FA Cup-winning hero Joe Parkinson joined Everton Football College’s Under-18s in the USA as they reached the final of the Dallas Cup. The team have now returned home from the prestigious youth tournament with the final played at Major League Soccer side FC Dallas’ Toyota Stadium shown on the ESPN3 channel in the United States.
Everton lost 3-1 in the final to Inwood SC ID Houston Legends, who were playing in their home state but the team had a fantastic run in the tournament, defeating Sporting FC (4-1) and drawing with Tableview FC (1-1) and host side FC Dallas (0-0) to progress from their group. They went on to overcome Chelsea East SC (2-0) in the last eight, before a victory (1-0) against ASSPF Soccer Paradise Banfield booked them a place in the final.
Parkinson, one of the Premier League’s leading midfielders before a knee injury cruelly forced him to play his last professional match aged just 25, is now Under-17s coach for Everton Football College and said: “This was my first time at the Dallas Cup, and it has been a privilege to be part of the coaching staff. The standard at the tournament was incredibly high.
