after three years away. In 1983–84, the Hammers were in the title race mid season but fell away to finish ninth. They re-emerged as title challengers in 1985–86 and were in the hunt for the title right up to the end of April, finally finishing third. He also helped them reach the League Cup semi-finals in 1988–89, but it was a disappointing season for the Hammers who were then relegated to the Second Division. Parkes had sat out much of the season, despite new signing Allen McKnight making many mistakes, before Parkes was finally reinstated as first choice. Parkes finished his West Ham career having played exactly the same number of league games for them as he had for QPR – 344. Parkes is the only footballer ever to have played in excess of 300 matches for two different English league clubs. In 1990, he left the Hammers on a free transfer after 11 years and linked up with John Lyall, who had returned to management at Ipswich Town. He played three league games in 1990–91 and moved into coaching. In 2003, an official West Ham United members poll for the greatest West Ham XI named him as the team's goalkeeper, beating Ludek Miklosko to that position. He is considered by QPR supporters to be one of the three best goalkeepers in the club's history, the others being Reg Allen and David Seaman. Parkes had great ability, and was unfortunate to only ever win one England cap. He would have won a second soon after his first as, during a game against Wales in 1976, the manager Don Revie said Parkes would play the second half, but at half-time with the score still at 0–0 Revie decided to keep Ray Clemence on. After the game, Parkes went home and said to his wife he would never make himself available for England again. Honours West Ham United Football League Second Division: 1980–81 FA Cup: 1980 Individual PFA Team of the Year: 1979–80 Second Division, 1980–81 Second Division West Ham United Hammer of the Year: 1980–81 Personal life In 2014, Parkes received treatment for Dukes stage A bowel cancer. References External links 1950 births Living people England B international footballers England under-23 international footballers England under-21 international footballers England international footballers English footballers Association football goalkeepers Ipswich Town F.C. players Sportspeople from Dudley Queens Park Rangers F.C. players Walsall F.C. players West