” and “clumsy,” making it clear that he believed Bishop had no business making such a challenge—especially in a friendly match. His frustration was evident as he told The Guardian:

“I’m fuming about it, I’ve got to be honest with you. It was a clumsy, reckless challenge in a pre-season game, and I’m not happy with it at all. I haven’t seen the goalie, and he’s probably best steering clear of us for the time being because we’re not very happy.”

He didn’t stop there. Parkinson also argued that Bishop should have been sent off, saying:

“It’s a clumsy challenge from the goalkeeper, I’m disappointed with that. It should have been a straight red. If it’s not denying a goalscoring opportunity, it’s still a dangerous challenge, so if you add the two scenarios together, he should have been off the pitch.”

Parkinson’s anger was understandable. Not only had his best player been injured, but it happened in a game that ultimately didn’t mean much in terms of results. Pre-season is supposed to be about fitness, team chemistry, and preparation—not dangerous, full-throttle challenges that put players at risk.

Manchester United’s Response

Of course, Manchester United saw things differently. Travis Binion, who was managing United’s young team for that game, defended Bishop. He insisted that the goalkeeper had simply made an honest mistake and that there was no intent to injure Mullin.

“It’s part and parcel of the game, nobody wants to see anyone get injured. He’s made an honest challenge, he’s come off worse. He’s already reached out to him… He’s a great lad, he hasn’t got a bad bone in his body.”

Bishop himself reportedly contacted Mullin to apologize, but the damage was done. Wrexham fans were furious, and Bishop’s reputation among them was tarnished. The whole incident left a sour taste, and it was clear that Bishop was unlikely to ever be welcomed at Wrexham as long as Parkinson remained in charge.

Nathan Bishop’s Sunderland Journey

Ironically, not long after that controversial game, Bishop found himself making a move to Sunderland. Given Parkinson’s history with the Black Cats, it was an interesting twist of fate. However, Bishop’s time at the Stadium of Light hasn’t exactly gone according to plan.

Sunderland signed Bishop primarily as a backup goalkeeper, knowing that Anthony Patterson was firmly established as the club’s number one. With no clear path to first-team football, Bishop was sent out on loan to Wycombe Wanderers for the 2023/24 season in hopes of gaining more experience. Unfortunately, injuries limited him to just five appearances, forcing Sunderland to recall him in January.

Instead of keeping him at the club, Sunderland decided to send him out on loan again—this time to Cambridge United, a team struggling to avoid relegation in League One. It was a risky move for Bishop, as goalkeepers often take the brunt of criticism when teams are fighting to stay up, but he has handled the challenge relatively well.

Although he had a difficult start at Cambridge, he has since found some form, keeping a couple of clean sheets in crucial victories. However, Cambridge have now lost four consecutive games, meaning they are still in real danger of being relegated. Bishop has performed admirably at times, but whether that is enough to earn him a long-term future at Sunderland remains uncertain.

Does Bishop Have a Future at Sunderland?

The biggest question surrounding Bishop now is what happens next. His contract with Sunderland runs until 2026, so technically, he still has time to make his mark at the club. However, as long as Anthony Patterson is at Sunderland, Bishop will likely struggle to break into the first team.

That said, if Patterson is sold in the summer—something that isn’t entirely out of the question—Bishop could suddenly find himself in contention for the number one spot. Much will depend on Sunderland’s new head coach, Regis Le Bris, and whether he sees Bishop as a viable first-choice option or if he prefers to bring in a more experienced replacement.

For now, all Bishop can do is continue performing at Cambridge and hope that he is given a fair shot when he returns to Sunderland. If he can prove himself, he might just get the opportunity he’s been waiting for.

A Wrexham Move? Not Likely

One thing that does seem almost certain, though, is that Bishop won’t be heading to Wrexham anytime soon. With Parkinson still in charge, it’s hard to imagine any scenario where Bishop would be welcomed there. The incident with Paul Mullin is still fresh in the minds of Wrexham fans, and Parkinson’s comments at the time made it clear that he took the challenge personally.

Even if Bishop were to leave Sunderland in the future, Wrexham would likely be one of the last places he’d consider. The bad blood between him and Parkinson is too strong, and the backlash from Wrexham supporters would likely make it an impossible move.

Final Thoughts

Nathan Bishop’s career has taken some unexpected turns over the past couple of years. From being at Manchester United to that infamous clash with Wrexham, to his move to Sunderland and subsequent loan spells, he has faced plenty of challenges along the way.

His future remains uncertain, but one thing is for sure—his name will always be linked to that fateful pre-season game against Wrexham. Whether he can move past it and establish himself as a first-choice goalkeeper at Sunderland remains to be seen. But as long as Parkinson is around, Bishop might have to accept that one club will never be an option for him.