Elliot Parish

Elliot Charles Parish (born 20 May 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper.

Parish began his career at Aston Villa, where he progressed through the club's Academy.

Born in Towcester, Parish joined the Academy at Aston Villa ahead of the 2006–07 season.

He became the regular goalkeeper for Villa's under-18 side that won the 2007–08 Premier Academy League title and reached the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup the same year.

While with the club, he represented the England under-20 team, playing in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

England manager Brian Eastick said that Parish was one of the best players at the tournament.

Having travelled with the first-team squad during pre-season and in the Europa League, Parish became the regular goalkeeper for Aston Villa's reserve team during the 2010–11 season.

He made his professional debut away from the club on loan at League Two side Lincoln City in 2011, before a short loan at Cardiff City where he made no appearances.

League Two side Lincoln City signed Parish on 24 March 2011 on loan until the end of the season.

He went straight into Lincoln's starting eleven to make his professional debut the following day, conceding six goals as Rotherham United won 6–0 at Sincil Bank.

Parish made nine appearances for Lincoln, conceding 23 goals in a period where the Imps accrued just one point.

Cardiff City initially signed Parish on a six-week loan from Aston Villa on 23 September 2011.

He joined Cardiff on a permanent basis in January 2012, before being loaned out to Wycombe Wanderers later the same year.

However, despite failing to make an appearance for Cardiff, manager Malky Mackay signed Parish on a permanent basis on 4 January 2012, with the player signing a one-and-a-half year deal.

At the end of the 2012–13 season, Parish was released after the club decided not to offer him a new deal.

Parish joined Wycombe Wanderers in an emergency loan deal on 18 September 2012 after injuries to regular goalkeepers Nikki Bull and Matt Ingram.

He made his debut for the club the same day in a 3–2 defeat away to Exeter City.

He made just one further appearance for the club, a 1–0 home defeat by AFC Wimbledon four days later.

After his release by Cardiff, Parish joined Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen on trial with a view to a permanent contract.

However, after one week training with Aberdeen, it was announced that Parish would not be offered a deal by the club.

He was released by the club in 2013, again failing to make a first-team appearance.

He joined Bristol City, where he went on to make 19 league appearances, but again found himself out on loan, on this occasion to Newport County.

He later joined Blackpool for one season, and then played for Colchester United for one season, before joining Accrington Stanley.

He then signed for Dundee where he spent two seasons.

Parish has represented England at under-20 level.

He then joined League One club Bristol City on trial on 11 July 2013.

On 26 July, it was announced that Parish had signed a two-year deal with the club following his successful trial.

Parish made his debut for Bristol City on 27 August in a 2–1 League Cup win over Premier League club Crystal Palace.

After making 19 league outings and becoming a regular starter, Parish found himself out of favour following the loan arrival of Simon Moore from Cardiff.

Parish joined League Two side Newport County in an emergency loan deal on 10 February 2014, making his debut on 15 February in a 3–0 defeat at Hartlepool United.

After the clubs had initially agreed to extend Parish's loan spell, Newport decided to not exercise an extension and Parish returned to his parent club on 10 March after making seven appearances.

On 7 August 2014, Championship side Blackpool signed Parish on a free transfer from Bristol City.

He became the club's twelfth summer signing, joining on a one-year deal with the option of a further 12-months.

He made his debut on 3 October, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win over his former club Cardiff, Blackpool's first win of the season.

After Blackpool were relegated from the Championship at the end of the season, Parish was released after making only 13 appearances all season.

Parish joined League One side Colchester United on trial in July 2015 in a bid to gain fitness and earn a contract.

He joined the club following an injury to first-choice goalkeeper Sam Walker that ruled him out of the early stages of pre-season.

After playing in all four of Colchester's pre-season friendlies, including 90-minutes during a 1–0 win against West Ham United, Parish signed a one-year deal with the club on 23 July.

He made his debut on the opening day of the season against his former club Blackpool, conceding two goals as Colchester were held to a 2–2 draw at the Colchester Community Stadium.

In Walker's absence, Parish established himself as Colchester's first-choice goalkeeper in the latter stages of the season as he went on to make 28 appearances for the club.