WATCHING Wrexham go toe-to-toe with Sheffield United in the FA Cup played a big part in Eoghan O’Connell’s decision to join the Reds.

And the Wrexham fans also helped twist his arm as he ditched The Valley for The Racecourse to move into non-league football.

The Irishman joined the Reds from Charlton in January to reinforce Phil Parkinson’s defensive options ahead of the National League title run-in.

A day before he signed, Aaron Hayden and Jordan Tunnicliffe went off injured during the FA Cup fourth round tie at home to Sheffield United.

Wrexham drew 3-3 with the now Premier League side, with a last-minute John Egan goal denying the Reds another famous cup upset.

It was an FA Cup classic in front of the BBC cameras, with a rocking Racecourse impressing O’Connell.

He told the House of Football podcast: “I was aware that the lads (Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney) had taken over, I hadn’t watched the documentary, but it was a bit mad, to be honest.

“I was living in London at the time, my grandma and grandad were over when they were playing Sheffield United in the cup the night before deadline day.

“We had it on and I remember watching thinking ‘Jesus that is some atmosphere, it’s unbelievable’. I’d obviously seen they were doing well in the league but hadn’t really looked much into it.

“Then the next day I got a call about it and the way it worked out was pretty mad, I got pulled in before training at Charlton and they said they’d had an enquiry.

“I was fairly happy, so I didn’t think much of it. Then I got called in after training and they said they had a bid and it was going to be accepted and that was it to be honest.

“It was a case where it happened so quickly and they were so interested it didn’t really take much to convince me, it’s a club on the up, it’s such a big thing.

“Obviously, it was dropping down two levels but I’ve always been someone who looks at the bigger picture, so it didn’t take much convincing.”

Parkinson and the owners eventually got their man, after O’Connell revealed he turned them down following the end of his contract with Rochdale 18 months earlier.

He added: “I didn’t speak to the owners until I’d signed, I previously spoke to the manager a couple of years ago when I was out of contract at Rochdale. He explained the whole project but I didn’t end up going there at the time, obviously, I knew what was going on from that conversation.

“I didn’t get up there till quite late actually and I did the medical, then I got in the car and as I was driving back, I had them on speaker in the car so that was a bit mad to be honest. I hadn’t eaten all day, so I pulled in to get some food and next thing some American numbers popped up on my phone.

“I know they’ve been doing it a few years now but they’re very clued in about everything now, so we were discussing the game and everything in general.

“They knew the ins and outs of the club and were explaining how much I’d love it, it was a very interesting call.”