The man who may just be West Ham United's greatest goalkeeper of all time has been diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Phil Parkes, who played for the Hammers (primarily under John Lyall) between 1979 and 1990 is to undergo surgery shortly having been diagnosed with the disease, which is the third most-commonly diagnosed variant of cancer worldwide.When Phil, now 63, moved from QPR to West Ham in 1979 for £565,000 he became the most expensive goalkeeper in the world - a title currently held by Gianluigi Buffon who cost Juventus £32.6m in 2001.
Parkes went on to make 344 appearances for West Ham including appearances in the 1980 FA Cup Final and the 1981 League Cup Final. He was also key to the Hammers' highest ever top flight finish, third place in the 1985/86 season.
Everyone at KUMB.com would like to wish Phil the very best of luck.
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