Phil Parkes, a legendary goalkeeper for Wolverhampton Wanderers, has died at the age of 79, the club confirmed on Saturday. Parkes, affectionately known as 'Lofty' due to his 6'4" stature, made 382 appearances for Wolves during an 18-year spell with the club.
Parkes joined the Midlands club as a schoolboy in 1960 and made his senior debut in 1966, saving a penalty in a 3-2 victory over Preston North End. A significant achievement in his career was helping Wolves reach the UEFA Cup final in 1972, although they ultimately lost on aggregate to Tottenham.
He also holds the club record for the most consecutive league games played, with 127 appearances in a row during the early 1970s. Parkes retired from playing in 1983, five years after departing Wolves. Following his playing career, he remained involved with the club, serving on the committee of Wolves' former players association.
According to a club statement, Parkes suffered a fall at his home in 2025 and remained under medical supervision until his death. The club described him as a "Hall of Fame inductee" and "one of the greatest ever goalkeepers to represent the club."
Former teammate John Richards recalled Parkes as a loyal figure, telling BBC Radio WM, "He was one of the people who would have your back. He looked frightening but he was the opposite. He was a big gentle giant until one of his friends was in trouble and then he was there to protect everybody."
Richards added, "He was known as Lofty or the big man and he lived up to it in a lot of ways. He had a big heart as well."
In a reflection on his career in 2024, Parkes expressed his hope for his time at Wolves to be remembered with joy, stating, "I loved playing for this football club, I had a great time, so I just hope all the supporters enjoyed it too."