[Zigsuk]

I've said it before but it's worth saying again what marks out the great goalkeepers is their consistency. Any goalkeeper at any level can make the occasional blinding save, but it is the ones who rarely make mistakes and make consistently blinding saves who are the greats.

I think we have been spoiled for goalkeepers ovver the years - just as we have for centre halves (we must have had maybe a dozen good ch's since I first started watchiing in 67/8) - and the fact that we have struggled for consistent goalies and centre halves since being in this league is hard to take.

Tommy Lee was undoubtedly our last really good keeper, but it's easy to forget he was falliable on crosses which prevented him from joining our true greats such as Alan Stevenson, Steve Hardwick, Billy Mercer, Oggy, etc. Some would include John Turner and Mike Pollit in this list, but I wouldn't. They were for me probably at Tommy's level.
Tommy could make some blinding saves and undoubtedly saved us many points, but he did have the occasional error in him. Having said that what we would give for him now.

[gordon_brittas]

Billy Mercer for me was the best keeper we had. Rarely had a bad game, and some of the saves he made got the club at least 10-15 extra points a season. If Norton Lea had backed Duncan properly the season after the cup run with a few extra bits of quality, Mercer would have led that side into the First Division that season.

[Jud]

Even Tommy, who we all have very fond memories of I'm sure, started his tenure with us by going on a nutty Higuita-style run out of his box once a game and it cost us. But that's because he was young and still learning, much like Tyrer. HT is not the finished article by any means but as long as the errors he makes aren't too costly, more than happy to have him between the sticks.

[Between The Sticks]

My top five that I have seen and in this order are:- Gordon Banks, John Osborne, Steve Ogrizovic, Ron Powell & Alan Stevenson. If you want one who could really punch a ball and most times a player clear it was Ron. He was probably the smallest keeper we ever had but boy could he clear his area.

[Osborne again]

Between The Sticks, on 10 September 2023 - 02:42 PM, said:

My top five that I have seen and in this order are:- Gordon Banks, John Osborne, Steve Ogrizovic, Ron Powell & Alan Stevenson. If you want one who could really punch a ball and most times a player clear it was Ron. He was probably the smallest keeper we ever had but boy could he clear his area.

Four out of five of them went onto play at, what would now be, Premier league level. What a beast Ron Powell was, and servant to the club.

[lindave]

My favourites apart from the great Banks were:-
Stevo.
Oggie.
Osborne.
Arblaster.
Roberts.

[Osborne again]

lindave, on 10 September 2023 - 04:54 PM, said:

My favourites apart from the great Banks were:-
Stevo.
Oggie.
Osborne.
Arblaster.
Roberts.

Johnny Roberts was a decent keeper and Brian Arblaster was understudy to John Osborne before the latter went to WBA, and the former went to Barnsley later.

[DIFH]

gordon_brittas, on 10 September 2023 - 12:18 PM, said:

Billy Mercer for me was the best keeper we had. Rarely had a bad game, and some of the saves he made got the club at least 10-15 extra points a season. If Norton Lea had backed Duncan properly the season after the cup run with a few extra bits of quality, Mercer would have led that side into the First Division that season.

You obviously forgot our ex Miller keeper (what's his name) just like me.

[Zigsuk]

Osborne again, on 10 September 2023 - 06:25 PM, said:

Johnny Roberts was a decent keeper and Brian Arblaster was understudy to John Osborne before the latter went to WBA, and the former went to Barnsley later.

Roberts was the first town keeper I saw. Wasn't he immediately before Stevo or was there someone briefly in between?

[Osborne again]

Zigsuk, on 10 September 2023 - 06:43 PM, said:

Roberts was the first town keeper I saw. Wasn't he immediately before Stevo or was there someone briefly in between?

Not sure, there's been a lot of John Smith's Magnet passed my way since then 😆. Phil Tingay was another excellent keeper, and I remember him sorting out a fault on the floodlights at one match, he was a sparky by trade.

[60s 70s Spireite]

Zigsuk, on 10 September 2023 - 06:43 PM, said:

Roberts was the first town keeper I saw. Wasn't he immediately before Stevo or was there someone briefly in between?

Alan Humphries

[warfey is a spireite]

DIFH, on 10 September 2023 - 06:27 PM, said:

You obviously forgot our ex Miller keeper (what's his name) just like me.

You've also missed two more excellent keepers Steve cherry,and Mike pollit

[Comeonyouirons]

Alan Stevenson
Johnny Roberts
Mark Kendall
In that order from another ( like Zigsuk) who first dabbled in 67/68
In best David Coleman voice “ Quite remarkable “ that two out of three were only on loan

This post has been edited by Comeonyouirons: 10 September 2023 - 08:26 PM

[ronpowellsbutler]

Osborne again, on 10 September 2023 - 02:56 PM, said:

Four out of five of them went onto play at, what would now be, Premier league level. What a beast Ron Powell was, and servant to the club.

I recall my boss keeping Gordon Banks in the reserves. Thumbs round the top of the shorts anyone ?

[60s 70s Spireite]

Comeonyouirons, on 10 September 2023 - 08:23 PM, said:

Alan Stevenson
Johnny Roberts
Mark Kendall
In that order from another ( like Zigsuk) who first dabbled in 67/68
In best David Coleman voice “ Quite remarkable “ that two out of three were only on loan

Not quite share what you’re listing, chronological order or your favourites. If it’s the former, check out the Sky is Blue website, line ups.
Roberts was before Humphries, then Stevo. Then Jim Brown, Phil Tingay Steve Hardwick. Steve Ogrovovic, Glen Letheran. and eventually the late great Mark Kendall

This post has been edited by 60s 70s Spireite: 10 September 2023 - 08:59 PM

[Zigsuk]

Can’t remember much about Roberts & Humphries as I was only a kid when I saw them, but all those others listed were good to great.
Proves my initial proposition that we really have been spoiled for keepers.

[hilly81]

In terms of ability, the late Márton Fülöp was the best we have had in my time watching Town.

[Osborne again]

Jim Brown, another great goalkeeper, and another international. Sold to Sheff U, on the cheap, when Tom Macallister broke his leg, if I remember right.
Ron Powell was the first goalkeeper I can remember at Town, and didn't he have to finish in the mid 60's after injuries he received in a car crash that also killed Ernie Hunt.

[ronpowellsbutler]

Ralph Hunt.
Ernie Hunt was Coventry, famous for that free kick routine.

This post has been edited by ronpowellsbutler: 11 September 2023 - 11:20 AM

[clarevoyant.]

ronpowellsbutler, on 11 September 2023 - 11:15 AM, said:

Ralph Hunt.
Ernie Hunt was Coventry, famous for that free kick routine.

Pete Stringfellow and Doug Wragg also in the car. Returning from watching P'boro and QPR the winners being our next opponents in the 3rd round of the FA cup