The 300 Club’s Number 1 – can he ever be overtaken?
1 – Derek Parkin
Born: Newcastle-upon-tyne, 2 January 1948 Wolves 1968-1982 Club Honours: Texaco Cup (1971), UEFA Cup runners-up (1972), League Cup (1974, 1980) Division 2 champions (197677) Hall of Fame (2009) Appearances (Goals) League 501* (6), FA Cup 46* (1), League Cup 35 (2), Other 27 (1) Total 609# (10) *Includes 1 as substitute, #Includes 2 as substitute.
DEREK Parkin became the most expensive full-back in Britain when Ronnie Allen signed him from Huddersfield Town on Valentine’s Day 1968.
Derek had first appeared for the Terriers in November 1964 but bad weather meant that he had to wait ten days to make his Wolves debut against his home town club, as he recalls:
“That was unbelievable because as a young boy I’d supported Newcastle United and St James’ Park was an incredible place. I stood on the terraces as a boy and to be playing there was a dream come true really.”
In over 14 years at Molineux, ‘Squeak’ would be one of the first names pencilled onto the team sheet, being ever-present in four seasons, 1968-69, 196970, 1976-77 and 1978-79.
He only missed two games in the 1979-80 campaign and this was one of five times that he played 50 or more competitive matches in a season for Wolves.
Parkin scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 home win over Tottenham Hotspur on the last day of the 1967-68 season but would only net another five league goals in his whole career.
Ability
In March 1969 Bill Mcgarry let Bobby Thomson leave for Birmingham City and decided to convert Parkin from right to left-back. Derek comments: “I was a professional footballer. The club pay your wages and you play where they tell you. At the end of my career I even played in goal at Stoke.
“Mcgarry asked me in a nice way although I don’t think I could have refused him! I was a naturally right footed player, but he was complimentary and said that because of my ability I could adapt. I don’t know how I got away with it really.”
But get away with it he did and between 1969 and 1971 he made five appearances for the England Under-23 team. On 3rd February 1971 Derek was called up to the full England squad for a European Nations’ Cup tie in Valetta. ‘Squeak’ wore the number 14 shirt but never got off the bench. Outrageously, he was never given a full cap.
In May 1971 Derek helped Wolves to a 3-2 aggregate victory over Hearts in the Texaco Cup final. The following season he played seven times in the UEFA Cup run but injury prevented him from appearing in the semi-final and final. Derek nonetheless recalls a big hearted gesture by boss Mcgarry: “I remember after the game Bill Mcgarry gave me a medal – we were allowed so many extra and he found me one.”
But three games into the 1972-73 campaign Parkin was admitted to hospital for medical tests over suspected heart trouble, bringing to an end a total of 233 successive league appearances, 173 of them for Wolves. He had been feeling unwell for a while and was admitted as a precaution, believing at this stage that he was suffering from a virus picked up on the summer tour of Australia: “There was something they picked up on, whether it was a virus or a heart murmur we won’t ever know.”
He would not play again until February 1973.
The following season Derek played in and won the first of two League Cup finals with Wolves, this time against Manchester City. He recalls the atmosphere: “It was a tremendous occasion. We started to go up the tunnel and all you could see at first was the top of the stand. As you got further and further up the crowd started to come into view. Well we had that stand and the atmosphere when we came out was, well the hairs on the back of your neck stood up. I thought, this is what I want.”
The following season Derek was chosen player of the year but the ageing team was relegated in 1976. He then played every match in the next campaign that saw Wolves promoted as champions in their centenary year.
Parkin made his 300th league appearance for the club in Division 2 in August 1976. There followed the disappointment of FA Cup elimination at the semi-final stage in March 1979 but in the following November (Monday 12th) Derek was awarded a testimonial match that saw Wolves take on Ron Atkinson’s Midland Select XI.THE programme recorded his then 496 games for the club, added to the 60 he had made for Huddersfield Town prior to his transfer in 1968. The following March (15th) saw Wolves beat Nottingham Forest in the 20th League Cup final. Parkin was one of the four (Hibbitt, Palmer and Richards the others) who had won in 1974, and his 34th appearance in the competition was a club record. A game at Swansea’s Vetch Field on 31st October 1981 was a real red letter day for Derek Parkin whose 491st league appearance beat Billy Wright’s club record that had stood since 1959. He went on to record his 500th league outing for Wolves at Villa Park on 13th March 1982.
Transfer
However, this proved to be his last match as his 15 seasons at Molineux ended with a free transfer to Stoke City. He was released by Ian Greaves (as a result of the financial storm clouds engulfing the club), the very same manager who had welcomed him to Huddersfield Town. On 3rd April Derek was allowed by Stoke to receive a silver salver before Wolves’ home match with Arsenal. He played 45 games at the Victoria Ground under Richie Barker, helping them to survive in 1982 when Wolves were relegated, before retiring at the end of the 1982-83 campaign. There can be little doubt that Derek Parkin will long remain number one in the 300 Club, quite likely forever.
Tributes Kenny Hibbitt: “Derek was one of the top professional footballers you will ever come across. He was a class act and should have had full England international caps. He had a great strike on him but could also get quite aggressive if somebody upset him.
Quality
Derek was a quality player, quite rightly considered to be one of Wolves’ best ever John Richards
John Richards: “Derek was a quality player, and quite rightly considered to be one of Wolves’ best ever. Derek was a full-back but, in all honesty, he could have played anywhere, he was that good. He made the game look easy, even when up against world class opponents.”
John Barnwell: “He was a very neat, intelligent player who always tried to be constructive. He was always on time, always well-dressed, and always willing to do anything asked of him.”
Bill Mcgarry: “He was a superb striker of the ball. In my time at the club I don’t think I had to discipline him for anything. And I can’t remember ever dropping him from the team.”
Ian Greaves: “Derek has always played the game with a lot of composure, thought, and in a gentlemanly manner. He is the kind of player any manager would want in his side.”
Jimmy Mullen: “He personifies the person I set out to be in football so it is with great pleasure that I support my fellow Geordie. He is a manager’s dream of a player – easy to handle, willing to play in any position, gives 150% at all times and an excellent ambassador for the club off the field.”