Timothy John Parkin (born 31 December 1957) is an English former footballer. A defender, he made 422 league appearances in a 14-year career in the English Football League, and also spent two years playing in Sweden. He began his career at Blackburn Rovers in 1976, before moving to Swedish club Malmö FF in January 1980. He featured in the final of the Intercontinental Cup, won the Svenska Cupen in 1980, and helped the club to a second-place finish in the Allsvenskan. He returned to England to sign with Bristol Rovers via Almondsbury Greenway in August 1981. Five years later he moved on to Swindon Town for a £27,500 fee, and helped the club to win promotion out of the Third Division via the play-offs in 1987. He was purchased by Port Vale for £60,000 in December 1989, who loaned him out to Shrewsbury Town in October 1991. He joined Darlington on a free transfer in May 1992, and served as the club's co-caretaker-manager in October 1993. He signed with non-league side Barrow the next month, before retiring due to injury. He later became a police officer. Career Blackburn Rovers Parkin passed a two-year apprenticeship to win a professional contract at Blackburn Rovers to earn a contract under manager Jim Smith in March 1976. He made his competitive debut at Bristol Rovers on 8 March 1976. Rovers finished 12th in the Second Division in 1976–77, before rising up to fifth place in 1977–78. The club suffered relegation under new boss John Pickering in 1978–79, before Howard Kendall took charge in his first job in management. In his three years at Ewood Park, Parkin made 13 league appearances, all but one of which were as a stand-in for the injured Glenn Keeley towards the end of the 1978–79 season. Malmö FF In January 1980 he joined Swedish side Malmö FF, who were then managed by Englishman Bob Houghton. He played the second leg of the 1979 Intercontinental Cup final (played in March 1980), which ended in defeat to Paraguayan club Club Olimpia. He also featured in the 1980 Svenska Cupen Final, which ended in a penalty shoot-out victory over IK Brage at the Råsunda Stadium. The "Blues" also finished second in the league in 1980, two points behind Östers IF. Bristol Rovers Parkin left Malmö Stadion and returned to England in August 1981 with Bristol Rovers, though had to spend a day