The aul' fella's favourite player.
Inside forward, so was he more like a modern day winger or closer to a centre forward? The footage I have seen (time and again) from 1957 would point to the latter, but those who've seen him in the flesh would be better placed to comment.
Peter Morris called him our greatest winger since Athersmith and our best centre forward between Waring and Hitchens. Danny Blanchflower reckoned him the best inside forward in the world.
Happy birthday Mr MacParland and may you soon see your greatest claim to fame eradicated.
It's rare to get a 6ft + physically imposing winger.
Kanchelskis might have fitted the bill for a while at Yanited.
Suppose Bale might be the closest example today. But I can't imagine McParland rolling around on the deck at the merest hint of contact somehow.
