A FORMER Sunday League goalkeeper who suffered a serious head injury is heading to Germany for Euro 2024.
George Parkin, 25, netted himself a VIP trip this weekend when he won a Paddy Power Penalty Shootout competition.
Parkin joined thousands of other die-hard football fans to battle it out for the chance to watch England try and bring football home.
Participants joined actor Danny Dyer, Tottenham legend Ledley King and ex-Southampton and Everton star James Beattie at Leyton Orient‘s Brisbane Road to try and claim the title of England’s best penalty taker.
The sudden death shootout saw the final five scoop themselves and three mates a VIP weekend to Germany with £5,000 spending money.
And after being one of those winners, former shot-stopper Parkin explained how he has had an unusual route to the Euro 2024.
He said: “I’m a goalkeeper, so I know more about how to save goals than score them. The pressure was mad!
“I used to play quite a lot as goalie for Gorleston FC up in Norfolk, but I got a really bad head injury and stopped playing most 11-a-side games after that.”
Parkin was left hospitalised after suffering a nasty head injury against Great Yarmouth Town in 2018.
He added: “I came out the area to head it clear and got clattered by the striker.
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“I ended up with a fractured eye skull and fractured skull in three places – and on Boxing Day of all days!”
Luck wasn’t on Parkin’s side that day six years ago, but he certainly had bit more luck in the shootout last weekend.
He said: “I actually missed one of my penalties on the day, but I got a second chance.
“I think no one scored in one round of the comp, so there was a PA announcement that anyone who missed could have another go and I was off like a shot to the front of the queue.
“Even then I got lucky. I missed two penalties, but some other lad missed three so I got through to the final!”
Now Parkin is heading to Germany and, like a lot of England fans, will be hoping his boss won’t be too mad about him missing some work in favour of the football.
He explained: “I’m meant to be in work on Saturday all day, but I had warned them about this penalty competition and if I won it I’d not be able to work.
“But I don’t think they thought I was going to actually win one of the seats on the plane!”
England get their Euro 2024 campaign underway tonight with a Group C clash against Sebia.
