Former Wolverhampton Wanderers goalie Phil Parkes told he will 'never walk again'

ITV News

4 days ago

Former Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Phil Parkes has been told he will never walk again, after a serious fall.
Parkes, who is in the Wolves' Hall of Fame and is known as 'Lofty' by fans, had a bad fall at the start of this year. He had to have surgery and has been in hospital for the last three months.
In a statement, the club said he had "made progress" towards recovery but doctors had told him his injuries were so severe he would likely never walk again.
It was his 78th birthday on Monday, 14 July. 
A fundraiser has been started by one of Parkes's friends to support his recovery, raising £6,500 so far.
The club understands Parkes will stay in hospital for more physiotherapy for the time being.
'I hope my Wolves career is remembered with joy'
Phil Parkes started his career as a youth player in Wolves' academy in 1962. He was famous for his consistency, breaking the club's record with 127 consecutive appearances between 1971 and 1973.
He spent the twilight of his career in America playing for a range of teams from the Oklahoma City Slickers to Chicago Sting.
When he stopped playing, Parkes became a roofer and worked for 22 years.
Even after leaving the professional game, Parkes kept playing, joining a non-league club for three years and later a Sunday league side called Marstons.
When asked in an interview with Wolves last year how he would like his career to be remembered, Parkes said: "I hope my Wolves career is remembered with joy.
"I enjoyed it, I loved playing for this football club, I had a great time, so I just hope all the supporters enjoyed it too."
Wolves vice president and Former Players Association chairman John Richards said: 'We were made aware recently that Phil had received this life-changing news, and are continuing to offer support both to him and his sons, Greg and Dean."
John Richards played with Parkes for just under a decade. They both won runners-up medals when they took Wolves to the final of the UEFA Cup.
He added: 'Although it is obviously very distressing, and something that has taken time to get used to, Lofty has responded in the same way as to so many other challenges in his life – with fight and determination.
'Ever since he has been hospitalised, rarely has a day gone by without a visit from one of his former teammates or a club representative, and, following my most recent visit last weekend, I am pleased to say he remains in very good spirits.
'His sense of humour and personality it is still very much the same Lofty'
'In terms of his sense of humour and personality, it is still very much the same Lofty, and the motivation for all of us who have so much love and respect for him is to do whatever we can to help him prepare and adapt for the tough challenges ahead.
'There are so many people connected with Wolves and football in general who have come forward to offer their help and support, another sign of the esteem in which Lofty is held, not just for his career achievements but the character he has always been off the pitch as well.
'Since he lost his wife Maureen to breast cancer 15 years ago, Lofty has done so much incredible work to support different charities – and now it is time for all of us to do whatever we can to help him.'