Paul Parker joined Manchester United in August 1991 for £1.7 million
from Queens Park Rangers. He made his debut in a 2-0 home win against
Notts County on 17th August 1991 and remained in the side for the
opening seven league fixtures during which time the team only conceded
two goals. However, just as Paul was settling in, he was injured and
missed over six weeks of action. He returned to the first team in a 3-2
defeat at Sheffield Wednesday and later that season picked up a League
Cup Winner's Medal following a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the
final. United looked favourites for the title with four games remaining,
however, injury again cost them of the services of Paul and the side
lost three consecutive games to hand the title to Leeds United.
He
returned to league action in October 1992 and soon re-established
himself. Having come so close the previous season, United didn't make
the same mistakes again and romped to their first Championship for 26
years. In the process, Paul scored his first goal for the club with the
final effort in a 4-1 win against Spurs on 9th January 1993. Parker
remained injury-free for the following season as United retained their
Championship and reached both domestic cup finals. A 3-1 defeat to Aston
Villa in the League Cup was countered by a 4-0 victory in the FA Cup
Final against Chelsea as United won their first ever 'double'. Injury
plagued the final two years of Paul's United career as he played only a
handful of games.
He made his final appearance in a 3-0 win against
Reading in the FA Cup on 27th January 1996, scoring his second goal for
the club as a parting gift. He left on a free transfer in the summer of
1996. He was the final piece in the defence that gave United the
platform for Championship glory and his contribution was significant in
laying the foundations for the success that has followed. (Steve Drabble)
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