Fred Parker (footballer, born 1886)

Frederick Parker (18 June 1886 – 5 January 1963), also known as Spider Parker or Bassie Parker,[4] was an English professional footballer who played as a forward in the Football League for Clapton Orient.[5] He was the first person to enlist in the Football Battalion during the First World War.[6] He later served as manager of Folkestone.[3]

Fred Parker
Personal information
Full name Frederick William Parker[1]
Date of birth 18 June 1886
Place of birth Chickerell, England[2]
Date of death 5 January 1963(1963-01-05) (aged 76)[3]
Place of death Barnet, England[3]
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Gordon Athletic
Portland Prison Officers
Grove United
1903–1904 Weymouth 22 (9)
1907 Salisbury City
1907–1922 Clapton Orient 336 (34)
Folkestone
Managerial career
Folkestone
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Personal life

Parker was married with five children.[3] During his early football career, he worked as a carter on the Isle of Portland.[2] Parker served as a colour sergeant with the Football Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment during the First World War.[1] As captain of Clapton Orient, he was the first person to enlist in the newly formed battalion in December 1914.[1] Parker suffered with trench foot in 1917 and was lightly wounded in April 1918.[3] After his retirement from football, Parker worked as a porter at London King's Cross railway station and as a cleaner at government offices.[2] Following his death in January 1963, he was buried in Southgate Cemetery.[2]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Clapton Orient 1914–15[7] Second Division 37 2 1 0 38 2
Career total 37 2 1 0 38 2

References
  1. "Frederick William Parker | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  2. Davis, Joanna (9 April 2019). "Football captain who risked his life to get permanent memorial". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  3. "Our Her-O's: Part 4 of Orient's World War I heroes". www.leytonorient.com. 11 November 2018. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  4. "Player Archive". The Terras. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  5. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 224. ISBN 978-1905891610.
  6. Riddoch, Andrew; Kemp, David (2010). When the Whistle Blows: The Story of the Footballers' Battalion in the Great War. Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset: Haynes Publishing. p. 265. ISBN 978-0857330772.
  7. "Clapton Orient Squad 1914/15". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
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