Fred Parker (footballer, born 1886)

Frederick Parker (18 June 1886 – 5 January 1963), also known as Spider Parker or Bassie Parker, was an English professional footballer who played as a forward in the Football League for Clapton Orient. He was the first person to enlist in the Football Battalion during the First World War. He later served as manager of Folkestone.

Personal life
Parker was married with five children. During his early football career, he worked as a carter on the Isle of Portland. Parker served as a colour sergeant with the Football Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment during the First World War. As captain of Clapton Orient, he was the first person to enlist in the newly formed battalion in December 1914. Parker suffered with trench foot in 1917 and was lightly wounded in April 1918. After his retirement from football, Parker worked as a porter at London King's Cross railway station and as a cleaner at government offices. Following his death in January 1963, he was buried in Southgate Cemetery.