The Legends XI - Goal Keeping elections

 

Walsall has been fortunate over the years to have had some great goalkeepers and it is easy to see why there are four of them in the current squad.  I have made my personal choice of the pretenders to their crowns, which was not an easy process, but the claims of Boswell, Wood and Barber, etc, have been set aside.

 

 

These are the four currently in the squad: -

---

Jimmy Walker Needs no introduction to any Saddler.  He is just starting his testimonial year, having originally come to the club from Notts County.  He has always been regarded as one of the best goalkeepers outside of the Premiership and is a “legend” amongst the fans.

---

Bert Williams Only made 28 appearances for Walsall, during the war years, before going on to fame and fortune with Wolves, where he won his England caps.  A great shot stopper, he is usually classed as one of Molyneux’s all time greats.

---

Mick Kearns Walsall’s most capped player (15 times with us and 18 in total), an Eire International.  Starting with Oxford, he also played for Wolves.  Despite his height, was known as a good shop stopper, rather than a “dominator of the box” and nowadays is the club goalkeeping coach and part time match summariser for WM.  A mean golfer too!

---

Phil Parkes Was with Walsall for two seasons, before moving on to QPR, when they were one of the country’s top teams, and West Ham.  Managed one England cap (away in Portugal) at a time when he was competing with Shilton and Clemence.  Big, dominant and a great shot stopper.

---

The other nominees are: -

Mark Wallington Gave great, if short, service to Walsall, before moving on to a higher level.  His longest spell was as the Leicester City number one for several seasons, where he was something of a folk hero amongst the fans.  Was talked of as a possible England keeper at the time.

---

Ron Green Not as big a name as some of the others, but was a great servant to the club and a very underrated goalkeeper.  Was one of the crucial players during the “wilderness years” just before our current run of success.

---

Harry Wait Walsall’s keeper for most of the twenties, was similar to Jimmy Walker, in being regarded as a far better player than the Division we were in.  When the Express and Star had its vote for the all time Walsall legend, was highly enough regarded to have got 6% of the vote.

---

So those are the nominees.  Will any of the others oust the current incumbents?  The decision is yours. You have 2 votes. Use them wisely. Only 3 (instead of 4) of this list will make the squad.

 

Legends XI Goal Keepers

Your Choice Jim Walker Bert Williams Mick Kearns Phil Parkes Mark Wallington Ron Green Harry Wait

Current Results

 

 

Once the goalkeepers have been decided upon, we will move onto the defence, so please leave any nominations you have on the message board.  Unfortunately, my decision will be final as to who makes the poll!

| Home | Forum | Motm Poll | Rumours | Quiz