Vancouver goalkeeping great Phil 'Lofty' Parkes dies at 79

He helped Vancouver win the 1979 Soccer Bowl.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 91 min read

Legendary goalkeeper and NASL champion, Phil “Lofty” Parkes, sadly passed away this morning at the age of 79. The Vanco Via @WhitecapsFC on X

What happened: Parkes died Sunday morning at age 79. The Vancouver Whitecaps extended condolences to his family, friends and former teammates.

Why it matters: Parkes was a cornerstone of Vancouver's 1979 NASL championship team. He earned the league's top goalkeeping honor in consecutive seasons.

By the numbers: Parkes joined Vancouver in 1976, signed permanently in 1978 and was named the NASL's top goalkeeper in 1978 and 1979.

What to watch: Memorial arrangements and any Whitecaps tribute are the next details to watch.

Sources

@WhitecapsFC 2026-08-09T08:43:31.223903+00:00

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Vancouver goalkeeping great Phil 'Lofty' Parkes dies at 79

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