Alex Parker

Alex Parker

Personal information
Full name	Alexander Hershaw Parker
Date of birth	(1935-08-02)2 August 1935
Place of birth	Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland
Date of death
Height
Position(s)	Fullback
Youth career
1950–1952	Kello Rovers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1952–1958	Falkirk	121	(2)
1958–1965	Everton	198	(5)
1965–1968	Southport	76	(0)
1968–1969	Ballymena United	?	(?)
1969–1970	Drumcondra	4	(0)
International career
1955–1958	Scotland	15	(0)
1955–1958	Scottish League XI	9	(0)
Managerial career
1968–1969	Ballymena United
1970–1971	Southport
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alexander "Alex" Hershaw Parker (2 August 1935 – 7 January 2010) was a Scottish football player and manager who played for Falkirk, Everton and Scotland, amongst others. Parker was named in Falkirk's Team of the Millennium and Everton's Hall of Fame.

Parker, a fullback, began his career with Kello Rovers, turning semi-professional when he joined Falkirk in 1952. The highlight of Parker's time with the Bairns was their 1957 Scottish Cup victory, as they defeated Kilmarnock in a replayed final. He also became a Scotland international during this period, earning his first cap against Portugal in 1955. He was selected in the squad for the 1958 FIFA World Cup, making one appearance against Paraguay. This also transpired to be his final national team cap, which is regarded as "perverse"; former teammate Alex Young stated that Parker was still the best player in his position in Britain. Parker also represented the Scottish League XI.

Parker moved to Merseyside in 1958 when Everton paid £18,000 for his transfer, although his Toffees debut was delayed by his requirement to fulfil National Service in Cyprus. He eventually became a stalwart in the side which won the 1962–63 league championship, finishing six points ahead of runners-up Tottenham.

After this triumph, however, hamstring injuries started to trouble Parker, and he left Goodison Park in 1965 to join Southport, for £2,000. After 3 years with the Sandgrounders he moved to Northern Ireland to become player-manager of Ballymena United.

He signed for Drumcondra F.C. in December 1969 and made his League of Ireland debut at Tolka Park on 4 January 1970 in a 3–1 defeat to Dundalk. He left for Southport after only three months, where he was given a coaching role. Two months later he was promoted to manager but this appointment lasted only a single season.

After his retirement from the footballing world, Parker became a publican in Runcorn. He then lived in Gretna, Dumfriesshire.

Parker died of a heart attack on 7 January 2010.

Honours

Falkirk

• Scottish Cup (1): 1956–57

Everton

• First Division (1): 1962–63

References

• Newcastle Fans profile
• Brief Biography at legends section of official Everton site