Joe on Parky's U's legacy.
And the current incumbent of the U's hotseat believes he learned plenty from Parky's spell in charge of the U's.
Joe was still a player when Parky took the managerial reigns at Layer Road, but was quickly appointed onto the youth staff by Phil following the end of his playing career.
Saturday's game against Bradford City will see U's boss Joe Dunne go head to head with former manager Phil Parkinson for the first time.
Joe was still a player when Parky took the managerial reigns at Layer Road, but was quickly appointed onto the youth staff by Phil following the end of his playing career.
Saturday's game against Bradford City will see U's boss Joe Dunne go head to head with former manager Phil Parkinson for the first time.
"He brought a professionalism to the club, that was something that really struck me very early on. The only thing I was disappointed about was I didn't get to play under him, as I think it would have benefited my career.
"He changed the club's whole attitude and took it by the scruff of the neck.
"I am trying to bring a new way to the club, and it will take time."
"It didn't happen overnight mind you, we need to recognise that and see where we are at the moment.
"He had the drive and ambition to do well and he has been an inspiration to me as I am now where he was, and the same age, as when he was first got here.
"He did a great job for us and we should never forget that."
Joe has made significant changes to the U's playing squad in his first year in charge, as well as setting things up during the week to match his ideas and philosophy.
But it is also what Joe has done away from the training ground that has benefited the club so far - something he learned from Parky.
"Me getting in a car and driving to every game under the sun is an offset of what Phil did. That's what I remembered, sometimes you have to make sure that you go the extra mile to get a player, and that's why we've got the players that we have.
"If it means you drive through the night to go and knock on someone's door, you have to do it to succeed."
Joe is a fortnight shy of his first year in charge of the U's and, as he prepares to go to Yorkshire this weekend, he knows that it has been just the first step of his journey to take the U's where he wants them to be.
But it is also what Joe has done away from the training ground that has benefited the club so far - something he learned from Parky.
"Me getting in a car and driving to every game under the sun is an offset of what Phil did. That's what I remembered, sometimes you have to make sure that you go the extra mile to get a player, and that's why we've got the players that we have.
"If it means you drive through the night to go and knock on someone's door, you have to do it to succeed."
Joe is a fortnight shy of his first year in charge of the U's and, as he prepares to go to Yorkshire this weekend, he knows that it has been just the first step of his journey to take the U's where he wants them to be.
"It took Phil three years, and it all came together in the end. We should all be grateful for where we ended up and it changed the club forever.
"I am trying to bring a new way to the club, and it will take time."
"It didn't happen overnight mind you, we need to recognise that and see where we are at the moment.