Sheila Parker
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Sheila Parker | ||
Date of birth | 1947 (age 76–77) | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1961–1965 |
Preston | ||
Fodens | |||
St. Helens | |||
Chorley | |||
International career‡ | |||
1972–1983 | England | 33 | (5) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 June 2013 |
Sheila Parker MBE (née Porter; born 1947)[1] is an English former international football defender. In November 1972 she captained the England women's national football team in their first official match, a 3–2 win over Scotland in Greenock. Parker was announced as an inductee to the English Football Hall of Fame in May 2013.[2]
Early and personal life
Parker grew up in Chorley, Lancashire and played football with the boys at school.[3] Parker's granddaughter, Chloe, plays for Fleetwood Town.[4]
Career
Club
In June 1961, 13-year-old Parker played her first match for
In 1974 Parker helped
It was the first time Southampton had ever lost in a cup game in the three seasons the national cup had been in existence. We were determined to beat them. We weren't frightened of them — even though they had six international players on their side, compared to our four. It was close though, but I think we deserved our 2–1 win.
She later played for Chorley Ladies.[4]
International
When the Women's Football Association (WFA) tasked Eric Worthington with constructing the first official England national team in 1972, he selected Parker as his captain after a series of trials. She was 24, already married and returning from the birth of her son earlier that year.
Parker, a centre half, retained the captaincy until 1976, when she was left out of the squad for a Home Nations tournament against
England manager Martin Reagan selected veteran Parker in his squad for the 1984 European Competition for Women's Football final against Sweden. After her retirement as a player in 1984, Parker wanted to remain involved in football and trained as a referee under the Lancashire County Football Association.[7]
Fifty years after first representing England, Parker received various honours. A "Where Greatness is Made" plaque was installed at
In November 2022, Parker was recognized by The Football Association as one of the England national team's legacy players, and as the 5th women's player to be capped by England.[10][11]
References
- ^ Lopez 1997, p. 12
- She Kicks. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
- ^ She Kicks. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
- ^ a b c Hall, Mike (31 March 2022). "England great Sheila Parker honoured 50 years after making football history". ITV Granada.
- ^ Lopez 1997, p. 25
- ^ Owen 2005, p. 54
- ^ Lopez 1997, p. 199
- ^ "No. 63571". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 2022. p. N23.
- ^ "New Year Honours: First England women's football captain gets MBE". BBC Lancashire News. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ Gerty, David (31 May 2023). "England squad named for World Cup". The FA. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ "Legacy numbers introduced for England women's team". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
Bibliography
- ISBN 1-85727-016-9.
- ISBN 0752434276.