Parker’s play-off joy after red-card misery
LOAN signing Ben Parker returns
to the Darlington squad
today, but the left-back admits he
feared he would miss the playoffs
through suspension.
A fortnight ago the 20-year-old
was sent off in the second half of
Quakers' home defeat to Dagenham
& Redbridge which meant a
one-match ban that was served
last week at Peterborough.
But in the immediate aftermath
of his dismissal Parker admits
he feared the worst.
"That gave me nightmares,"
admitted the Leeds United defender.
"I sat in the changing
room thinking you've blown the
play-offs' and spent the whole
weekend believing I'd shot myself
in the foot.
"It was only on the Monday
that I realised how lucky I'd been.
I'd have been gutted to miss the
play-offs because Darlington
have been really good to me and
I've played a lot of games."
Leeds' first-choice left-back
Alan Sheehan is suspended for
the Yorkshire club's play-of semifinal
ties with Carlisle so boss
Gary McAllister was considering
recalling Parker.
That could have led to playing
at Wembley for his local club, but
instead he is staying with Quakers,
who also have the opportunity
of playing at the national
stadium later this month.
"I heard there might be a
chance I'd be going back to Leeds
when Alan got his red card, but it
wasn't something I concentrated
on," said Parker who has become
a regular for Darlington, starting
13 matches since joining in
March.
"I feel like I've got a job to finish
at Darlington and it suited me
to stay here.
"When pre-season starts my attention
will switch to Leeds, but
I've got the chance of playing at
Wembley in a couple of weeks'
time and that would be an incredible
opportunity at my age.
"It's the sort of thing you'd
look back on after you've retired.
"Darlington aren't in the best
of form at the moment, but I've
felt the confidence creeping back
into the squad over the past couple
of weeks.
"Rochdale are maybe looking
at it on paper and thinking
they've got the easiest draw - I
hope they do think that because
they'll get a nasty surprise."
Parker moved to Darlington to
solve Quakers' problematic leftback
position.
It has this season been filled by
the likes of the injured Tim Ryan
as well as loan signings Lee Ridley
and Paul Mayo, while Rob
Purdie has also filled in.
The move has served both parties
well as not only has he
plugged the left-back gap, McAllister
was keen on his player gaining
first-team experience away
from the club he supported as a
youngster.
"It was only natural that I felt
a bit disappointed to be sent away
from Leeds," said Parker. "I'd
been in and out of the team
under Dennis Wise but the new
manager knows more about football
than I do.
"I'm only a young lad and
when he said that going out on
loan was the best thing for me, it
was my responsibility to listen.
"It was actually quite easy to
be positive because Darlington
wanted me and I knew they'd be
a good club to join.
"I'd played against them for
Leeds in the Johnstone's Paint
Trophy and they seemed like a
club who were moving forward.
The fact that they're in the playoffs
proves that.
"My aim at the start of the season
was to play first-team football
for Leeds. I've done that. I
also wanted to get a good 20 or 30
games under my belt. I've done
that as well. But my priority is to
get Darlington promoted."
9:17am Saturday 10th May 2008
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