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Parkinson went in the summer of 1997, choosing not to sign another contract at Turf Moor, whilst David Eyres was sold early in the following season by Chris Waddle.
Waddle’s decision to sell Eyres made perfect sense didn’t it? He was a player close to the end of his career and we even got money for him. And here we are well over five years later, Eyresy has since helped Preston into Division One and could yet do the same for Oldham.
Now aged 39 he has played in 554 Football League games scoring 117 goals. Given that he was 25 when he made his Football League debut that is even more remarkable. He averages over 40 games per season. Signed by Jimmy Mullen twice he was surely his best Burnley signing.
It was Jimmy who also signed Gary Parkinson from Bolton. We had struggled along without a right back since Ian Measham’s move to Doncaster and Parky came straight into the play off chasing side.
Both were in the 4th Burnley team to play at Wembley, both were in the only Burnley team to win at Wembley and the two of them join Jimmy Robson as the only Burnley players to score a goal at Wembley.
Eyresy, man of the match that day, scored first equalising against a side that on the day were pretty unprofessional as they allowed themselves to be wound up by our very own character from the yellow brick road – the Tin Man.
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Parkinson has said that he cannot remember the goal, Eyresy certainly remembers his, but I can assure him that thousands of Clarets there that day can remember it very well indeed including his goal celebration.
Both went on to be popular players for North End and both have also played for Blackpool. Parkinson ended his league career at the new half a ground at the end of last season and is now with Rossendale United.
They will surely get a good reception from the away end but are without doubt guaranteed an excellent reception from the home stands. And it will allow us all to recall that wonderful day in May nine years ago.