The Mail Bag
Alex Parker's passing
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I am one of the older supporters who was lucky enough to watch Alex Parker play for us. A truly classy full-back. Can you imagine that he couldn't join us right away because he had to complete his Army duties? He then left us to join Southport.
In these days of pampered millionaire players, I am sure it would do some of them the world of good to spend two years serving their country. They would be far less inclined to roll around the field as though they had been shot. We could all identify with the players in those days of 60,000 gates and players who had houses next door to the ground.
John Boon, Posted 07/01/2010 at 19:50:39
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Very sad news indeed and our thoughts are with his family. I hope that Everton FC will do all it can to give these former players the prominence they deserve. It’s thanks to blokes like Alex that Everton enjoyed success in the 1960s and became a major force in English football. The contribution of players like Alex Parker to Everton’s history should not be forgotten.
He was good defensively too, and had an unusual way of slide tackling — sliding in sideways and hooking the ball backwards so he kept it in play and was able to retain possession and start another attack.
Along with Bobby Collins, he was the only bit of class we had to enjoy in the late 50s, although a young Labone was just emerging and looked as if he might just make it!
He was, with the other two, a part of the John Moores revolution of 1960, when the likes of Gabriel, West, Young (who also did his National Service), and the great and relatively unsung Roy Vernon all arrived in short order to form the backbone of the title-winning team — still the best Everton team I’ve seen.
Alex Parker was a true Everton great, a skillfull footballing defender who was a Scottish international.
Yes, times have changed. Too many prima donnas who put on the act for the TV cameras when they are barely touched. I guess it is a “macho” reaction although it is not very masculine in my book. These players are pampered too much because of the exhorbitant transfer fees and wages but it’s all part of the game.
Back in Parker’s days, players shook hands when they scored; now, everyone has their own ritual specially prepared for the fans and the media which is always grossly overdone.
God Bless Alex. RIP.
In the days of 5 forwards (as opposed to 1) with tricky wingers either flank a full back was a key position and as many have already pointed out he was a master of the sliding tackle and pretty good in supporting Alex(chico)Scott our RW at the time.
Condolencies to his family and God rest his soul.
Curiously I was reminded of his predecessor, Don Donovan, an Irish international, right back who has the same surname as our latest signing. In the 1950s Everton trained at GP two days each week and it was a good place to get autographs as the players left the gound. I got Don’s as he walked down to County Road to catch the bus. A player catching the bus is now as remote as National Service.
Many years after his retirement from football, Alex was the manager of the "Swinging Sporran" a busy pub in the Shopping City at Runcorn, and was always a great and willing guy to chat to. They were the days......
All that has been said before is true. He joined Everton at a time when we were a poor side and Bobby Collins was really all we had to offer. Under Carey we played some beautiful football as other star players joined us but Alex Parker was never overshadowed. And, of course, he was integral to the 63 Championship side.
Quick with a decent shot (he scored the occasional long range spectacular goal), he was a beautiful kicker of the ball and a class defender. Time makes everything look better from a distance but I would place him above Tommy Wright and then Gary Stevens among our post war right backs.
I was lucky to see him play. God Bless him.
Alex was a hero to us who had the privilege to watch him and he could never understand what all the fuss was about. ("Youngy and Gabby... now they were players, son.")
I got to know him and his family well when he was mine host at the Swinging Sporrin (honest!) in Runcorn in the 70s-80s.
When we travelled on the ’ordinary’ down to Wembley in ’85, he was totally bemused that so many fans recognised him and amazed they wanted to say hello.
He even apologised for leaving us to sit in the stands. ("It’s for my wee boy, you understand, else I’d be with you bampots.")
He always introduced me as "one of my customers, an Evertonian and my friend."
RIP... A gentleman in every sense of the word and, like so many of his era, a proud, True Blue.
RIP.
In 2009 he suffered the amputation of his left leg. Alex Young visiting him in hospital said, "At least it's not the one you tackle with."
Good memories of the players of that era.
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1 Posted 08/01/2010 at 08:45:34
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You cannot conscript football players. Time has changed. Uh Cristiano..... ’you gotta go Afghan Mate and be a hero’......
Two main problems. 1) He wont wanna go, 2) If he dies, the club lose a hell of a lot of money.
Insurance companies would never insure these players. Your point is a good point but think of it logically, if we send Footballers, you may as well conscript anyone as footballers are no better/worse than a lot of other human beings in different industries/businesses.
Sending lazy unemployed... now that's a different issue, but I even disagree with that.