Alex Parker

Alex Parker
Personal information
Full name Alexander Hershaw Parker
Date of birth (1935-08-02)2 August 1935
Place of birth Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland
Date of death 7 January 2010(2010-01-07) (aged 74)[1]
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing position Right back
Youth career
1950–1952 Kello Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1952–1958 Falkirk 121 (2)
1958–1965 Everton 198 (5)
1965–1968 Southport 76 (0)
1968–1969 Ballymena United ? (?)
1969–1970 Drumcondra 4 (0)
National team
1955–1958 Scotland 15 (0)
1955–1958 Scottish League XI 9 (0)
Teams managed
1968–1969 Ballymena United
1970–1971 Southport

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Alexander "Alex" Hershaw Parker (2 August 1935 – 7 January 2010) was a Scottish football player and manager who played for Falkirk, Everton and Scotland, amongst others. Parker was named in Falkirk's Team of the Millennium and Everton's Hall of Fame.[2]

Parker, a fullback, began his career with Kello Rovers, turning semi-professional when he joined Falkirk in 1952. The highlight of Parker's time with the Bairns was their 1957 Scottish Cup victory, as they defeated Kilmarnock in a replayed final.[1] He also became a Scotland international during this period, earning his first cap against Portugal in 1955.[1] He was selected in the squad for the 1958 FIFA World Cup, making one appearance against Paraguay.[1] This also transpired to be his final national team cap, which is regarded as "perverse"; former teammate Alex Young stated that Parker was still the best player in his position in Britain.[2] Parker also represented the Scottish League XI.[3]

Parker moved to Merseyside in 1958 when Everton paid £18,000 for his transfer,[2] although his Toffees debut was delayed by his requirement to fulfil National Service in Cyprus.[1] He eventually became a stalwart in the side which won the 1962–63 league championship, finishing six points ahead of runners-up Tottenham.[1]

After this triumph, however, hamstring injuries started to trouble Parker,[2] and he left Goodison Park in 1965 to join Southport, for £2,000. After 3 years with the Sandgrounders he moved to Northern Ireland to become player-manager of Ballymena United.

He signed for Drumcondra F.C. in December 1969 and made his League of Ireland debut at Tolka Park on 4 January 1970 in a 3–1 defeat to Dundalk. He left for Southport after only three months, where he was given a coaching role. Two months later he was promoted to manager but this appointment lasted only a single season.

After his retirement from the footballing world, Parker became a publican in Runcorn. He then lived in Gretna, Dumfriesshire.

Parker died of a heart attack on 7 January 2010.[1]

Honours

Falkirk
Everton

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Everton legend of the sixties Alex Parker passes away, Liverpool Echo, 8 January 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Passing of Parker marks loss of Falkirk's finest from golden era, The Scotsman, 9 January 2010.
  3. ↑ "Scotland FL Players by Appearances". Londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 27 November 2011.

External links

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