We’ve been busy speaking to all the former Player of the Year winners since its’ inception in 1968, as we look ahead to the 5,000th game upon resumption and today our recipient of the Sir Tom Finney Trophy is 2009 winner and popular former striker Jon Parkin.
‘The Beast’ is, as usual, in great form as he discusses his move from Stoke City and the need to pop in to McDonalds on his way home from his first meeting from then chairman and manager, Derek Shaw and Alan Irvine.
He talks about his first full season, including getting off the mark after 16 games and his uncanny knack of getting a good result on the day of the players’ Christmas do. He also reflects on the run to the Play-Offs, including how he found out he had a long throw in.
The former Lilywhites forward also recalls the following season’s 3-0 win over Cardiff City and his hat-trick, that almost wasn’t, on the first game after Alan Irvine’s departure. He also talks about the 4-3 defeat at Burnley – including his thoughts on Billy Jones’ walk off – and the 6-4 win at Leeds.
To watch the full interview with the entertaining former PNE favourite just click on the video at the top of the page, for what will be another of our most popular winners of the Player of the Year award in the modern era.
If you want to see all the interviews that have been conducted so far, including Joe Garner, Claude Davis and Mark Lawrenson, click here for our Player of the Year section of the official PNE website.