Wolves legend Parkes dies aged 79

What the report says

Former Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Phil Parkes has died at the age of 79, according to BBC Sport. Parkes was a long-serving Wolves player who joined the club as a schoolboy and went on to make 382 appearances across an 18-year spell. He made his first-team debut in 1966 and was part of the side that reached the 1972 UEFA Cup final, where Wolves lost to Tottenham Hotspur on aggregate.

The BBC report said Parkes remained closely connected to the club after retirement. Following the end of his playing career in 1983, he served on the committee of Wolves’ former players association and was inducted into the club’s hall of fame in 2023. Former teammate John Richards described him as a major figure in the Wolves community and said he would be a significant loss to those who knew him.

Wolves said Parkes had suffered a fall at home in 2025 and spent the rest of his life under medical supervision. The club said tributes would follow. The report also noted that Parkes later finished his playing career in North America, including spells with Vancouver Whitecaps and Chicago Sting. His death matters to Wolves supporters because he was part of the club’s history for decades and remained a familiar presence long after leaving the pitch.