Tim's Player A-Z
TOMMY PARKIN
Full Name: Thomas Aitchison Parkin
Dob: 01-02-1956
Pob: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear 
Position: Midfielder
| Season | Tot Apps | Tot Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1972-73 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973-74 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974-75 | 0 | 0 |
| 1975-76 | 0 | 0 |
| 1976-77 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977-78 | 0(2) | 0 |
| 1978-79 | 5(2) | 0 |
| 1979-80 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980-81 | 2(2) | 0 |
| 1981-82 | 5(1) | 0 |
| 1982-83 | 4(2) | 0 |
| 1983-84 | 21(3) | 0 |
| 1984-85 | 6(5) | 0 |
| 1985-86 | 14(1) | 0 |
| 1986-87 | 2(3) | 0 |
| TOTALS | 60(21) | 0 |
Career Appearance Record
| Club | Date Signed | Date Left | Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Mary's Boys Club [Gateshead] | |
- | August 1972 | - |
| IPSWICH TOWN | |
August 1972 | July 1987 | Youth Team |
| Grimsby Town | |
January 1976 | May 1976 | On Loan |
| Peterborough United | |
January 1977 | April 1977 | On Loan |
| Connecticut Bicentennials |  |
1977 | - | On Loan |
| Bury Town | |
July 1987 | June 1990 | - |
| Wivenhoe Town | |
July 1990 | September 1990 | - |
| Harwich & Parkeston | |
September 1990 | - | - |
| Saffron Walden Town | |
- | - | - |
| Woodbridge Town | |
- | - | - |
| Felixstowe Port & Town | |
- | - | - |
| Hadleigh United | |
- | - | - |
| Heathfields [Suffolk] | |
- | - | - |
| Blooming Fuschia [Ipswich] | |
- | - | - |
| Newton Road Conservative Club [Ipswich] | |
- | - | - |
(3) Comments
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Sonic Sunday 24-05-2026
Tommy Parkin's Honours = Up To The Current Date
= While playing for Ipswich Town
When they won the FA Youth Cup, beating Bristol City 4 - 1 on aggregate, with the 2nd leg played at Aston Gate, Bristol, England, on April 16th, 1973
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Sonic Saturday 23-05-2026
The details of when Tommy Parkin retired from playing football are unknown
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Anonymous Monday 23-12-2002
Tireless Tommy Parkin is a breed of player that is almost unique in football these days, a long-serving reserve who can come into the first team to do a worthy job or play a leader's role amongst the aspiring talent in the Reserves.
Manager Bobby Ferguson describes the player he spotted back in his native north-east back in 1972 as being 'worth his weight in gold', and that is why he and previous manager Bobby Robson have always been happy to keep him at the club where he has always given valuable cover.
'I have always been settled at Portman Road', says 29-year-old Tommy, whose only spells away from the club during a season were at Grimsby Town and Peterborough, on loan.
Married to an Ipswich girl, Wendy, Tommy is still well short of 100 league appearances, but always nurtures the hope of gaining a regular place in the team to once-and-for-all lose that understudy tag.
But being a squad man at Portman Road has many advantages as Tommy explained: 'I have been all over the world as a member of a Town squad that were travelling throughout Europe at one time. It was a marvellous experience and a pleasure to train and sometimes play with so many international stars.'
A member of the Town Youth team that captured the FA Youth Cup in 1973, a side that also contained Robin Turner, George Burley and Eric Gates; Tommy was spotted by Bobby Ferguson, then Youth Coach, while playing for St Mary's Boys' club in Newcastle.
Mainly, a midfield player, but able to slot into a variety of positions when in the Reserves, Tommy achieved a notable landmark in his career last season when he played for Town at the St James' Park ground in Newcastle from where he used to stand on the terraces as a lad.
Coming on as a second half substitute for the injured George Burley he gave a creditable show at right-back in a grand away Milk Cup victory before going back into the Reserves.
'Even though I enjoy my football in the Reserves and shout and encourage the young lads as much as I can it is always special to be in the first team and every time I come in I hope to gain a permanent place,' says Tommy.
He goes on: 'Over the last three years I have always felt that I have been in with a chance of gaining a regular place and tow seasons back when I started in the team I thought it might have been my chances to really establish myself. But I didn't manager to do it.'
One of the fittest players in the club Tommy can certainly look back on a remarkable [full] debut for Town, coming into the midfield in the 1978 FA Charity Shield defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest at Wembley, coming close to scoring with a great early shot that was brilliantly saved by Peter Shilton.
Versatility has always been an important part of Tommy's contribution and, besides right-back and midfield in the first team, he has also played at left-back, up front and in an off the strikers' role for the Reserves.
Proud holder of a UEFA Cup winners' medal - he was on the substitutes bench in Amsterdam - Tommy says: 'I always enjoy my game, whichever team I am in or wherever I play.'
Of all his trips abroad during nearly 14 years at the club, Tommy recalls, in particular the summer he spent on loan at Connecticut Bicentennials back in the early 1970's, during which time he lined up against a New York Cosmos team, that contained the great Pele.
From the Ipswich v QPR match programme 14th December, 1985
Contract Info
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Tommy Parkin joined Ipswich Town from St Mary's Boys Club in August 1972 - As An Apprentice
He signed a Professional Contract with Ipswich Town in December 1973 - The Length Of The Professional Contract Is Unknown
He joined Grimsby Town from Ipswich Town in January 1976 - On A Loan ( Until The End Of The 1975 / 76 Season )
He joined Peterborough United from Ipswich Town in January 1977 - On A 3 Month's Loan ( Until April 1977 )
He joined Connecticut Bicentennial from Ipswich Town in late 1977 - On A Loan ( The Loan Period Is Unknown )
He joined Bury Town from Ipswich Town in July 1987 - The Amount Of The Transfer Fee + The Length Of The Contract Are Both Unknown
Club Appearance Record