Sports
Former Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Phil Parkes has died aged 79, the club has announced.
Parkes spent 18 years with Wolves after joining as a schoolboy and made 382 appearances for the club between 1966 and 1978.
He made his first-team debut in 1966 and was part of the Wolves side that reached the UEFA Cup final in 1972, where they lost to Tottenham Hotspur on aggregate.
Former team-mate John Richards described Parkes as a major figure in the Wolves family and a “big gentle giant” who was always ready to protect his friends.
Known affectionately as “Lofty” or “the big man”, Parkes continued his association with Wolves after retirement. He served on the committee of the club’s former players association and was inducted into the Wolves Hall of Fame in 2023.
After leaving Wolves, Parkes continued his playing career in North America, featuring for clubs including Vancouver Whitecaps and Chicago Sting before retiring in 1983.
Wolves said Parkes suffered a fall at home in 2025 and subsequently remained under medical supervision until his death.
The club said it would announce further tributes to Parkes in due course. (BBC)
M.P
Tags: Wolves Legend