Derrick Parker
Encyclopedia
Derrick Parker is a retired English
professional footballer who played as a striker. He played for six different teams in the Football League
during his career, as well as having a spell in Finland with Haka Valkeakoski
. He also played for several non-league
clubs.
. He played six matches in three years for Burnley, and scored two goals, before moving to Southend United
in 1977. He was a first-team regular at Roots Hall, making 129 league appearances in just three seasons and scoring 43 goals in the process.
His performances for Southend earned him a transfer to Barnsley
in the summer of 1980. He played over 100 league games for the club before joining Oldham Athletic
in 1983. He stayed at Boundary Park for two seasons and made more than 50 league appearances for the club. After leaving Oldham in 1985, Parker had a short spell at Doncaster Rovers
, where he played just five matches before returning to his first club, Burnley, in 1985.
During his second spell at Turf Moor, Parker played 43 times in the league, scoring ten goals for the side. Along with a number of other players, he left the club in the summer of 1987 after the team had narrowly avoided relegation from the Football League Fourth Division
with a last-day victory over Orient. Unable to find a club in England, Parker joined Finnish outfit Haka Valkeakoski
. However, his stay in Finland was short-lived as he joined Rochdale
mid-way through the 1987–88 season. He was released when the club hit a financial crisis in December 1987 having played seven league games in that time.
He had stints at North Ferriby United
, Altrincham
, Northwich Victoria
and Frickley Athletic
before joining Hyde United in 1991. He played three league matches and scored one goal for the club, before leaving to sign for Bishop Auckland
. After quitting Bishop Auckland, Parker had spells at Irlam Town and Ossett Town
before retiring from the game and moving back to live in Barnsley. He now provides commentary on Barnsley games for local radio
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer who played as a striker. He played for six different teams in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
during his career, as well as having a spell in Finland with Haka Valkeakoski
FC Haka
Haka is a Finnish football club, based in the industry town of Valkeakoski. It is one of the most successful clubs in Finland, with nine Finnish championships and 12 Finnish Cup wins.- History :...
. He also played for several non-league
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
clubs.
Playing career
Parker's career began in 1974 when he was promoted from the youths to the first team at BurnleyBurnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
. He played six matches in three years for Burnley, and scored two goals, before moving to Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
in 1977. He was a first-team regular at Roots Hall, making 129 league appearances in just three seasons and scoring 43 goals in the process.
His performances for Southend earned him a transfer to Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
in the summer of 1980. He played over 100 league games for the club before joining Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
in 1983. He stayed at Boundary Park for two seasons and made more than 50 league appearances for the club. After leaving Oldham in 1985, Parker had a short spell at Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
, where he played just five matches before returning to his first club, Burnley, in 1985.
During his second spell at Turf Moor, Parker played 43 times in the league, scoring ten goals for the side. Along with a number of other players, he left the club in the summer of 1987 after the team had narrowly avoided relegation from the Football League Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
with a last-day victory over Orient. Unable to find a club in England, Parker joined Finnish outfit Haka Valkeakoski
FC Haka
Haka is a Finnish football club, based in the industry town of Valkeakoski. It is one of the most successful clubs in Finland, with nine Finnish championships and 12 Finnish Cup wins.- History :...
. However, his stay in Finland was short-lived as he joined Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
mid-way through the 1987–88 season. He was released when the club hit a financial crisis in December 1987 having played seven league games in that time.
He had stints at North Ferriby United
North Ferriby United A.F.C.
North Ferriby United Association Football Club is an English football club based in North Ferriby, near Kingston upon Hull, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. They were formed in 1934. They reached the Northern Premier League Premier Division for the first time in 2005...
, Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
, Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
and Frickley Athletic
Frickley Athletic F.C.
Frickley Athletic F.C. are a football club based in South Elmsall, in West Yorkshire, England. They were established in 1910 as Frickley Colliery F.C., and changed to their present name in 1974.-History:...
before joining Hyde United in 1991. He played three league matches and scored one goal for the club, before leaving to sign for Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland F.C.
Bishop Auckland Football Club are an English football team based in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. They are one of the most successful amateur sides, having won the old FA Amateur Cup on 10 occasions , and losing finalists on a further 8. They currently play in the Northern League Division One. ...
. After quitting Bishop Auckland, Parker had spells at Irlam Town and Ossett Town
Ossett Town F.C.
Ossett Town Football Club are an English football club based in Ossett, in the City of Wakefield district, West Yorkshire, playing in the Northern Premier League in the 2011-12 season.-History:...
before retiring from the game and moving back to live in Barnsley. He now provides commentary on Barnsley games for local radio
External links
- Derrick Parker Football League statistics at the Post-War Players Database