English footballer
Derek Parkin (born 2 January 1948) is an English former football player who made a record number of appearances for Wolverhampton Wanderers (609). He also played for Huddersfield Town and Stoke City as well as the England under-23 national side
Career
Parkin made his Football League debut on 7 November 1964 for Huddersfield Town against Bury, aged 16. In February 1968, he became at the time the most expensive full-back in Britain when he joined First Division side Wolves for £80,000. He made his club debut on 24 February 1968 against his hometown side Newcastle United.[2]
Over 14 years at Molineux, he made a record number of senior appearances – 609, including 501 league games, also a club record. He played 50 or more competitive matches in a season for Wolves no fewer than five times – another record – and in seasons 1968–69 and 1969–70, he took part in every single league and cup match played by the club. His long service saw him receive a testimonial match in 1979 and become one of the initial inductees into the club's Hall of Fame.[2] He appeared in two Wembley Cup finals, collecting a winner's medal each time as Wolves won the League Cup in both 1974 and 1980, and also earned a Second Division championship medal in 1976–77.[2]
Parkin ended his 15-season spell at Wolves by joining Stoke City on a free transfer in March 1982.[1] He played ten matches for Stoke in 1981–82 and the played in 35 matches in 1982–83 before retiring from playing football.[1] After his footballing career ended in May 1983, he moved into landscape gardening. He has also been involved in charity work in Wolverhampton.[3]
International career
The full-back made five appearances for the England U23 side between 1969 and 1971. He was called up to the full team in 1971 for a European Championship qualifier in Malta, but did not appear in the match.
Career statistics
Source:[4]
| Club
|
Season
|
League
|
FA Cup
|
League Cup
|
Other[A]
|
Total
|
| Division |
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals
|
| Huddersfield Town
|
1964–65
|
Second Division
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0
|
| 1965–66
|
Second Division
|
33 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
34 |
1
|
| 1966–67
|
Second Division
|
27 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
35 |
0
|
| Total
|
61 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
70 |
1
|
| Wolverhampton Wanderers
|
1967–68
|
First Division
|
15 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
1
|
| 1968–69
|
First Division
|
42 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
47 |
0
|
| 1969–70
|
First Division
|
42 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
50 |
1
|
| 1970–71
|
First Division
|
39 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
1 |
49 |
1
|
| 1971–72
|
First Division
|
32 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
0 |
42 |
3
|
| 1972–73
|
First Division
|
18 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
23 |
0
|
| 1973–74
|
First Division
|
39 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
51 |
0
|
| 1974–75
|
First Division
|
41 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
45 |
2
|
| 1975–76
|
First Division
|
30 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
39 |
0
|
| 1976–77
|
Second Division
|
42 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
48 |
0
|
| 1977–78
|
First Division
|
38 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
42 |
0
|
| 1978–79
|
First Division
|
42 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
50 |
0
|
| 1979–80
|
First Division
|
40 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
54 |
0
|
| 1980–81
|
First Division
|
20 |
0 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
30 |
1
|
| 1981–82
|
First Division
|
21 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
24 |
0
|
| Total
|
501 |
6 |
46 |
1 |
35 |
2 |
27 |
1 |
609 |
10
|
| Stoke City
|
1981–82
|
First Division
|
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0
|
| 1982–83
|
First Division
|
30 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
35 |
0
|
| Total
|
40 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
45 |
0
|
| Career Total
|
602 |
7 |
51 |
1 |
44 |
2 |
27 |
1 |
724 |
11
|
Honours
- Wolverhampton Wanderers
References