Jack Parry RIP

From DCFC
Jack an inside-forward spent 17 years at the Baseball Ground between 1948-65 and proudly sits fifth in the club’s all-time appearances record list, behind Kevin Hector, Ron Webster, Roy McFarland and Steve Bloomer.
His 483 league appearances for the club is only bettered by Kevin Hector who made 486, whilst his 110 goals for the club places him ninth in the list of all-time top goalscorers.
Derby County’s deepest condolences and thoughts are with the family and friends of Jack Parry at this difficult time.
Parry, born in July 1931, played for Derby Boys before signing for the Rams in 1948 at the age of 17. Two years on from their FA Cup success, the likes of Leon Leuty, Raich Carter and Reg Harrison were amongst the squad.
An inside-forward by trade, Parry scored on his debut in April 1949 against Aston Villa before making his breakthrough two years later. He was the club’s top goalscorer in 1951/52, whilst he scored 24 goals in 34 games in 1955/56 but suffered a back injury which ruled him out for the campaign in a top-of-the-table clash against Grimsby Town.
He returned from injury the following season as Derby were crowned Division Three North champions, and was handed the captain’s armband during their Second Division campaign.
Parry would remain loyal to the Rams and moved to wing-half towards the end of his career before losing his place in the squad during the 1965/66 campaign. He moved briefly to Boston United before hanging up his boots at the end of that season,
He belonged to a family of footballers, as all his brothers played as well.

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Jack Parry played before I started going full time when the great King Kevin was signed in the 1966/67 season. However in the back of my mind after Tim Ward was sacked Parry was the unused sub in the last match of the season.

I might be wrong on this, but I think I'm right, does anyone remember?

RIP Jack.

I was around during Jack's time and he was in fact my favourite player BKH (ie, before Kevin Hector.)

I'm afraid I do not recall that game VC nor do I have any written stats available but here are a few recollections:

We were playing Leeds at the BBG and the excitement centered on a young fella making waves for them, one Billy Bremner. Well the battle between BB and Jack was something to behold. Ding-dong, no quarter given on either side. Absolutely enthralling and while some of the tackles would not be allowed today they really made for exciting footy. Honours were about even at the end. I do not remember the final score but I'll never forget the contributions of those two and I often think that the death of crunching tackles is not always a good thing. Then there was Sunderland also at the BBG (I think it was Sunderland.) Tommy Powell slung a really low centre in from the right straight across goal and about three yards out, one foot above the turf. Jack flung himself headlong at the ball and scored one of the best goals seen in that era.

I was lucky enough to meet Jack and his wife through their daughter whom I knew quite well. This was about thirty years ago. Lovely couple and I remember talking to Jack about that goal and him lamenting the sort of restricted wages players were paid in his day. Footballers then were not overpaid prima donnas - far from it.

I should have added that there were rumours at one time that Spurs (effectively a Prem side) wanted to sign Jack but that he wanted to stay at Derby. I have no doubt he would have thrived in the old Division One whether as an inside forward or half back. He was very quick and strong with tremendous skill.

I never met him even though I believe he was local to Derby.
I used to see someone I think he was a friend of, Albert May's, the centre half of that era, he was an Alvaston lad, I also knew his mother.
Albert and his wife, when he retired kept the Exchange pub opposite the fish market.
They lived on Brackensdale Ave Mackworth, but he died sometime in the 70s I think.

I remember Albert Mays as being the sort of player the Derby fans could wind up which a good many of them did, so much so that during one home game, in a fit of rage at the booing he was getting he slammed the ball just over his own crossbar with a bullet "shot".

He was inclined to have a short fuse.
I said centre half, but meant wing half.
Out of date term now,, but when you're of an age when the only formdation we played was 2 3 5. Happy days.

2-3-5. It was good enough for Mellor Cubs U11's and no idea why they felt the need for change.