Paul Parker: English football isn’t getting better with this money

Paul Parker knows just how lucky he was to play for Manchester United – but he’s not sure too many young players today are willing to work as hard as he did to get there.

Having spent five years at Fulham in Divisions Two and Three as a centre-back, and four more at Queens Park Rangers where he turned himself into a full-back, Parker was thrust into the limelight when he became England’s first-choice right-back during the 1990 World Cup.

Even that could not prepare him for the step up at Old Trafford, but Parker became used to battling the doubters.

At 5ft 7in he was one of the smallest players in England’s top flight, but he sculpted a reputation as the best right-back in the country.

In 1989 he was racially abused by England fans during a ‘B’ international against Iceland, but he silenced the hate with his talent and work ethic.

His career was plagued by the frustration of injuries, yet he ended it with three Premier League titles, three FA Cup winners’ medals, the European Super Cup and 19 international caps.

Alex Ferguson says that Parker is “without doubt one of the best signings I made as Manchester United manager” and was “adored by everyone who met him”, but the most memorable quote comes from his first captain at Old Trafford, Bryan Robson: “Paul leaps like a salmon and tackles like a ferret.”

The latter half of that description would become the title of Parker’s autobiography.

“My mum and dad came across from Jamaica and didn’t know anything about football, but they knew about Manchester United,” Parker says.

“My dad was Jamaican and a cricket man through and through, but he knew about Manchester United, he knew about Bobby Charlton and he knew about George Best. I know it made him very proud that I got the