| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Derek Parkin | ||
| Date of birth | 2 January 1948 | ||
| Place of birth | Newcastle upon Tyne, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Playing position | Full-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1964–1968 | Huddersfield Town | 61 | (1) |
| 1968–1982 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 501 | (6) |
| 1982–1983 | Stoke City | 40 | (0) |
| Total | 602 | (7) | |
| National team | |||
| 1969–1971 | England Under-23 | 5 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Derek Parkin (born 2 January 1948 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is an English former football player who made a record number of appearances for Wolverhampton Wanderers (609).
Parkin made his Football League debut on 7 November 1964 for Huddersfield Town against Bury, aged 16.
In February 1968, he became the costliest full-back in Britain when he joined First Division side Wolves for £80,000. He made his club debut on 24 February 1968 against his hometown side Newcastle United.
Over 14 years at Molineux, he made a record amount of senior appearances — 609, including 501 league games, also a club record. He played 50 or more competitive matches in a season for Wolves no fewer than five times — another record — and in seasons 1968–69 and 1969–70, he took part in every single league and cup match played by the club. His long service saw him receive a testimonial match in 1979 and become one of the initial inductees into the club's Hall of Fame.
He appeared in two Wembley Cup Finals, collecting a winner's medal each time as Wolves won the League Cup in both 1974 and 1980, and also earned a Second Division championship medal in 1976–77.
The full-back made five appearances for the England Under-23 side between 1969 and 1971. He was called up to the full team in 1971 for a European Championship qualifier in Malta, but did not appear in the match.
He finally left Wolves to join Stoke City in March 1982 on a free transfer and played out a final 14 months before retiring.
After his footballing career ended in May 1983, he moved into landscape gardening.
Matthews, Tony; "Wolverhampton Wanderers: The Complete Record", Breedon Books, 2008; ISBN 9781859836323