IT IS impossible not to think of Gary Parkinson when you consider a match-up between Burnley and Middlesbrough.

The former fullback – a 1994 play-off winner for the Clarets – was a hero for both clubs.

But for the last 16 months ‘Parky’ has not been far from many people’s thoughts, both inside and outside of football, after a severe stroke forced his body to shut down.

Locked-In Syndrome is a rare condition which leaves sufferers unable to move or speak.

Only a few recover.

For Parkinson and his family, the fight is ongoing. The football family is behind them all the way.

While Boro and Burnley battle it out for three points on the pitch this afternoon, they, like Parkinson’s four other clubs, share a common goal and are working together to raise funds for his ongoing treatment and care.

A dinner held at Turf Moor last year raised £18,500, on April 21 members of the Brunshaw Action Community Group are walking to the away fixture at Blackpool, where Parkinson worked as a coach after hanging up his boots, while a sponsored bike ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats is planned towards the end of the season, which former Clarets team-mates including Andy Farrell and Jamie Hoyland are signed up for.

Middlesbrough staged a charity match last summer which raised £35,000.

Bolton, Preston, Blackpool and Everton have all contributed to those, and other, fundraising events, and there are more in the pipeline.

That level of support has meant the world to Parkinson, his determined and doting wife Deborah, and their three children - Luke, Chloe and Sophie.

“I feel like everyone is willing and wanting Gary to get better, which we are. That has given me strength,” said Deborah, his wife of 21 years.

“The support has been amazing from people and fans from all his clubs. It’s great how they have all come together - especially rival clubs like Burnley, Preston and Blackpool.

“It’s fantastic for the kids - especially the girls, because they’ve not really seen him in his playing days. It gives them a buzz to know what people think of him. They just see him as their dad.”

So far, the combined fundraising efforts of Parkinson’s old clubs have collected more than £70,000 for the Gary Parkinson Trust Fund, which will go towards adapting the family home so that he can spend more time there and, eventually, return.

He is currently being cared for at a specialist rehabilitation unit in Bury.

“All the fundraising efforts were amazing at the beginning - we didn’t think it would still be going on, but it is and it’s still going strong,” said Deborah, who gave up work as a childminder immediately after her husband’s stroke.

They have learnt to communicate through his eyes.

He looks up for ‘yes’ and Deborah uses the alphabet to help former Everton trainee Parkinson, who turned 44 this week, form words and sentences, which has enabled him to take on a scouting role for Middlesbrough.

Manager Tony Mowbray, who played alongside Parkinson for Boro in the late 1980s and early 90s, has DVDs of players sent to him, with a ratings system of one to four - four being good - so that he can give his verdict on players his old club are looking at.

“When Tony first came to see Gary, he could see Gary was still aware of everything that was going on around him, so he asked if he wanted to do some scouting for him,” Deborah explained.

“A DVD comes down to us, with a sheet of paper. There is a description of the player, his name, his age, his position and the clubs he has played for.

“It's been fantastic for Gary. His football friends have been coming to see him and the idea developed from there.

“He still loves his football, knows all about youth players from his time as coach at Blackpool, and you can see he picks up when he is doing it.”

David Eyres, Parkinson’s friend and former Burnley team-mate, said: “Tony Mowbray is a legend in my eyes for what he has done for him.

“I’m sure Gary will be listening to the game on the radio this afternoon and hopefully they’ll send a DVD of the game down too.

“He’ll have mixed feelings about it because both clubs are very close to his heart.

“He’ll just hope it’s a good game.”

Parkinson’s teenage son, Luke, has set up a website - www.garyparky.co.uk - to keep the former defender’s many well-wishers updated with news and fundraising events.

The headline on the homepage reads: ‘Gary Parkinson - The Comeback’.

Forget Paul Scholes coming out of early retirement at Old Trafford and Thierry Henry rolling back the years for Arsenal, this is the comeback that really matters.