Everton’s 1962-63 Championship-winning defender Alex Parker has died, after suffering a heart attack.

Alex was 74 years old.  he will be remebered as a fantastic right back who played 220 times for The Blues and 15 Scottish caps, including a 1958 World Cup appearance in a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Paraguay.

Alex’s first professional club was Falkirk and he was a member of the Scottish Cup winning team of 1958. He joined Everton for £18,000 in June of that year along with another member of the Falkirk cup winning side, Eddie O’Hara.

Alex is remembered  with great reverence by those who saw him play and those who played alongside him.  A member of the glorious Championship winning side of 1962-63 it is said he was the greatest exponent of the slide tackle the game has ever seen. This coupled with his ability to surge forward from his right back position gave him legendary status amongst Evertonians.  His Everton career came to an end in 1965 and after playing for Southport, Ballymena United and Drumcondra he came back to manage Southport for a short spell.

He retired from football in 1971 to take up the the life of a publican and ran “The Swinging Sporran” pub in Runcorn for many years eventually living his full retirement in Gretna.

A proud Scot and proud blue loved and respected by all who met him.  Derek Temple a team mate in the outstanding League Champions side of 1962-63 said “Alex wasn’t just a smashing player, he was a great colleague and a genuine gentleman. He will be sadly missed and all our sympathy is with the family.”

We echo those sentiments.  Alex Parker, Everton Legend, may he rest in peace.