Derek Parkin

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

Derek Parkin

Personal information
Full name	Derek Parkin[1]
Date of birth	(1948-01-02) 2 January 1948[1]
Place of birth	Newcastle upon Tyne, England[1]
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position(s)	Full-back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1964–1968	Huddersfield Town	61	(1)
1968–1982	Wolverhampton Wanderers	501	(6)
1982–1983	Stoke City	40	(0)
Total		602	(7)
National team
1969–1971	England U23	5	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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

A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Anglo-Italian Cup, Texaco Cup, UEFA Cup and Watney Cup.

Honours

Wolverhampton Wanderers

• Football League Second Division champions: 1976–77
• Football League Cup winner: 1974, 1980
• Texaco Cup winner: 1970–71

References

1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
2. Matthews, Tony (2008). Wolverhampton Wanderers: The Complete Record. Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-632-3.
3. "Wolves' Wembley winners kick off for charity". Express and Star. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
4. Derek Parkin at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)