Derek Parkin

Derek Parkin

Personal information
Full name	Derek Parkin
Date of birth	2 January 1948 (1948-01-02) (age 63)
Place of birth	Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position	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 Under-23	5	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Derek Parkin (born 2 January 1948 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is an English former football player who made a record number of appearances for Wolverhampton Wanderers (609).

Career

Parkin made his Football League debut on 7 November 1964 for Huddersfield Town against Bury, aged 16.

In February 1968, he became the costliest 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.

Over 14 years at Molineux, he made a record amount 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.

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.

The full-back made five appearances for the England Under-23 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.

He finally left Wolves to join Stoke City in March 1982 on a free transfer and played out a final 14 months before retiring.

After his footballing career ended in May 1983, he moved into landscape gardening.

References

Matthews, Tony; "Wolverhampton Wanderers: The Complete Record", Breedon Books, 2008; ISBN 9781859836323

Persondata
Name	Parkin, Derek
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	2 January 1948
Place of birth	Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Date of death
Place of death