Parker: Benjamin Brian Colin (Ben)

2003-2012 (Leeds Player Details) (Player Details)

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Born: Pontefract: 15-11-1987

Debut: v Macclesfield Town (a): 14-08-2007

5’11” 11st 6lb (2007)

Parker started his career with Leeds United as a trainee in 2003. Capped five times by England at Under-sixteen level, he progressed through the Leeds Juniors and gained three Under-Seventeen, one Under-Eighteen and seven Under-Nineteen Caps before he was loaned to Bradford City for the 2006-07 season to give him experience at the first team level. Although not always a regular, he notched up thirty-five League starts as well as four more appearances from the bench and a further appearance in the FA Cup. He returned to Elland Road and signed a contract as soon as Leeds were able to sign players. He made his first-team debut at Macclesfield Town on 14th August 2007 in the First Round of the Carling Cup. Dennis Wise did not wish to rush him into the first team and although he had made nine League appearances, of which three were off the bench, he also had made six appearances in the Cup competitions. His progress was such that in October 2007 he was given a two year extension to his contract. On 28th February 2008 he was loaned out to Darlington for a month and made his Darlington debut on 1st March 2008 in a 3–1 home win against Brentford. He had played seven games for Darlington before, on 27th March 2008, he extended his loan spell until the end of the season. He was sent off on 26th April 2008, as Darlington lost 2-3 at home to Dagenham & Redbridge. As a consequence, he missed the final game of the season, a 2-0 win at Peterborough United, but returned for Darlington's play-off game with Rochdale on 10th May 2008, which Darlington won 2-1. Unfortunately for Parker and Darlington he sustained an hamstring injury in the seventy-ninth minute and had to come off. He missed the away leg at Rochdale in which Darlington were beaten on penalties. He made thirteen League appearances and then after helping the Quakers to the League Two Play-offs added a further appearance to his tally before returning to Leeds after the play-off finals. He was back at Elland Road for the 2008–09 season, and scored his first goal on 17th November 2008, in an F.A. Cup First Round replay at Northampton Town with a thirty-five-yard shot in a 5–2 win. His performances grew in strength and he finished the season as the regular left-back and pushing for England Under-Twenty-one honours. He also had strong games in the play-offs playing a major part in United's goal in the Play-Off Secong Leg, when, after a seventy-yard run down the left flank, his resulting cross was tapped home by Becchio from close range. On 8th July 2009, he signed a three year extension to his contract at Leeds. After laying on a goal for Jermaine Beckford in the opening game of the season win against Exeter City, in the same gamehe suffered a hamstring injury and had to be substituted. He did not play another game up until the end of September and had to consult a specialist. A scan revealed he needed an operation on his hip. During the time he was absent Leeds found it difficult to replace him, with Andy Hughes, Aidy White and loanee Tony Capaldi all being tried with little success. in January he tried to make a return but his injury re-emerged after a Reserve game. After two substitute appearances he finally made his second start of the season on 24th April 2010 against MK Dons. He suffered a calf strain which ended his season. It was expected that he would be first choice left-back in the 2010-11 season. It did not eventuate as Parker was missing for the pre-season games and had to be nurtured back to fitness via a series of Reserve games. George McCartney had been loaned from Sunderland and had been the regular left-back until his loan period ran out at the end of the calendar year. Parker was finally ready to make his first team return at Cardiff City on 4th January 2011 and four days later he played at Arsenal in the F.A. Cup. McCartney then returned on an extended loan and took over at left-back except in the F.A. Cup, for which he was Cup-tied. So Parker next played in the F.A. Cup replay against Arsenal at Elland Road on 19th January 2011 and his only other game came as a seventy-third minute substitute at Swansea City on 26th February 2011. He did not feature further but concentrated on regaining fitness and was ready to get in a full pre-season training and press his claims for the left-back spot. He started the first game at Falkirk and came off the bench in the second at Motherwell and then started at Rochdale and Sheffield Wednesday. He only lasted three minutes at Hillsborough before a heavy tackle took him out of the game and he did not play again until the final pre-season game against Newcastle United. He was the subject of a heavy challenge in the game against the Magpies and when the first team was announced for the opening game of the League season at Southampton it was loanee Darren O'Dea that was given the left-back spot and Parker did not make the bench. He was chosen for the League Cup tie against Bradford City, as O'Dea was on International duty, but it was to be his final game for Leeds, as Aidan White emerged and established himself at left-back and when Danny Pugh was later signed, Parker found himself down the pecking order. Injuries did not help his cause and he needed match practice to regain full fitness. On 26th January 2012 he joined Carlisle United on loan and scored once, in a 2-1 home win on his debut against Chesterfield on 4th February 2012, in five League starts before returning to Leeds at the end of the loan. On 16th April 2012, Parker's contract was terminated by mutual consent. He trained at Leeds to keep up his fitness levels and after a trial with Bury in December 2012, he signed on a no contract basis with the Gigg Lane club on 6th December 2012, but due to the club's financial situation the deal was not able to proceed. In January 2013 he had a trial with Norwegian side Sarpsborg and played in a friendly in a 1-1 draw at Lillestrom on 26th January 2013, but despite Manager Brian Deane's wish to sign him, the club decided against it. At the start of the 2013-14 season he became a co-commentator for Radio Leeds. On 20th September 2013 he signed with Conference North side Guiseley and playing mainly in central defence he started twenty-three League games, as well as coming on twice as a substitute and being twice unused he also started three games in the play-offs one in the F.A. Cup, two starts and one unused substitute game in the F.A. Trophy in which he scored one goal, and two starts in the West Riding Cup as he strived to resurrect his fractured career. Guiseley came second to Chester in the Conference North and were then beaten by Halifax Town in the final of the play-off as they failed to gain promotion. The 2014-15 saw him play against his former club in a one of seven pre-season friendlies that he started and to mid November 2014 he had also started thirteen League games, and two F.A. Cup ties as his injury-free run continued.