Parker: Wilson
WW2 Guest: 1945-1946
(Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)
Goalkeeper
Born: Newcastle-on-Tyne: 00-00-1909
Debut: v Chesterfield (a): 25-08-1945
Height & Weight: Unknown
"The local newspapers said that he was Wilson Parker of Bradford City. He had started
with North-Eastern League sides Crawcrook Albion and then Scotswood, and then joined
Carlisle United in 1930. He joined Bradford City in February 1933 and was still on their
books in 1939-40 according to the News Chronicle football album of that year, but did not
play for them in any of the three games of the aborted 1939-40 season nor throughout the
war. Where he went for duration of war is not apparent. Newspapers of the time indicate
that he played in goal for Leeds United at the start of the 1945-46 season. In the
Bradford Observer of 3rd March 1933 it says he was twenty-three years old when he was
signed by Bradford City from Carlisle United in late February 1933. Birth records show he
was born in the third quarter of 1909 and census records confirm he was born in Newcastle."
(Information kindly supplied by Neil Roche). While at Brunton Park, he made fifty-eight
League appearances for Carlisle United and at Valley Parade he made one hundred and
twenty-five League appearances between 1933 and 1939, together with eleven F.A. Cup ties.
He played two games for Leeds United in the 1945-46 Football League Northern Section, the
opening game of that campaign in a 1-3 defeat by Chesterfield at Saltergate and the return
game the following week at Elland Road which resulted in a 1-3 defeat also. A "famous
footballer" card of the late 1930's describes him as being "fearless, safe and clean, and
capable of spectacular brilliance. Unfortunately has been unlucky with frequent serious
injuries. His general reliability has made him popular with the spectators".