Roy Parnell (1943-2025)

Everton FC Heritage Society sends its condolences to the friends and family of Roy Parnell, who died on 10 September 2025 at the age of eighty-one. Roy was a product of Everton’s youth system, who reached the first team, but spent the majority of his senior playing career with Tranmere Rovers and Bury FC.

A Birkenhead and England schoolboy inside-forward, Roy joined the Toffees’ ground staff in the summer of 1959, along with the likes of George Sharples, Pat Dunne and Barry Rees. Having asked to be tried at right-back, he promptly found his best position (much as Tommy Wright would make the same positional switch a few years later). As early as October of that year, Everton’s Scottish international right-back Alex Parker used his Liverpool Echo and Evening Express column to highlight Roy and Mick Gannon as ones to watch, after an FA Youth Cup defeat of Blackburn Rovers. 

The Birkenhead lad signed as a full-time professional for Everton on his seventeenth birthday, on 8 October 1960. Not yet eighteen, he was given his debut by Johnny Carey at right back, when drafted in for the injured Parker in a heavy defeat at Wolves’ Molineux ground in January 1961.  Parker, in his newspaper column was full of praise for his young deputy:

‘I thought our two 17-year-olds, George Sharples and Roy Parnell did exceptionally well against such a good side. For me, Roy was as good a defender as there was on the pitch – and English internationals Eddie Clamp and Bill Slater were playing.’

Naturally, a significantly strengthened Toffees squad at the dawn of the Moores era made it extremely hard for home-grown talent to establish itself in the first team. Roy had the daunting task of trying to displace Parker, one of the top full-backs in the land. Pancho – as he was nicknamed – would have to wait eight months for his next senior outing, an away defeat at Craven Cottage early in the 1961/62 season, as the Blues struggled to find their gear after a lengthy spell spent in North America.

Having had a full season to look at the squad, Carey’s replacement as manager, Harry Catterick, was willing to release both Roy and Harry Tyrer in the autumn of 1962, but nothing came of it. After the appearance at Fulham, a two-year spell followed for Roy in the reserves, some of it spent in the company of Colin Harvey, who was a year younger. Colin has nothing but fond memories of his former teammate: ‘I was an apprentice when Panch signed as a professional; he was a big mate of Mick Gannon. He was the life and soul of the party, a good lad and good company. He was a decent player and good to have in the squad as he could play in one or two positions. He was a joy to play with; he always had a quip for the opposition on the field and would gee his own teammates up.’

Roy once more stepped into the first team limelight on 14 September 1963, when deputising at left-back for Sandy Brown in a goalless draw at Portman Road. Harry Catterick intimated to the Daily Express that the defensive stand-in would remain in the side for the visit of Inter in the first leg of their European Cup tie, however, in the end he plumped for the experience and versatility of Brian Harris. Thus, Roy would never get to step out at Goodison Park as a first team player.

A week later, Roy was accompanied by fellow teenagers Colin Harvey and Barry Rees on the trip to Milan for the second leg, with the press speculating that one of them might feature in the match due to ongoing injuries depleting the squad. Colin recalls that trip: ‘We thought we were just there to carry the skips – which we did – but I also played. Every time I used to see Roy in later years – which was often at Tranmere Rovers as he was a good mate of Peter Johnson and was often in the directors’ box – he would jokingly remind me: “Imagine it Col: Harvey, Parnel and Kendall in midfield. I should have played in that game in Milan and become a midfield general like you!’ Lucky Harvey, you ruined my career!”’

In March 1964, the board minutes record that Roy was one of the players the club would be looking to sell in the summer. Perhaps, not coincidentally, a short time later he was fined £5 for not reporting for a Central League game, possibly having found out about his club’s intentions.  Having failed to attract a fee, the Toffees granted Roy a free transfer in August 1964, whereupon he made the short move to his hometown club, Tranmere Rovers. His ‘debut’ for Rovers was in a cricket match against Wallasey, shortly after signing. On the football field he immediately nailed down the right-back position, making fifty appearances in the number two shirt in his debut season.

He had just shy of three seasons at Prenton Park (116 appearances), but his final campaign during 1966/67 was overshadowed somewhat by a contract dispute over terms. Branded a ‘pay rebel’ in the press, alongside Barry Dyson and John Manning, Roy was placed on the transfer list at his own request (Rovers asked interested clubs for £7,500). Furthermore, a bout of severe tonsillitis ruled him out for a period. Once fit again in March 1967, he was signed by Bury for £5,500 by Les Shannon, his former youth coach at Everton. In a further Toffees connection, his arrival at Gigg Lane swiftly followed that of Bobby Collins. Lodging in digs above a pub, he would joke to Colin Harvey than brown ale would get poured on his breakfast cereal. He wore the Shakers shirt on 110 occasions, the last coming in January 1970. 

His football career continued on a semi-pro basis at New Brighton, for whom he served as player-manager. In 1971 he was linked with a move to Dallas Tornado with Brian Harvey (brother of Colin), but in the end only Brian made the move. In 1973, he joined Wirral side Newton, where he was reunited with Mick Gannon. 

After retirement, Roy went on to be employed by Peter Johnson’s Park Foods business. As well as being a regular spectator at Prenton Park, Roy attended many Everton FC Former Players’ Foundation functions over the years, even when he started to be impacted by the onset of dementia. 

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Rob Sawyer