Although he played just 47 first-team games for the Albion after signing from the Staffordshire club Newcastle Town in January 1913, David Parkes quickly gained a reputation as a stylish centre half and played a large part in the club’s run to the last sixteen of the F.A. Cup in 1913-14. Albion went out of the competition 3-0 at Sheffield Wednesday, but David’s outstanding display caught the eyes of his hosts and a month later, in March 1914, the Yorkshire club paid a fee of £1,500 plus their reserve centre forward, George Beech for the 21-year-old. It was a huge sum at the time and an Albion record.
Soon after joining the Wednesday, David played for the Sheffield select Xl in the prestigious annual fixture against Glasgow, and he remained at Hillsborough for a war interrupted six years until May 1920 when he was transferred to Stoke for £150.
He spent 1921-22 with Lianelly, then joined Rochdale in the Third Division (North) in June 1922, where he clocked up 210 League appearances and enjoyed a benefit before dropping in 1928, into the Cheshire League with Macclesfield Town.