BURNLEY hero Gary Parkinson is the guest of honour at a Turf Moor on Saturday, along with his family, as his old clubs go head-to-head.

The former right back attended the reverse fixture on Boxing Day, making his first public appearance since a stroke in September 2010 left him with Locked-In Syndrome – a rare condition which leaves sufferers unable to move or speak.

Parkinson, who started his career as a junior at Everton before moving to Middlesbrough in 1985, spent over three years with the Clarets after signing from Bolton in January 1994, helping them to promotion to the then First Division through the play-offs with a goal at Wembley at the end of his first season.

The Clarets, through the Burnley Former Players’ Association, have been active in numerous fundraising events for the Gary Parkinson Trust.

He will be accompanied at Turf Moor by his family and fellow former Claret David Eyres.