Career
He also played for Wigan Athletic and Bournemouth. After stints in the lower leagues with Wigan Athletic and Bournemouth the combative midfielder was signed by managerless Everton on 28 December 1993 for £250,000, between the resignation of Howard Kendall and arrival of Mike Walker. While at the Premier League side he made 107 appearances, scoring 4 goals.
He became a fans" favourite at the club, playing a major part in Joe Royle"s "Dogs of War" Everton team
In April 1997, Parkinson broke down after battling a knee injury most the season, and was ruled out for the remainder of the 1996-1997 season as well as the entire 1997-1998 season. Parkinson was unable to return to full fitness.
Complications with the injury, including 2 surgeries and a further full season out of the game (1998–1999) resulted in Parkinson retiring from football in November 1999, when only 28. This came two years after his last appearance.
Despite the relatively small number of appearances he made, his contribution and commitment was recognised with a testimonial against Manchester City in 2000.
Joe was on Sky Sports show "Where are they now" series in May 2008 and is now a forklift driver at "Smith Bateson". He said he got a normal day job because he just got so bored being at home all the time. In an interview for the British Broadcasting Corporation in October 2011 Joey Barton said that Joe Parkinson is his favourite football player of all time.
Parkinson re-surfaced in a coaching role with Wigan Athletic, progressing from working with the youth team to first team coach.
