England midfielder Scott Parker crowned an impressive 2008/09 campaign by being voted Hammer of the Year by the club's supporters. Parker enjoyed a strong season, making 32 appearances in league and cup.

The Lambeth-born midfielder was rewarded for his consistency with a recall to the full England squad by head coach Fabio Capello for the friendly victory over Germany in Berlin in November 2008.

Parker first shot to the nation's attention when he appeared juggling a football in McDonald's television adverts during the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Soon afterwards, the teenager joined the FA's now-defunct National School of Excellence at Lilleshall.

After graduating, Parker joined Charlton Athletic as a trainee, making his senior debut as a 16-year-old in a goalless old First Division draw against Bury on August 1997. Two months later, he signed his first professional contract at The Valley.

Despite his early impact, Parker struggled to make a first-team place his own at Charlton over the next few seasons and was loaned out to second-tier Norwich City in October 2000. The midfielder made six appearances for the Canaries before returning to south London. Back at The Valley, Parker finally established himself as a first-team regular, going on to make 145 appearances for the Addicks, scoring ten goals.

Parker's tenacious tackling, relentless stamina and never-say-die attitude saw him catch the attention of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who paid £10m to take him across London to Stamford Bridge in January 2004. Five months later, Parker was voted PFA Young Player of the Year by his fellow professionals.

By then an England international, Parker suffered a broken metatarsal playing against former club Norwich in December 2004, causing him to lose his place in the Chelsea first-team. With his opportunities limited by the fierce competition for places in west London, he moved to Newcastle for £6.5m in June 2005.

Parker was a revelation at St James' Park, being made captain and earning a call into the full England squad in September 2006. In all, he would make 73 appearances for the Magpies, scoring six goals and lifting the UEFA Intertoto Cup in the summer of 2006.

West Ham United moved to bring Parker to the Boleyn Ground in the summer of 2007, paying Newcastle £7m to sign the England man on a five-year contract. The midfielder's debut was delayed by a knee ligament injury that meant he did not pull on a claret and blue shirt until the Carling Cup third round win over Plymouth Argyle on 26 September 2007.

Parker's initial campaign in east London, 2007/08, was punctuated by a recurrence of his knee problems, restricting him to 20 appearances in all competitions, although he did net a dramatic late winner in the 2-1 Barclays Premier League success at Middlesbrough.

Into 2008/09 and Parker shook off his injury concerns to enjoy a stellar campaign at the heart of the Hammers midfield, taking him past the 50-appearance mark for the club.

At international level, he has represented England at every level from Under-15 upwards, earning three senior caps, the last of which came on his only start in the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia in Zagreb on 11 October 2006.