Lindsay Parsons
Lindsay William Parsons (20 March 1946 – 12 April 2019[1]) was an English professional footballer who played in The Football League for Bristol Rovers and Torquay United.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lindsay William Parsons | ||
| Date of birth | 20 March 1946 | ||
| Place of birth | Bristol, England | ||
| Date of death | 12 April 2019 (aged 73) | ||
| Playing position(s) | Full back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| South Gloucester Boys | |||
| 1960–1961 | New Cheltenham | ||
| 1961–1964 | Bristol Rovers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1964–1977 | Bristol Rovers | 360 | (0) |
| 1977–1980 | Torquay United | 56 | (0) |
| 1979–1982 | Taunton Town | ||
| 1982–1983 | Gloucester City | ||
| 1983–1984 | Forest Green Rovers | ||
| 1984–1985 | Yate Town | ||
| 1985–1989 | Hanham Athletic | ||
| 1989–1990 | Frome Town | ||
| Total | 416 | (0) | |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1992–1993 | Cheltenham Town | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
Playing career
Parsons is from the Barton Hill area of Bristol and played football as a schoolboy for South Gloucester Boys Club and New Cheltenham before signing as an apprentice with Bristol Rovers in 1961 at the age of 15. He signed his first professional contract with Rovers on his eighteenth birthday and made his League debut shortly afterwards. He stayed with Bristol Rovers until 1977, fifteen years after he originally joined them, and made a total of 358 League appearances without scoring any goals. His only other Football League team was Torquay United, for whom he played between 1977 and 1980, and from there he went on to play for a number of non-League teams in the West Country – Taunton Town, Gloucester City, Forest Green Rovers, Yate Town, Hanham Athletic and Frome Town, finally retiring in 1990 at the age of 44.[2]
Non-playing career
Parsons took his first coaching job while still playing non-League football, coaching Bristol Rovers' schoolboy teams between 1983 and 1988. He later gained employment as a coach at Cheltenham Town in 1990, and after Ally Robertson vacated the manager's position in 1992 Parsons was appointed to the position in a caretaker's capacity, and was later given the job permanently.
He later forged a strong working relationship with his former Bristol Rovers teammate Tony Pulis, working with him in various coaching and scouting capacities at Gillingham, Bristol City, Portsmouth, Stoke City, Plymouth Argyle, and at Stoke City again from 2007.[3] In April 2013 Parsons conducted an interview in which he criticised manager Tony Pulis' style of play and stated that a number of players he recommended to Pulis went on to join other Premier League club's.[4] Pulis then stated he has no problems with Parsons views.[5] However, on 3 May 2013 Parsons was fired by Stoke for a "breach of contract".[6]
Career statistics
Source:[7]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bristol Rovers | 1963–64 | Third Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964–65 | Third Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1965–66 | Third Division | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| 1966–67 | Third Division | 17 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| 1967–68 | Third Division | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| 1968–69 | Third Division | 34 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 0 | |
| 1969–70 | Third Division | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| 1970–71 | Third Division | 43 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 0 | |
| 1971–72 | Third Division | 46 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 0 | |
| 1972–73 | Third Division | 46 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 56 | 0 | |
| 1973–74 | Third Division | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 48 | 0 | |
| 1974–75 | Second Division | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| 1975–76 | Second Division | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| 1976–77 | Second Division | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| Total | 360 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 421 | 0 | ||
| Torquay United | 1977–78 | Fourth Division | 43 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
| 1978–79 | Fourth Division | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| Total | 56 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 416 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 484 | 0 | ||
- Appearances in Watney Cup
References
- "A Tribute to Lindsay Parsons". Bristol Rovers Former Players Association. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- Jay, Mike; Byrne, Stephen (1994). Pirates in Profile: A Who's Who of Bristol Rovers Players. Bristol: Potten, Baber & Murray. pp. 192–193. ISBN 0-9524835-0-5.
- "Tony Pulis: Parsons rejoins Pulis". This Is Staffordshire. The Sentinel. 1 March 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
- "Stoke City: Chief scout Lindsay Parsons says he doesn't like Potters' style of play". The Sentinel. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- "Tony Pulis: There's no issue with Lindsay Parsons' views on Stoke City's style". The Sentinel. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- "Stoke City let go of chief scout Lindsay Parsons for breach of contract following interview criticising manager Tony Pulis". The Telegraph. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- Lindsay Parsons at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
External links
- Lindsay Parsons at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database