Robert Plant and Steve Bull among 500 mourners at Wolves' star's funeral

Wolves legends Peter Knowles, John Richards, Derek Parkin and Steve Bull were among the hundreds of mourners who turned out for the funeral of ex-goalkeeper Phil Parkes today (Wednesday).

Rock star Robert Plant, and ex Wolves stars Mel Eves, Carl Ikeme, Steve Kindon, Derek Parkin and Geoff Palmer were also among the 500 people who turned out to pay their respects to the long-serving player at St Peter’s Collegiate Church in Wolverhampton.

A handful of mourners had to stand on the steps of the crowded church.

His coffin, draped in a Wolves flag, stopped outside Molineux on the way to the funeral, where it was greeted by a number of fans.

Parkes, who died on August 8 aged 79, spent 18 years at Molineux and made 382 first-team appearances for Wolves between 1966 and 1978.

Affectionately known as ‘Lofty’ because of his imposing 6ft 3in frame, he became one of the club’s most recognisable figures.

Speaking after the funeral lifelong Wolves fan and club vice-chairman Plant paid tribute to Parkes’ larger-than-life personality.

“He came from on era when a spade was definitely a spade, so everything about him, his charm, his guile and his humour just typified the era,” he said.

“But his skill... it was magnificent.”

Richard Green, of the Wolves Former Players Association, recalled climbing under the fence of the training ground at Castlecroft to see Parkes practice.

“To us kids, he was huge, a giant of a man who seemed to fill the area between the goals.”

He said Parkes had raised thousands of pounds for New Cross Hospital both before and after the death of his wife Maureen, which was used to buy vital equipment.

He said charity work remained central to his life following his retirement from the game, and said he was always one of the most recognisable and popular ex-players at events.

“If there was a dinner, a golf day, community events, visiting a charity, he was always the first to arrive, and often the last to leave, he said.

Mr Green told how Parkes thought he had played his last game for Wolves, after securing his move to Vancouver Whitecaps. But two years later he was in Wolverhampton enjoying a few drinks on a Friday night when he received a call from Wolves manager Sammy Chung telling him that his replacement, Paul Bradshaw, had gone down with flu, and asking if he would be able to step in for the next day’s game against West Ham.

“Of course he played, and Wolves went on to win 2-1, the swansong for a Molineux hero.”

He also recalled Parkes’ altercation with future England manager Fabio Capello who was playing for Juventus in the 1972 Uefa Cup quarter final.

“After the match, Lofty said to him ‘I’ll see you back in Wolverhampton for the return leg. Perhaps sensibly, he failed to make the trip.”

He helped Wolves reach the 1972 Uefa Cup final and was part of the squad which won the League Cup two years later.

He was inducted into the Wolves Hall of Fame in 2023.

As well as playing for Wolves, Parkes also played cricket for Fordhouses Cricket Club, starting as an aggressive fast bowler, later as a skilful medium-paced bowler, although Steve Saul, speaking on behalf of the club, joked that his skills with a bat often left something to be desired.

“He was extremely proud of a match-winning influence of 14 not out - including two sixes.”

Mr Saul said he also regularly volunteered to umpire for junior matches.

“It’s hard to believe nowadays, but after Phil had played in front of a full house at Molineux against the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal or Liverpool on a Saturday afternoon, he would come down to Fordhouses’ Taunton Avenue ground, and support whichever of the club’s teams were playing.”

He said his cricket team-mates loved to listen to his stories, including one about a tussle with legendary Brazil star Pele.