QPR Birthdays Today - Phil Parkes & Damion Stewart

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Today is QPR's Jamaican International defender Damion Stewart birthday. Stewart turns 27 (born August 8, 1980) - Stewart
Also - Wikipedia/Stewart

Today is also the birthday of possibly QPR's greatest-ever goalkeeper (competing for that honour with Ron Springett, Reggie Allen and maybe David Seaman)...Phil Parkes. Parkes turns 57: Born August 8, 1950.

Then QPR-Manager, Les Allen signed Parkes from Walsall in the summer of 1970 for 15,000 pounds (and recouped the money by sellig then QPR-goalie, Mike Kelly to Birmingham for slightly more.) One paper at the time of his transfer characterized Parkes as "strongly tipped for England U-23 honours.)
Parkes made his debut at home to Leicester, in August 1970. QPR lost, but Parkes was brilliant from the first game on.
Parkes crazily played only ONE game for England - kept out by first Gordon Banks; then Peter Shilton and Ray Clemence.
Parkes played an integral part in getting QPR out of the second Division; and almost winning the First Division Championship...
Parkes was sold to then Division-Two West Ham in February 1979,for a world record goalie fee of 550,000 pounds. (But it still wasn't enough!). Played 344 games for QPR and the 344 for West Ham! (+ 52 games for Walsall)
Whether Parkes was QPR's Greatest-ever goalie can always be argued. (Also Reg Allen, Peter Springett, David Seaman, etc.) But he was brilliant, consistent, and almost an ever-present for QPR.

See: Dave's Queens Park Rangers site Phil Parkes Profile
Also: Sporting Hero and also Wikipedia/Phil Parkes