Player Database - John Francis Parker

Debut game
v Loughbourough Corinthians (a) 2nd September 1922

Final game for Gresley Rovers first team
v Heanor Town (h) 1st December 1923

1922-1923 Top scorer with 19 league & 3 cup goals

John was born at Ellistown, Leicestershire on 16th January 1896 and died at Burton on Trent on the 2nd November 1973.

Career: Newhall UM; Midway Athletic; Army football; Newhall Swifts; trials Feb 1919/pro Sept 1919 Leicester City; May 1920 Norwich City; Feb 1921 Gresley Rovers; cs 1921 Burton All Saints; Aug 1922 Gresley Rovers; 1924 Newhall United; Aug 1924-trials-Burton Town; Newhall Swifts.
City debut v Fulham (A) 20.9.1919

A centre-forward understudy to Harry King and Jock Paterson for most of his season on City's books, Jack best distinguished himself in the reserve side, scoring six in the 11-2 County Cup Final victory over Moira Athletic.

It was felt that his compact build counted against him at senior level, yet his only Second Division goal for City came when he bundled both Port Vale keeper Bourne and the ball into the net.

After a £50 move, he led Norwich's attack in their inaugural Football League game, but managed only two goals in a dozen outings for the Canaries.

Jack, who'd spent three and a half years in France with the Royal Field Artillery, was originally chosen for a wartime Leicester Fosse fixture at Coventry in March 1919, but missed his train connection and the game.

He was later a painter and decorator in Swadlincote.
LCFC Apps: FL 5. Goals: FL 1.

Notes by Paul Taylor