The votes were cast and in the end it was a landslide.
<b>Phil Parkes</b> became the first member of AFTN's <i>Vancouver Whitecaps All Time Greats</i>, as goalkeeper for the NASL XI.
Parkes played three seasons for the Whitecaps. The pinnacle of his Vancouver career came in the 1979 Soccer Bowl, but his overall record of 78 appearances, 2705 minutes and 23 clean sheets left a lasting impression on Caps supporters.
Parkes started his football career straight from school joining Wolverhampton Wanderers as an apprentice in 1962, before signing professional forms two years later.
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He didn't make his first team debut until 19th November 1966, but what a first start it was, with Wolves beating Preston North End 3-2 and Parkes saving a decisive penalty.
Parkes soon established himself as the starting keeper for Wolves and went on to make 382 total appearances for the club before he moved on in 1978. He was ever present for the 1971/72 and 1972/73 seasons, setting a club record of 127 consecutive league appearances. Parkes has legendary status at the club and is still fondly remembered today by the older Wolves fans.
He earned his nickname "Lofty" whilst at Molineux. Two versions as to why, one his 6'3" height and one as a result of his long, booming kicks. Parkes earned himself a bit of a reputation as a penalty stopper, saving two spot kicks in the 1972 UEFA Cup semi final against Hungarian side Ferencváros. They lost the final 3-2 to Spurs and Parkes picked up a runners up medal.
It was during his early days at Wolves that Parkes first played over in North America, making seven appearances for Los Angeles Wolves in 1967 in the United Soccer Association League and eight for Kansas City Spurs two years later in NASL action.
Wolves had represented the city of Los Angeles in the inaugural USA season (Vancouver were represented by Sunderland as the Royal Canadians), and Parkes helped guide them to the league Championship that season, winning the Championship game 6-5 against Washington Whips after extra time.
Parkes first came to Vancouver on loan in 1976 after 12 seasons so far with Wolves. He made 20 appearances in his debut season, clocking up 1836 minutes, keeping six clean sheets and conceding 25 goals. The Whitecaps finished third in the Pacific Conference, making the playoffs for the very first time in their history, losing to Seattle in the first round.
The keeper returned back to Wolves and sat out the 1977 NASL season before returning to Vancouver to play in 1978 and 1979.
Parkes was an ever present in 1978, making 29 appearances and 2650 minutes. His ten clean sheets, conceding just 28 goals along the way, helped guide the Whitecaps to their first Western Division championship before bowing out to Portland in the Conference semi finals. His performances also won Parkes the NASL Goalkeeper of the Year award and he made the 1979 NASL All Star team alongside the likes of Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto. Lofty company indeed.
It was an award he was to win again in 1979, but he also won something much bigger - a Soccer Bowl winners medal. Parkes played in 29 of Vancouver's 30 games, playing 2705 minutes, keeping seven clean sheets and conceding 29 goals along the way. He only missed one game that Championship year and that was only because he was stricken with gastroenteritis a couple of hours before an away game in LA.
A remarkably consistent goals against record for those two seasons - 0.97 in 1978 and 1.0 in 79 (0.97 again during the regular season). It was the first time that a keeper had recorded the lowest goals against record for two consecutive seasons.
The Whitecaps' coach at the time Tony Waiters couldn't praise Parkes highly enough for his contribution to the team, and as a former goalkeeper himself, he knew a thing or two about the position.
<i>"The record says that he's the best goalkeeper in the League and I say he's the best goalkeeper in the League."</i>
Waiters put Parkes' success down to the hard work he put in at training.
<i>"Parkes feels that what you do on the practice field is reflected in what you do in the stadium."</i> and that's a lesson for all young goalkeepers.
Parkes would take part in all the regular drills before spending an extra half hour doing additional "specialised goalkeeper training" with Waiters.
Parkes and Vancouver's, greatest NASL achievement came when the Caps beat Tampa Bay Rowdies 2-1 to lift the Soccer Bowl. The big keeper played a big part in the victory, making two huge stops from Rodney Marsh. The final was played in New York and with the Caps beating the Cosmos in the semis, their fans who had bought tickets in advance tried to give Vancouver a hard time throughout the game, especially Parkes. He responded by blowing kisses to the crowd.
He was certainly a character and another tale of his time in Vancouver comes from a Caps' overtime win over Seattle in the Kingdome when Parkes came out of the tunnel after the match with his shirt off, a hair pick in his hair and a beer bottle in his hand to celebrate with the fans.
Parkes decided to leave Vancouver on a high and had spells with Chicago Sting and San Jose Earthquakes before moving to the up and coming American Soccer League to play for Oklahoma City Slickers for a season and a half. He made it to the 1982 Championship game with the slickers, losing out to Detroit Express.
He returned to the NASL in the middle of the 1983 season and played one game for Toronto Blizzard before hanging up his boots at the end of that year.
After his football career finished Parkes moved back to England and worked as a roofer in the Midlands.
Parkes is still a Wolves fan and one of their all time greats.
He also now takes his deserved place as part of our Vancouver Whitecaps' All Time Greats NASL Best XI. A true Whitecaps legend.
Phil Parkes will now battle it out later in the year with the goalkeepers from the CSL/D2 days and the MLS era for a spot in the final All Time Greats team.
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