BLACKBURN Rovers legend Tony Parkes has labelled his richly deserved honour at the MBNA Northwest Football Awards as the highlight of his distinguished career.

On a night to remember for Rovers the 66-year-old received the Lifetime Contribution to Northwest Football award as recognition for his unstinting service to the club which continues to this day.

Parkes, who served as a player, coach, assistant manager, caretaker manager and manager across 34 unbroken years at Ewood Park, had no idea he was to be awarded the main prize of the night which was won previously by former Rovers boss Kenny Dalglish and player Dave Whelan.

And, speaking after he was handed the award by fellow ex-Rover Kevin Gallacher, he said: “It feels brilliant.

“I didn’t catch on until about halfway through when Kevin Gallacher was speaking about it. I have won a lot of things in my time but to win this tops everything.

“The applause and the appreciation I got from everyone in the room when my name was called out was fantastic. It was a great night and I didn’t know it was going to happen.

“I have been at Blackburn nearly 40 years, doing all different things and enjoying every moment of it.

“In the 70s we had great times; all the players would go out together round the town, doing things for the community.

“In the Premier League days, it got a lot more serious because we were out to win trophies.

“Now I do some scouting for the club and I actually do a bit of scouting for Simon Grayson at Preston.”

Rovers left-back Markus Olsson was crowned the Championship Player of the Year while head of sports medicine Dave Fevre was the recipient of the Fabrice Muamba Award for Outstanding Contribution to Football Medicine and Science award.

And to make it four prizes on the night Blackburn Rovers Community Trust were named the Community Club of the Year outside of the Premier League.

Rovers Trust head of community Gary Robinson said: “There are some other fantastic Trusts doing great work in the North West. For us to win it, says we have done something special this year.

“The secret of our success? Hard work, dedication, support from above and below. The staff have worked incredibly hard but the buy-in from the local people has been incredible.

“Using the brand and the power of Blackburn Rovers has been the secret.”