Alan Shearer and Kenny Dalglish have paid heartfelt tributes following the death of Tony Parkes, the former Blackburn Rovers player and coach, at the age of 76. Parkes, who was affectionately known as 'Mr Blackburn Rovers', had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2020.
A Life Dedicated to Blackburn Rovers
Born in Sheffield, Parkes joined Blackburn Rovers from non-league Buxton in 1970 and went on to make over 400 appearances for the club over 12 years as a midfielder. After retiring as a player, he transitioned into coaching and remained at Ewood Park for a total of 34 years. He worked alongside esteemed managers such as Roy Hodgson and Graeme Souness, and was part of Kenny Dalglish's backroom staff when Blackburn won the Premier League title in 1995. That triumph remains the club's most famous achievement, with Alan Shearer leading the line that season.
Caretaker Manager on Six Occasions
Parkes also served as Blackburn's caretaker manager on six separate occasions between 1986 and 2004, taking charge of 74 matches. He later moved to Blackpool, where he was installed as caretaker during the 2008-09 season and helped steer the club to safety in the Championship.
Tributes Pour In
On Thursday, Blackburn Rovers announced: "Blackburn Rovers are devastated to learn of the passing of Tony Parkes. A true club legend, often referred to as 'Mr Blackburn Rovers', Tony passed away last night at the age of 76. Everyone at Blackburn Rovers sends their deepest heartfelt condolences to Tony's daughter Natalie and all his family and friends at this incredibly sad time. A special tribute will be held to celebrate Tony's life and his outstanding contribution to the club’s history at Rovers' final home game of the season against Leicester City on Saturday May 2."
Alan Shearer posted on social media: "RIP Tony. A great man." Chris Sutton, Shearer's strike partner during the title-winning season, also paid tribute: "Really sad news to hear of Tony Parkes passing away. Tony was a great player and coach for Rovers with a wonderful sense of humour. He was Mr Blackburn and will be sorely missed. Thoughts and prayers go out to Natalie and the Parkes family." Kenny Dalglish added: "Very sad to hear about the passing of Tony Parkes. A fantastic man who I had the privilege of working alongside at Blackburn. Loyal, dedicated and someone who gave everything to the club. My thoughts are with his family and everyone connected with Blackburn Rovers. RIP Tony."
Family's Battle with Alzheimer's
In 2022, Parkes' daughter Natalie launched a fundraiser to help cover the costs of his care. She revealed that due to the brain disease, her father would sometimes forget her, though he often reminisced about his time at Ewood Park. Following his diagnosis, she said: "Things are a lot different now for my dad. We've had quite a few big changes over the last couple of years. It started slowly but it's very apparent now - he recently had a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. It's changed a lot of things for my dad, his independence being the big one. He now no longer feels comfortable doing things by himself. He likes to be with me a lot."
