Tony Parkes: Blackburn Rovers legend dies at the age of 76

Parkes joined Rovers from non-league Buxton in May 1970 and helped the team to the third-tier title in 1974–75.

In an obituary, Blackburn wrote of Parkes:, external “A tough and tireless midfielder prepared to do outstanding leg work in the middle of the park, he also loved running with the ball and was a difficult man to stop in full flight.

“He also had goal-scoring ability as a centre-back and scored many important goals in his midfield role.”

After scoring 46 goals in 409 appearances for the club, he retired from football in 1982 and took on the role of first-team coach under boss Bobby Sexton.

Parkes was part of the club’s squad that took them from a second division team to the Premier League title in 1994–95 under the management of Jack Walker.

On the club’s website,, external Rovers credited him with guiding the club to top-flight security in 1996-97 after boss Ray Harford left the bottom-placed team in the league.

He left Blackburn in November 2004 after a final caretaker spell following Graeme Souness’ departure to Newcastle, and went on to scout for Leicester City before becoming Simon Grayson’s assistant at Blackpool.

Grayson left for Leeds midway through the 2008-09 season and Parkes finished his coaching career there, perhaps fittingly, in a role as interim manager after Parkes guided the Tangerines to 16th in the Championship.

Blackburn said there would be a special tribute to him before the final championship game of the season, which he will play at home against Leicester on Saturday, May 2.

Former Blackburn striker and Match of the Day commentator Alan Shearer posted on X: “RIP Tony. Great guy.”