DEFENDER JOHN PARKE DIES

FORMER Hibernian and Northern Ireland defender John Parke has died at the age of 74.

Parke – recognised by Pat Stanton as the best left-back he played alongside at Easter Road in his recent ‘Dream Team’ book – joined Hibs from Linfield in 1963, and became captain under Jock Stein before he moved to Sunderland in a £40,000 move a year later.

In a relatively brief stay at Hibs, the defender made a huge impression, and he went on to play 100 times for Sunderland. He was capped 14 times for Northern Ireland, making his debut in a 2-1 win over Scotand in 1963 at Windsor Park while still on the books at Easter Road. He ended his professional career Mechelen in Belgium.