Birthday: Ex-QPR Goalkeeper, Phil Parkes Turns 56
Then QPR-Manager, Les Allen signed Parkes from Walsall in the summer of 1970 for 15,000 pounds (and recouped the money by sellig then QPR-goalie, Mike Kelly to Birmingham for slightly more.) One paper at the time of his transfer characterized Parkes as \"strongly tipped for England U-23 honours.)
Parkes made his debut at home to Leicester, in August 1970. QPR lost, but Parkes was brilliant from the first game on.
Parkes crazily played only ONE game for England - kept out by first Gordon Banks; then Peter Shilton and Ray Clemence.
Parkes played an integral part in getting QPR out of the second Division; and almost winning the First Division Championship...
Parkes was sold to then Division-Two West Ham in February 1979,for a world record goalie fee of 550,000 pounds. (But it still wasn't enough!). Played 344 games for QPR and the 344 for West Ham! (+ 52 games for Walsall)
Whether Parkes was QPR's Greatest-ever goalie can always be argued. (Also Reg Allen, Peter Springett, David Seaman, etc.) But he was brilliant, consistent, and almost an ever-present for QPR.
