Fordhouses Cricket Club are extremely sorry to announce that our long-standing Vice President, popular/loyal member and former player Phil Parkes has passed away.  Phil, of course, will be best be remembered as the legendary goalkeeper for Wolverhampton Wanderers.  Despite being born in West Bromwich, ‘Lofty’ at 6’4, came through the junior ranks at Molineux to make 382 appearances for Wolves and still holds the incredible record of playing 127 consecutive league matches.  In the later stages of his sporting career, he took his family away from their Black Country ‘roots’ to North America where he played for Vancouver Whitecaps and Chicago Sting.

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In the early 1970s Phil, his wife Maureen, and sons Dean and Greg, lived in Holme Mill, just a stone’s throw from our Taunton Avenue ground.  After some gentle persuasion, probably from Don Barnes or Ron Smith, Phil joined Fordhouses with the aim to “stay fit and active in preparation for the forthcoming soccer season and enjoy the family atmosphere”

Move onto 2026 – Can you imagine some of the most highly paid and protected Premier League goalkeepers being allowed to play cricket out of season? – absolutely no chance!

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This brings back memories of Phil athletically diving around to stop runs off his own bowling.  This is the same guy that in his distinguished career played with or against Best, Pele, Eusebio, Beckenbauer and Cruyff – WOW!

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When he returned home to Fordhouses from his North American adventure he played and managed in non-league and local football circles, he also kept his FCC connections by working for the then Club Chairman’s roofing company.  

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Phil loved his cricket, a passion from his schoolboy days, he originally developed as a fast bowler, using his considerable height to extract plenty of bounce out of receptive pitches.  However, in his later years, he became a wirily medium pacer with subtle changes of flight and took loads of wickets.  Phil has no pretentions about his batting prowess but proved on many occasions to be a stubborn tailender.  Best bowling 6-40 v Wellington (1984) and Lofty took pride in scoring 14 not out, including two sixes, against Streetly.  Phil remained both fiercely competitive and fair at whatever level he played at FCC, including the captaincy of the 3rd XI in the South Staffordshire League.  He was always a supportive leader to the younger players. 

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A number of excellent tributes about Phil have emerged via social media channels, and we can provide a link to an interesting feature ‘On the Square with Phil Parkes’ – a truly loyal, generous, committed member of FCC; an engaging character with stories to tell and a big heart.  https://www.fordhousescricketclub.co.uk/square-phil-parkes/

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Unfortunately, Phil has not enjoyed the best of health in recent months, following a serious fall, and sadly lived under medical supervision until his passing.  

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Our sincere thoughts and sympathies are with Dean, Greg and the Parkes family at this difficult time

Miss you Lofty from all at your beloved FCC