Ex-England World Cup defender is heading to Lancing

The event will take place at the Empire Club, Penhill Road, on Friday, May 15, starting at 7.30pm.

Parker, 62, was first capped for England by the late Sir Bobby Robson in 1989, and initially was in the 1990 World Cup Squad as cover for Rangers right-back Gary Stevens.

But a disappointing performance from the former Everton man in the first group game, a 1-1 draw v the Republic of Ireland, saw a somewhat raw Parker replace him for the rest of the tournament.

After fulfilling nearly every little English boy’s dream by lining up in a World Cup semi-final, against West Germany in Turin, Parker told Englandfootball.org in 2022, that he felt ‘numb’ because he was ‘too nervous to feel nervous’.

Aside from his England career, while at Old Trafford he won the FA Cup, League Cup, two Premier League titles and a European Cup Winners’ Cup medal, before injury effectively ended his time in the north west.

Joining him on the night, which is in aid of strongmen, a charity that appeals people cope with the after effects of grief, is Andy Milne, ‘The World Cup Guy’, the man who sold his house to go and watch England and wrote a very enjoyable book on the back of it.

Aside from the Q&A, both Paul and Andy will be selling and signing their recently released books.

Tickets cost £10, and that includes a complementary drink, and there’s a chance to win a personalised autographed England Italia 90 shirt. Doors open at 6pm.

For tickets please go to www.strongmen.org.uk/shop/world-cup-preview-and-book-signing

Tackling The Game, My Life In Football by Paul Parker is published by Pitch – for more details go to pitchpublishing.co.uk