Parker: Neil

1975-1981 (Player Details)

Left Back

Born: Blackburn: 19-10-1957

Debut: v Liverpool (a) (Substitute): 11-03-1978

5’6” 10st 3lb (1978)

Educated at Billinge School, Blackburn, Parker joined Leeds as an apprentice in June 1974 and signed professional forms in October 1975. He only had a very brief first team career with Leeds, coming on as a substitute at left-back for Peter Hampton for forty-five minutes in United’s 1-0 defeat at Anfield in his only appearance. Like so many Leeds players of the Revie and the subsequent First Division era he was part of an extremely strong Leeds squad full of internationals and several players found it difficult to progress past the Junior and Central League status due to the immense pressure of the competition. He did play on a regular basis in the Central League, often at right-back, but initially there was Frank Gray or Trevor Cherry, then Peter Hampton and Byron Stevenson barring his way to the first team with Keith Parkinson also capable of adapting to the left back role and then there was always the adaptable Paul Madeley if none of the others were available. It was the same story in either full-back places. He went on a free-transfer to Scarborough in July 1981, after the two teams played a behind closed doors pre-season friendly at Leeds. After Scarborough he had a spell with Harrogate Town and later ran a newsagents shop in Leeds.