Bobby Parker – SkyBlueArchive

Position

Defender

Nationality

Place Of Birth

Coventry

Date Of Birth

November 11, 1952

Age

Games Played

Per Game

Games Started

1.0

Per Game

Minutes

8202

86.3

Per Game

Goals

Per Game

Assists

Per Game

In 1971 eighteen-year old Parker, a product of Caludon Castle School, was being touted as the “new Bobby Moore”. He had just captained the England Youth team to victory in the Little World Cup (a forerunner of the World Youth Championship) and was already a regular in Coventry City’s First Division side. Like Moore, Parker was a central defender, had blond hair and was a born leader. He seemed destined to progress to the highest levels in the game.

Bobby sadly never achieved his full potential but did make almost 100 first team appearances for the Sky Blues and over 400 games for Carlisle United after his transfer there in 1974. He joined City at the same time as an outstanding crop of youngsters, which included Dennis Mortimer, Alan Green, Mick McGuire and Jimmy Holmes. Progress was rapid and after just fourteen reserve games manager Noel Cantwell selected him for the first team. Regular centre-half Roy Barry had suffered a broken leg two weeks previously and the seventeen-year old lined up alongside Jeff Blockley in his debut game.

Bobby captained the Sky Blues youth team to the FA Youth Cup final where they lost after four thrilling games to a strong Spurs side including Graeme Souness and Steve Perryman.

After Cantwell left the club in 1972 Parker seemed to lose his way but after Blockley’s transfer to Arsenal he was partnered with Roy Barry in central defence and had a golden few months as City’s new attacking approach paid dividends. Many City fans though felt he was never quite the same player following a traumatic game against Wolves in the FA Cup quarter-finals that year. He struggled to win a place in the team in 1973-74 and in the summer of 1974 after 91 games for the club he signed for Carlisle United who had just been promoted to Division 1 for the first time in their history. For three weeks Carlisle set Division 1 alight and were top of the league. They slumped soon afterwards and were relegated but Bobby went on to become a fixture in the Carlisle defence for ten years before retiring in 1984. He played part-time for Scottish club Queen of the South for two seasons and in his second season helped the club to win promotion from Division Two and was named player of the year.

Intent on making a career after football, Parker had already joined a Carlisle subsidiary of Northern Foods and worked there for many years. He became Health and Safety Officer for the company and lived with his family on the outskirts of the Cumbrian town. He is a regular golfer but rarely watches football.

Own goals (2)
1971-72
9 October 1971 v Leeds United H
1972-73
30 December 1972 v Southampton A

Football League First Division (England)

1973-1974

583′

1972-1973

2115′

1971-1972

2430′

1970-1971

1584′

1969-1970

110′

6822′

0 (0)

League Cup (England)

1973-1974

270′

1972-1973

90′

1971-1972

90′

1970-1971

0′

450′

0 (0)

The Texaco Cup (England)

1973-1974

0′

1971-1972

390′

0 (0)

FA Cup (England)

1972-1973

360′

1971-1972

180′

540′

0 (0)

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (Europe)

1970-1971

0′

0 (0)

Totals:

8202′

0 (0)