Gary Parkinson

[TomtheClaret]

Was he in attendance today? Any updates to his condition?

[Bfcboyo]

Was he in attendance today? Any updates to his condition?

Walked past him in the Jimmy Mac suites. He was obviously in the care of his family and in his chair. I felt awkward as I wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. I wish I had of stopped and said hi now. I just didn't handle the opportunity very well.

I imagine he would still enjoy the fans applauding him.

[Bfcboyo]

Was he in attendance today? Any updates to his condition?

Walked past him in the Jimmy Mac suites. He was obviously in the care of his family and in his chair. I felt awkward as I wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. I wish I had of stopped and said hi now. I just didn't handle the opportunity very well.

I imagine he would still enjoy the fans applauding him.

One of those awkward moments any ideas on how maybe you would handle seeing your club hero like this .

Is it head down and walk past. Or stop and talk to the family to show support. Really difficult situation!

[Pimlico_Claret]

It was so sad to see him in that state, but uplifting to see just how much family support he's got, they were all smiling and interacting with the fans. Really hope that one day he recovers.

[mdd2]

I suppose technology might one day come to the rescue similar to the quadraplegic French guy "walking with an exoskeleton but that will be many years into the future-poor Gary has neither speech nor power to his limbs but has thought and understanding apparently.
Very sad and hard for Gary and his family

[Paul Waine]

There was a thread posted yesterday about a collection at the game for Gary's support costs - to enable him to live at home.

EDIT: Thread subject: "Bring a pound." I've now bumped it back to the top - was already on page 2.

Donations can also be made on-line for anyone who'd like to. The link was also with the thread.

UTC

[RingoMcCartney]

After years in the doldrums, this was a turning point in Burnley Football Club history.


"GARY Parkinson has described scoring the goal which last earned Burnley promotion via the play-offs as the highlight of his career."



https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/s ... highlight/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;




If it wasn't for Parky's goal, who knows.....

[Herts Clarets]

One of those awkward moments any ideas on how maybe you would handle seeing your club hero like this .

Is it head down and walk past. Or stop and talk to the family to show support. Really difficult situation!

I speak to his son Luke at times on social media. I told him a couple of tales involving his Dad from when I used to work at the Turf. One involved him wearing a bar maid's jam jar bottom specs in the bar after a game when he missed a penalty. The other around me dropping a half bottle of whisky at the top of the player's tunnel before a game, witnessed by Marlon, Davis and Parky. I got a load of stick for that and after the game when Parky came to the Sponsors Lounge he gave me a pair of Marlon's gloves to wear to help with the handling of his drink.

Luke recounted these to Parky who did remember them and sent his best wishes. I am sure Parky and his family would have welcomed any Claret yesterday stopping to say hi. Underneath the wheelchair and the physical paralysis is a man who 9 years ago was physically fitter than most of us will ever be and coaching at Blackpool. He is also fully aware of what is happening around him.

What his family do to enable Parky to live at home is remarkable and shows the love they have for him. It is costly and that is the reason I posted the Bring a Pound message previously. 2 weeks ago Boro did a reunion of the 86 team and raised over 20k for Parky. I know we have similar next weekend for the 94 play off side and hope we can do similar. He was a good player for us, scored a winner at Wembley and more than all of that, is a genuine nice bloke who deserves all the support we can give him. UTC