Alex Parker
Encyclopedia
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.
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. He also became a Scotland international
during this period, earning his first cap against Portugal
in 1955. He was selected in the squad for the 1958 FIFA World Cup
, making one appearance against Paraguay
. 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
. Parker also represented the Scottish League XI
.
Parker moved to Merseyside
in 1958 when Everton paid £18,000 for his transfer, although his Toffees debut was delayed by his requirement to fulfil National Service in Cyprus
. He eventually became a stalwart in the side which won the 1962-63
league championship, finishing six points ahead of runners-up Tottenham
.
After this triumph, however, hamstring injuries started to trouble Parker, 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 joined Drumcondra as a player in 1970 but 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.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and manager who played for Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
, Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
and Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, amongst others. Parker was named in Falkirk's Team of the Millennium and Everton's Hall of Fame.
Parker, a fullback, began his career with Kello Rovers
Kello Rovers F.C.
Kello Rovers Football Club are a Scottish football club, based in the town of Kirkconnel, Dumfries and Galloway. Nicknamed Super K, they were formed in 1903, and they play at Nithside Park...
, turning semi-professional when he joined Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
in 1952. The highlight of Parker's time with the Bairns was their 1957 Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
victory, as they defeated Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
in a replayed final. He also became a Scotland international
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
during this period, earning his first cap against Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
in 1955. He was selected in the squad for the 1958 FIFA World Cup
1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
, making one appearance against Paraguay
Paraguay national football team
The Paraguay national football team is controlled by the Paraguayan Football Association and represents Paraguay in men's international football competitions. The team has reached the second round of the World Cup on four occasions . The 2010 trip also featured their first appearance in the...
. 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
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Parker also represented the Scottish League XI
Scottish League XI
The Scottish League XI is a representative side of the Scottish Football League. The team regularly played against the Football League and other national league select teams between 1892 and 1980. For a long period the annual fixture between the English and Scottish leagues was only second in...
.
Parker moved to Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
in 1958 when Everton paid £18,000 for his transfer, although his Toffees debut was delayed by his requirement to fulfil National Service in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. He eventually became a stalwart in the side which won the 1962-63
1962-63 in English football
The 1962–63 season was the 83rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*Everton won the League Championship, their first post-war title.*Manchester United won the FA Cup, their first major trophy since the Munich Air Disaster in 1958....
league championship, finishing six points ahead of runners-up Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
.
After this triumph, however, hamstring injuries started to trouble Parker, and he left Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
in 1965 to join Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
, for £2,000. After 3 years with the Sandgrounders he moved to Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
to become player-manager of Ballymena United
Ballymena United F.C.
Ballymena United, is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club hails from the town of Ballymena, County Antrim and plays its home matches at Ballymena Showgrounds. Club colours are sky blue and white. Away Colours are Red and BlackThe club was...
. He joined Drumcondra as a player in 1970 but 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
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in Runcorn
Runcorn
Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
. He then lived in Gretna, Dumfriesshire.
Parker died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on 7 January 2010.