John Parkinson (1869 — 20 December 1911) was an English professional
footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby ...
.
He played as a
forward.
Career
Born in
Blackpool,
Lancashire
Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly.
The non-metropolitan county of Lancash ...
, Parkinson, with fifteen goals, he was top scorer for his
hometown club in
1896-97, their first-ever season in the
Football League; indeed, he played in the club's first Football League game, against
Lincoln City on 5 September 1896. He went on to make 365 appearances for the club.
He played at either centre-forward or inside-right. Later, he became provider for prolific scorers such as
Jack Cox Jack Cox may refer to:
People
* Jack Cox (footballer) (1877–1955), English footballer
* Jack E. Cox (1896–1960), English cinematographer
* Jack Cox (Texas politician) (1921–1990), Texan politician and gubernatorial candidate
Other uses
* Jac ...
and
Bob Birkett
Robert Kirkham Birket (17 November 1874 – 18 August 1933) was an English professional footballer who spent his entire ten-year Football League career with Blackpool after signing from Fleetwood Rangers.
Birket began his career with Liverpoo ...
. He then switched to a midfield position, and finally centre-half, as the selection committee felt that the modern game was becoming too fast-paced for a veteran forward.
In
1899-1900, after Blackpool failed to gain re-election to the League, Parkinson played one game for
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a populat ...
, in the
Merseyside derby
The Merseyside derby is the association football, football matches between Everton F.C., Everton and Liverpool F.C., Liverpool, the two primary clubs in Liverpool, England. Named after the county of Merseyside, in which Liverpool is located, it ...
against
Everton at
Anfield
Anfield is a football stadium in Anfield, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, which has a seating capacity of 53,394, making it the seventh largest football stadium in England. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 189 ...
, but returned to Blackpool a year later when they were permitted back into the League.
From then, he was a virtual ever-present until he joined
Barrow as manager in 1910. He was the first Blackpool player to score fifty League goals and make 400 appearances.
In April 1905, Parkinson was awarded a benefit match against Liverpool.
Blackpool F.C. Hall of Fame
Parkinson was inducted into the
Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road, when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player
Jimmy Armfield
James Christopher Armfield, (21 September 1935 – 22 January 2018) was an English professional football player and manager who latterly worked as a football pundit for BBC Radio Five Live. He played the whole of his Football League career at B ...
in April 2006.
Organised by the Blackpool Supporters Association, Blackpool fans around the world voted on their all-time heroes. Five players from each decade are inducted; Parkinson is in the pre-1950s.
Personal life
Parkinson later became superintendent of Corporation
baths in Blackpool's Cocker Street, and lost his life there in an accident on 20 December 1911.
[ He was attempting to rescue a colleague from a tank of boiling ]seawater
Seawater, or salt water, is water from a sea or ocean. On average, seawater in the world's oceans has a salinity of about 3.5% (35 g/L, 35 ppt, 600 mM). This means that every kilogram (roughly one liter by volume) of seawater has appr ...
when the plank on which he was standing snapped, sending Parkinson into the water as well.
References
Further reading
*
*
External links
Parkinson in the Blackpool Supporters Association Hall of Fame
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parkinson, Jack
1869 births
1911 deaths
English footballers
Sportspeople from Blackpool
Blackpool F.C. players
Liverpool F.C. players
Barrow A.F.C. players
Accidental deaths in England
Association football forwards