SAD NEWS - - Lindsay Parsons has sadly died

Very sad news ,knew him when he worked for Rolls Royce ,he always hadn’t a tale to tell,such a great guy and will be sadly missed,heart goes out to his family RIP Lindsay

Another on it here mate, lots of condolences et al

gaschat.co.uk/thread/14194/news-lindsay-parsons-sadly-died

A quiet hard man who was our Mr. Reliable' - Bristol Rovers legend Harold Jarman leads tributes to Lindsay Parsons
The iconic former Gas full-back died on Friday night

The football world has united in tribute to former Bristol Rovers full-back Lindsay Parsons, following his death at the age of 73.

After signing his first professional contract with Rovers as an 18-year-old in 1964, Parsons patrolled both flanks for the Gas over 13 years with a reputation as a hard but fair defender who never gave opposition wingers an inch.

He was part of the promotion-winning side that earned a place in the Second Division in 1974 and such was his consistency in performance and selection, having played under four different managers, by the time he left the club in 1977 he amassed 360 league appearances, including 167 consecutive matches.

Fellow Gas legend Harold Jarman spent nine years playing alongside Parsons and remembers a tough-as-teak defender who always had his teammate's back.

"We got on very well," Jarman, 79, recalls. "I still remember when he first came to the club as a youngster and I took an instant liking to him as did Bert Tann [Bristol Rovers manager who gave Parsons his debut].

"The younger players who used to come over from Wales used to lodge at his parents house at Fishponds so he was always very involved with the club.

"He used to get in a bit of trouble, fighting and what not in town and off Bert would go to see him mum and dad on a Sunday. But everybody liked him.

"Lindsay was a quiet lad but you'd never argue with him - he was a quiet hard man.

"He was very difficult to get by on the field. Quick on the turn and light on his feet. Not a great player going forward but he knew his limitations and that in itself made him such a good player. He was always there to help you on the field. A great teammate.

"He just went about his job every game, every week and played consistently throughout.

"He was just Mr Reliable. As a Bristolian he brought a family spirit to the club, he was proud of where he was from and he loved Bristol Rovers."

Their friendship continued in retirement as, after being appointed Bristol Rovers manager in 1979, Jarman brought Parsons on board to run the Southern East Counties under-16 team. And it was from there that Parsons' ability as one of the game's great talent scouts was first realised.

Parsons enjoyed not one but two outstanding careers in football, as after a brief stint in management with Cheltenham Town he forged a hugely successful partnership with Tony Puliis as his assistant manager and chief scout at Gillingham, Bristol City, Portsmouth, Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City.

"He knew a good player when he saw one and took to coaching really well, he was like a father figure to a lot of young players," Jarman added.

"It was hard to believe that he had an interest in coaching as he never showed it as a player but it developed the more he did it and he was a very, very good chief scout.

"He was very definite in what he wanted. Nothing phased him in that way.

"He was a good friend, a nice man."

'He wasn't to be messed with'

Tom Stanton spent eight years alongside Parsons in the Rovers team, as a left-back and in midfield, and remembers the Gas defender in a similar manner: as someone who could always be relied on.

Stanton, who signed from Mansfield in 1968, said: "It's a big loss. He was a great lad and a great player. A huge presence at Bristol Rovers.

"After I signed, in my first training session I learned very quickly that Lindsay was not someone to be messed with. He certainly didn't hold back when it came to tackling.

"He was a master of the slide tackle. He was quick and knew exactly when to execute it. If you got into trouble on the field, you always knew Lindsay was there to help you out. He was just so reliable.

"He had a great understanding of the game and wasn't somebody who would scream and shout. He just had a calm presence about him and had a very dry sense of humour."

The news was announced by the Bristol Rovers Former Players Association who also detailed a fitting tribute to a true Gas legend.

It read: "He more than made up for his lack of goals with his consistent defensive displays in a blue and white quartered shirt, though, and his no nonsense defending and goal line clearances were often the talk of the Eastville terraces.

"He often returned to watch Rovers, both in a professional capacity when he was a coach/assistant manager at other clubs, and sometimes simply as a former player.

"A popular figure, remembered with fondness by older supporters and his former Rovers team mates, Lindsay will be greatly missed, and we offer our condolences to his family and friends at this sad time."

Bristol Rovers issued a statement on Friday night , detailing his career and reading: "The Club was saddened to learn of the recent death of former Rovers full back Lindsay Parsons, who was 73 years old.

"We wish to extend our condolences to Lindsay's family and friends at this sad time."

Parsons' family have been invited as guests of the club to Rovers' next home game against Rochdale on April 22.

Gillingham will hold a minute's silence before their League One match against Shrewsbury and the Gills are among the clubs and fans who have paid tribute to Parsons.

One of my early heroes and the 167 consecutive game run is simply amazing. The players of today enjoy a privileged life by comparison to those of the past, God bless Lindsay and thank you for being a huge part of our club.