Sheila Parker

In June 1961, 13-year-old Parker played her first match for Dick, Kerr's Ladies. In 1974 Parker helped Fodens, originally a works team from the Edwin Foden, Sons & Co. lorry manufacturing plant in Sandbach, shock Southampton in the final of the Women's FA Cup. Teammate Sylvia Gore recalled:

It was the first time Southampton had ever lost in a cup game in the three seasons the national cup had been in existence. We were determined to beat them. We weren't frightened of them — even though they had six international players on their side, compared to our four. It was close though, but I think we deserved our 2–1 win. She later played for Chorley Ladies. Parker played for St Helens in the 1983 WFA Cup final which they lost 3–2 to Doncaster Belles.

When the Women's Football Association (WFA) tasked Eric Worthington with constructing the first official England national team in 1972, he selected Parker as his captain after a series of trials. She was 24, already married and returning from the birth of her son earlier that year. Parker, a centre half, retained the captaincy until 1976, when she was left out of the squad for a Home Nations tournament against Wales and Scotland. Carol Thomas assumed the captaincy. Parker returned to the team in November 1977, scoring the winning goal in a 1–0 victory over Italy at Plough Lane. Wendy Owen reported that her central defensive partner Parker played for England until 1980. England manager Martin Reagan selected veteran Parker in his squad for the 1984 European Competition for Women's Football final against Sweden. After her retirement as a player in 1984, Parker wanted to remain involved in football and trained as a referee under the Lancashire County Football Association.

Recognition

Fifty years after first representing England, surrounding the nation hosting and then winning UEFA Women's Euro 2022, Parker received various honours. A "Where Greatness is Made" plaque – recognising the contribution of grassroots clubs to the start of England careers – was installed at Chorley F.C., and Parker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to women's football and charity. After decades of the 1972 team struggling…

Parker grew up in Chorley, Lancashire and played football with the boys at school. Parker's granddaughter, Chloe, plays for Fleetwood Town.