Stuart Parnaby

English association football player

The 2002–03 season saw Parnaby sidelined until he made his Premier League debut on 26 October 2002, in a 2–2 draw against Leeds United. Following his debut, he had a run in the first team before a tear on his hamstring kept him sidelined for weeks. Parnaby went on to make 23 appearances for the club in 2002–03. He was also rewarded with a new contract with the club in March, lasting until June 2007.

Parnaby featured in the first four matches of the 2003–04 season. However, during the season, he found himself struggling to feature in the team after a four month layoff for a knee injury. He made his return as a substitute for Franck Queudrue in a 1–0 home loss against Manchester United on 28 December 2003. However, Parnaby's appearances were limited towards the end of the 2003–04 season through back and hamstring injuries, as well as Danny Mills, who had signed for the club earlier in the season, establishing himself as Middlesbrough's first choice right back. Despite this, Parnaby made 16 appearances for the club. he appeared in the earlier rounds. Parnaby started the 2004–05 season playing regularly in Middlesbrough's team before he broke his leg during training in October 2004, which was expected to keep him out of action for around three months. Parnaby made his return on 5 February 2005 in a 1–0 home win over Blackburn Rovers. After getting playing time for 10 matches, He finished the season with 24 appearances. He made his first team return on 2 October, coming on as a substitute, in a 3–2 win over Aston Villa. His return was later short lived when he suffered a minor knock during a League Cup match against Crystal Palace. After three weeks out, Parnaby made his return to the first team on 26 December in a 2–0 home loss to Blackburn. He scored his first Middlesbrough goal on 17 January 2006, in a 5–2 home win over Nuneaton Borough in the fourth round of the FA Cup. A few weeks later, on 31 January, he scored his first Premier League goal, in a 3–0 win over Sunderland. He then scored his first European goal on 16 February in the first leg of last 16 of UEFA Cup, in a 2–1 away win over VfB Stuttgart. However, Parnaby suffered a hamstring injury during a match against Birmingham City and was expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks. He made his return on 26 March against Bolton Wanderers and scored in a 4–3 home win. He played a full part in their progress to the semi final of the FA Cup and the final of the UEFA Cup, in which he started. He finished the season with 42 appearances and four goals. He suffered a broken toe after colliding with Paul Dickov during a match against Manchester City on 30 October 2006. He made his return in December before suffering a knee injury in January 2007. After making his return to the team, Parnaby went on to finish 2006–07 with 21 appearances.

Parnaby signed a three year contract with newly promoted Premier League club Birmingham City on 1 June 2007 on a free transfer. He revealed that manager Steve Bruce was the main factor in joining Birmingham, stating he made him feel "10 feet tall". As the season progressed, he struggled with injuries and loss of form, and was unable to dislodge Stephen Kelly from the right back spot. Parnaby made 15 appearances in 2007–08,

In pre season in preparation for the 2008–09 season, Kelly picked up an injury, so manager Alex McLeish picked Parnaby for the first match of the season against Sheffield United in the Championship. After making another appearance, Parnaby stated his intention of establishing himself in the team. However, his season was disrupted by ankle, hamstring and muscle injuries, with his last appearance coming in January 2009.

Parnaby was a substitute in Birmingham's first match after their return to the Premier League, against Portsmouth, replacing Grégory Vignal in a 1–0 home victory on 19 August 2009. A week later on 25 August, he provided an assist for Lee Carsley, which turned out to be the winning goal in a 2–1 win over Southampton in the second round of the League Cup. Parnaby struggled with back and groin injuries during the 2009–10 season, and after returning to fitness was unable to displace Stephen Carr at right back. Parnaby finished the season with 11 appearances. He regained his fitness over pre season ahead of the 2010–11 season, which he described as the best summer of his career. He made his first appearance of the season on 21 September in a 3–1 home win over Milton Keynes Dons in the third round of League Cup. He was an unused substitute as Birmingham won the 2010–11 League Cup, defeating Arsenal 2–1 at Wembley Stadium in the final on 27 February. This was the first major trophy won by the club in 48 years. He was released by Birmingham following their relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2010–11 season, in which he made 11 appearances and scored one goal. He later had trials with Millwall, Charlton Athletic, Carlisle United and Hull City.

After a year without a club, Parnaby signed for former club Middlesbrough on 2 July 2012 on a two year contract, with the option of a further year. He made his debut on 25 September as manager Tony Mowbray made eleven changes for the League Cup match away to Preston North End, which Middlesbrough won 3–1. He struggled with injuries throughout the 2012–13 season, limiting him to 18 appearances. His season, however, was disrupted by a knee injury, making three appearances, with the last coming in September.

Parnaby signed for League Two club Hartlepool United on 26 June 2014. He made his debut on 9 August in the opening match of the 2014–15 season, a 1–0 away loss to Stevenage. He picked up two hamstring injuries early in the season before having surgery for a knee problem in November, which ruled him out for the rest of the season. He had made five appearances for Hartlepool, the last coming in September. He announced his retirement from playing on 10 September 2015.

Parnaby made his debut for the England national under 16 team on 23 June 1998 when starting their 4–1 defeat to the United States (US), as part of a tour of the country. He started all of the under 16's matches from June 1998 to May 1999, and scored his only goal at this level on 30 March 1999 in a 1–0 win over Turkey in a friendly. He finished his under 16 career with 11 caps and one goal from 1998 to 1999. His only goal at this level came on 11 October with a 90th minute winner against Italy in 2001 UEFA European Under 18 Championship qualification. He was a regular starter for the under 18s, making eight appearances and scoring one goal from 2000 to 2001. He played in three of the team's five matches at the 2002 Toulon Tournament, and scored a 46th minute goal in the second match, a 1–0 victory over Poland on 10 May. He made four appearances and scored one goal for the under 20s in 2002. He made his first start on 2 June 2003 in a 3–2 win over Serbia and Montenegro in a friendly. He was removed from his position in July 2017. Parnaby joined Martin Gray's backroom staff at National League North club York City in July 2018 as strength and conditioning coach. When Gray left the club, youth team manager Sam Collins took over as caretaker manager on 20 August, with Parnaby his assistant. Collins and Parnaby were appointed permanently on 10 October after recording four wins from eight matches. Parnaby left the club on 7 January 2019 shortly after Collins was dismissed as manager with the team 15th in the table. Parnaby joined the coaching staff of National League North club Spennymoor Town on 9 January 2020. He was named as manager Tommy Miller's assistant on 20 May 2021. He left the club on 5 December following the dismissal of Miller.

Parnaby married his partner of seven years, Paula, in his home city of Durham in 2010. Parnaby and his wife were expecting their first child in January 2014, but the pregnancy resulted in a stillbirth. Ahead of the match against Brighton & Hove Albion, Middlesbrough's players wore black armbands as a mark of respect. Her death prompted Parnaby to set up an online charity appeal, which raised over £5,000 in two days. Parnaby has an older brother, who is a golfer and resides in the US.