.gif)
Jack Parkinson (footballer born 1869)
Encyclopedia
John "Jack" Parkinson was an English
professional football player. He played as a forward
.
, Lancashire
, Parkinson, with fifteen goals, he was top scorer for his hometown club
in 1896-97
, their first-ever season in the Football League
; indeed, he played in the club's first Football League game, against Lincoln City
on 5 September 1896. He went on to make 365 appearances for the club.
He played at either centre-forward or inside-right. Later, he became provider for prolific scorers such as Jack Cox and Bob Birkett
. He then switched to a midfield position, and finally centre-half, as the selection committee felt that the modern game was becoming too fast-paced for a veteran forward.
In 1899-1900
, after Blackpool failed to gain re-election to the League, Parkinson played one game for Liverpool
, in the Merseyside derby
against Everton
at Anfield
, but returned to Blackpool a year later when they were permitted back into the League. From then, he was a virtual ever-present until he joined Barrow as manager in 1910. He was the first Blackpool player to score fifty League goals and make 400 appearances.
In April 1905, Parkinson was awarded a benefit match against Liverpool.
in April 2006. Organised by the Blackpool Supporters Association, Blackpool fans around the world voted on their all-time heroes. Five players from each decade are inducted; Parkinson is in the pre-1950s.
in Blackpool's Cocker Street, and lost his life there in an accident on 20 December 1911. He was attempting to rescue a colleague from a tank of boiling seawater
when the plank on which he was standing snapped, sending Parkinson into the water as well. He died shortly afterwards, aged 42.
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 football player. He played as a forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Career
Born in BlackpoolBlackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, Parkinson, with fifteen goals, he was top scorer for his hometown club
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in 1896-97
Blackpool F.C. season 1896-97
The 1896–97 season was Blackpool F.C.s first season in the Football League. They competed in the sixteen-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing eighth....
, their first-ever season 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...
; indeed, he played in the club's first Football League game, against Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
on 5 September 1896. He went on to make 365 appearances for the club.
He played at either centre-forward or inside-right. Later, he became provider for prolific scorers such as Jack Cox and Bob Birkett
Bob Birkett
Robert Kirkham "Bob" Birket was an English professional footballer who spent his entire ten-year football league career with Blackpool after signing from Fleetwood Rangers....
. He then switched to a midfield position, and finally centre-half, as the selection committee felt that the modern game was becoming too fast-paced for a veteran forward.
In 1899-1900
1899-00 in English football
The 1899–1900 season was the 29th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Chesterfield and Middlesbrough replaced Blackpool and Darwen in the Football League....
, after Blackpool failed to gain re-election to the League, Parkinson played one game for Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, in the Merseyside derby
Merseyside derby
The Merseyside derby is the name given to any football match contested between Everton and Liverpool football clubs, the two most successful clubs from the city of Liverpool in England...
against 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...
at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
, but returned to Blackpool a year later when they were permitted back into the League. From then, he was a virtual ever-present until he joined Barrow as manager in 1910. He was the first Blackpool player to score fifty League goals and make 400 appearances.
In April 1905, Parkinson was awarded a benefit match against Liverpool.
Blackpool F.C. Hall of Fame
Parkinson was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road, when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player Jimmy ArmfieldJimmy Armfield
James Christopher "Jimmy" Armfield, CBE, DL is an English former professional football player and manager who currently works as a football pundit for BBC Radio Five Live. He played the whole of his Football League career at Blackpool, usually at right back...
in April 2006. Organised by the Blackpool Supporters Association, Blackpool fans around the world voted on their all-time heroes. Five players from each decade are inducted; Parkinson is in the pre-1950s.
Personal life
Parkinson later became superintendent of Corporation bathsSwimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
in Blackpool's Cocker Street, and lost his life there in an accident on 20 December 1911. He was attempting to rescue a colleague from a tank of boiling seawater
Seawater
Seawater is water from a sea or ocean. On average, seawater in the world's oceans has a salinity of about 3.5% . This means that every kilogram of seawater has approximately of dissolved salts . The average density of seawater at the ocean surface is 1.025 g/ml...
when the plank on which he was standing snapped, sending Parkinson into the water as well. He died shortly afterwards, aged 42.