Derek Parlane

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Derek Parlane, born in Helensburgh in Scotland on 5 May 1953 was a legendary striker with Rangers F.C., with whom he stayed for 10 years from 1970 until 1980.

He won 2 championships, 3 Scottish Cups and 2 Scottish League Cups during his time at Ibrox and was capped by Scotland 12 times with one under 21 cap.

He went to Leeds United in March 1980 but this wasn't a very successful stay. He scored 10 goals in 53 appearances for Leeds before going to Hong Kong on loan with Bulova. On 14 July 1983, new Manchester City manager Billy McNeill brought him to Maine Road. Derek linked up with another newcomer, fellow Scot Jim Tolmie and on their debut for the Blues on Saturday 27 August 1983, City beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park in the Second Division. Derek and Jim each scored one which set a precedent for the rest of the season. In all, Derek scored 20 goals in 48 appearances for City, a healthy return.

City just missed out on gaining promotion at the end of 1983-84, too many dropped points away from Maine Road against the teams challenging them for promotion was the problem, although they did beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in December 1983. This wasn't enough as Chelsea, Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle United, with Kevin Keegan in the side, pipped City to promotion.

1984-85 was quite bad for Derek as City signed David Phillips from Coventry City and Tony Cunningham from Newcastle United to bolster their attack. Derek got injured in September, 1984 and was sold to Swansea City in January, 1985. After the season finished he played in New Zealand for the summer with North Shore United. He spent the 1985-86 season in Belgium with Racing Jet (2 games 0 goals) before returning to play 2 seasons with Rochdale from 86-88, playing 42 games and scoring 10 times. His last professional club was Airdrie in the 1987-88 season, scoring 4 goals in 9 games, before signing for then non-league outfit Macclesfield Town in England.

Derek now works for Reebok, supplying kit to British football clubs. He lives in Lancashire and has two sons and a daughter.

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