Great Scott

Charlton’s best period of the modern era coincided with the rise of Scott Parker as their midfield general, but poor career choices meant he never lived up to his full potential.

- Jonathan Miller

In a self storage unit in west London, buried within a box containing assorted Charlton Athletic memorabilia, lies a signed photograph of Scott Parker. It’s a typical action shot, ball at feet, eyes looking up, driving past a despairing marker – I think the image dates from our away win at Leeds United in December 2002, when Parker scored arguably his greatest goal for the club.

He picked up the ball just inside Leeds’ half and then set off on one of his signature thrusting runs. He glided past three or four players, scurried into the box and fired home, winning us the game 2-1. He ripped off his top in celebration and ran towards our delirious support.

The photo was given to me by my wife as a birthday present in the autumn of 2003. On the day I unwrapped it, Parker got his first England cap against Denmark at Old Trafford. Charlton were flying in the table and weeks later we were to batter Chelsea’s star-laden line-up. But even as I smiled appreciatively at his signature, a frisson of doubt came over me as I wondered if we would sell him January. I secretly wished the photo could somehow morph into unsung Bulgarian utility man Radostin Kishishev instead.