This article I read on the BBC Sports site, on former Middlesborough player Gary Parkinson, brings everything in life, into perspective.......... When Blackpool head of youth development Gary Parkinson suffered a severe stroke in September 2010 that left him paralysed, it appeared his involvement in football was over. But, despite the huge setback, Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray has found a way of tapping into the former Boro defender's football knowledge. The 43-year-old, a former Ayresome Park team-mate of Mowbray's, suffers from locked-in syndrome. It is an illness which leaves the sufferer fully cognitively aware but totally paralysed apart from being able to use their eyes. Parkinson was part of the Middlesbrough side when the club escaped liquidation thanks to a consortium including present chairman Steve Gibson. The team went on to gain promotion to the then First Division within two seasons Mowbray, Mark Proctor, Colin Cooper, Gary Gill, Stephen Pears and now Parkinson are all former players from that late 1980s era still involved at Middlesbrough. Parkinson views DVDs of potential signings for Mowbray and subsequently rates the players by blinking to his wife Deborah. "Tony and his coaching staff, like Mark Proctor and Stephen Pears, have been fantastic for Gary," Deborah told the Northern Echo. "When Tony first came to see Gary, he could see Gary was still aware of everything that was going on around him. So he asked Gary if he wanted to do some scouting for him. "A DVD comes down to us, with a sheet of paper. There is a description of the player, his name, his age, his position and the clubs he has played for." As a player, Parkinson made more than 450 league appearances, the bulk of which came with Middlesbrough, Burnley and Preston. "Gary still loves his football, knows all about youth football from his time as the youth team coach at Blackpool, and you can see he picks up when he is doing it," Deborah continued. "I have done it with him and so has my son, Luke."
Very true - so many of us beef our way through the day and forget to count our blessings and good fortune...
Well posted Wooperts. We should all perhaps be a little ashamed of the pettiness we display, especially on matters of rivalry (me included) Full marks to Tony Mowbray, a decent honourable man. He has had his own tragedy with losing his wife at a very young age with cancer, leaving him with 2 young children to care for. Football could well do with more people like him.
Quite right saintsalive - a very sad story indeed, but what a great bloke and decent human being Tony Mowbray is, that's for sure.
Is Linvoy Primus at PFC at all in any way? He was a bloomin good player ! He should be! Used to do loads for the community and charity! Any aspiring footballers should look up to him as an example
Yes, Linvoy is still at Pompey, as Head of Club Liaison - in other words he is the lynchpin between the club and the community.
Thank goodness for some sanity at FP, LFiH. Linvoy is another decent human being, and thoroughly nice guy
Well said again Wooperts. Nobody could fail to be impressed with Linvoy - his smile & conviction about all things tells a big, big story about him & Pompey are fortunate to have him on board. If everyone in football had his attitude what a sport it would be
