Wolves legend Phil Parkes has died at the age of 79, the club confirmed on Saturday.
The former goalkeeper, who chalked up 382 appearances for Wolves during his remarkable 18-year spell at the club, suffered a fall at his home in 2025 and remained under medical supervision until his death, a club statement revealed.
‘Legendary Wolves goalkeeper Phil Parkes sadly passed away this morning at the age of 79,’ the statement, posted to the club’s website on Saturday, read.
‘The Hall of Fame inductee, affectionately nicknamed ‘Lofty’ due to his 6’4′ frame, spent 18 years at Wolves and is known as one of the greatest ever goalkeepers to represent the club.’
Parkes joined the Midlands club as a schoolboy in 1960 and made his senior debut six years later, saving a penalty in a 3-2 victory over Preston North End.
A highlight of his career was helping Wolves reach the UEFA Cup final in 1972, which they lost on aggregate to Tottenham.
Wolves legend Phil Parkes, who played 382 games for the club, has died at the age of 79
Parkes still holds the record for most consecutive league games played at Wolves (127 games)
Parkes still holds the record for most consecutive league games played at Wolves, tallying a remarkable 127 games in a row during the early 1970s.
Following his retirement in 1983, which came five years after his departure from Wolves, he went on to serve on the committee of Wolves’ former players association.ย
His old team-mate John Richards told BBC Radio WM on Saturday:ย ‘It’s a sad day, I’ve had so many calls this morning from former players and friends of Phil just passing on their best wishes and thoughts and prayers to the family.
‘You’ve got to bear in mind Phil has been part of the Wolves family for the best part of 70 years. He’s going to be a big loss.
‘He was one of the people who would have your back. He looked frightening but he was the opposite. He was a big gentle giant until one of his friends was in trouble and then he was there to protect everybody.
‘He was known as Lofty or the big man and he lived up to it in a lot of ways. He had a big heart as well.’
Asked in 2024 how he’d like his Wolves career to be remembered, he said: ‘I hope my Wolves career is remembered with joy. I loved playing for this football club, I had a great time, so I just hope all the supporters enjoyed it too.’ย
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