Paul Parker Turns 58

And greatest player ever to put on the shirt whilst I've been supporting.

Happy Birthday Paul, come home soon.

The 6-1 rout of Luton. What a roar that goal got!

PP is a hell of a nice guy to boot. I met in in Wellington, New Zealand some years back. Got him to sign my copy of "A History of QPR.

Turns 49

Absolutely gutted when he went to Manure.

A very young Paul Parker whilst still in Fulham's reserves played in a practice match for a team I was playing for. He was by far the shortest player on the pitch. But in ability was head and shoulders above everyone on the pitch. Once he got the ball you just couldn't get it off him. Someone tried to take h down. Was funny seeing him squaring up to a bloke about 6'2.

Happy Birthday to him.

Who signed him?
Didn't he come from Fulham with another player?

Bump/Edit - Happy 58th Birthday to Paul Parker

Flashback

2010
[Not explained in the piece why the appointment was described by QPR as "temporary." Not clear why he left in the end (was pushed out)]

FLASHBACK:

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Paul Parker Talks on His Return to QPR (and of his Departure!)

-Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times
Parker is back to tackle a new challenge

PAUL Parker insists he has no designs on a coaching role at QPR despite his return to Loftus Road this week.
The former Rangers defender has had two spells as a manager at non-league level, but says coaching is behind him for good after taking up a new role as commercial and communications director with his old club.
Parker, who is combining the job with media work for broadcasters Setanta Sports, told the Times: "I'll be nothing to do with the football side of things.

"I've had my stint in managing and decided I liked being able to sleep at weekends, not having 11 to 16 people affecting my life.
"But I like being around a football club - that's what my life has been about - and I've always had a lot of affection for Queens Park Rangers.
"I was looking at the pitch on my first day and, while it brought back memories of when I played there, I'd rather be upstairs trying to do some good for the club.
"The idea is to help bring in new business, get more people involved, and try to get QPR back to where I believe the club should be."

Part of the reason for Parker's appointment was the popularity he enjoyed among QPR fans, having produced four years of consistency and excellence as sweeper, centre-back and full-back.
He played a major role in guiding Rangers to their second highest finish in the league - fifth in 1988 - and broke into the England squad to become a World Cup semi-finalist in 1990.
Parker's exit in a £2m transfer to Manchester United a year later was seen as inevitable, but he declared: "I never wanted to leave.

"I had no interest in playing for another London club, but Rangers decided they were going to cash in after the World Cup and, when Manchester United come knocking on your door, you've got to go."
Parker went on to win a clutch of medals with the Red Devils and wound down his career with Derby and Sheffield United, while Rangers lurched out of the Premiership and into a downward spiral.

But he is confident that the club is now moving forward, adding: "A lot of things have improved since John Gregory came back last season.
"I come from east London and I always likened QPR to West Ham in that the community supports its club and it has that homely feel.

"I still see that around QPR now and it's great to be back here."
QPR are expecting to finalise a new contract with Danish striker Marc Nygaard during the next few weeks. The 30-year-old forward is set to follow club captain Marcus Bignot, who signed a one-year deal to stay at Loftus Road last week.
Nygaard is one of only four first-team strikers left at the club following the departures of Paul Furlong and Kevin Gallen. Kilburn Times


qprreport.proboards.com/thread/14421#ixzz2xth2lQ52


And then in October 2007, QPR Report Blog was asking...

QPR Report - Monday, October 08, 2007

Paul Parker No Longer With QPR?
-
It seems that QPR's Commercial and Communications Director, Paul Parker is no longer with the club. There has been, as of now, no club announcement or expression of thanks. Parker was appointed in June of this year, at which time, the club announced: "the temporary appointment of Paul Parker as Commercial & Communication Director." Parker "will oversee the Commercial department, as well as providing assistance to the Public Relations team."...

A brilliant player for QPR and England the now 43 year old Parker was signed by Jim Smith from Fulham, in 1987 (after another QPR crisis: David Bulstrode's proposed QPR-Fulham merger had fallen through). Parker was at QPR for four seasons before joining Man United in the summer of 1991. See also: WIKIPEDIA/Paul Parker

See Also: Parker interviewed/Profiled after his appointment back in June Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times

Queens Park Rangers FC Profile of Paul Parker

2004 Q&A With Parker

qprreport.blogspot.com/2007/10/paul-parker-no-longer-with-qpr.html
qprreport.proboards.com/thread/14421#ixzz2xthEwIdT

Happy 50th to one of QPR's greatest....

That picture is brilliant, love it bushman nice one

It was interesting the club didn't take note of Parker' birthday (They could just have retweeted my tweet. I wouldnt have objected.)

Actually the club is very ad-hoc about when it commemorates ex-player birthdays (even in this new era)

I post and tweet it, so I'm sure they know. Even the big milestones Bedford and Bowles which I highlighted. I don't think they did.

Again, just would entail retweeting QPR Report (which of course they may not want to do)

52...!

Turning 53