[spireitematt]

Well I don't think I saw Gordon Banks play for Chesterfield, I'd have been young ........ but I saw him play plenty. I spoke to Sam Hardy twice, but he was an old man by then. I think Banks is the greatest keeper who ever lived. My dad introduced me to Sam Hardy as being the greatest of all time ......... Both played for England.

I'm too young to have seen Ray Middleton play, but he got England B caps so he must be up there.

Alan Stevenson was a wonderful keeper, he went on to play over 400 times for Burnley. He had everything you need in a keeper. Top notch.

Steve Ogrizovic didn't play that many games for us, played even fewer at Liverpool, but over 500 at Coventry. Must put him up there - even though I thought he had good hands and slow feet!

John Osborne - saw him a lot, decent, unorthodox keeper, played a lot for West Brom, could always be relied upon to go Route One in Quizball .......

John Turner - good keeper, bought to replace Phil Tingay for reasons best known to Arthur Cox - now keeps a pub in a nice village about nine miles away here in Devon.

Jim Brown - too small and Scottish but was a sound, reliable keeper, and excellent shot-stopper, but you needed a big centre back for crosses.

Phil Tingay - two years older than me, very athletic, very good hands, very quick feet and good temperament. Was inches shorter than me, but when we were at opposite ends in the Sunday League he was better than me at least 85% of the time. (And he was a real sporting all-rounder too .... superb cover fielder.)

Ron Powell - well he had to be a sound keeper to have played for us for so long. On the other hand he didn't have the ability to go higher, but he played nearly 500 games didn't he? Like Ron himself, that carries some weight.

Billy Mercer - seemed decent but didn't make a strong impression on me really.

Mike Pollitt - nice keeper, but I'd never have picked him to get games in the Premier League.

John Roberts - we had him on loan for a season I reckon, Aussie, thought he was good, made some spectacular saves and could do the everyday stuff too. Probably gave us the best season of his career.

Chris Marples - did what his dad Terry wanted, played for Chesterfield and cricket for Derbyshire. Good keeper but had more than a mistake in him.

Carl Muggleton - a keeper who had been groomed for stardom, but didn't quite have the wherewithal.

Mark Crossley - I was better than him, along with about eight others from local football who never made pro'!

Top five for me have to be:-

Banks
Hardy
Stevenson
Middleton
Ogrizovic

Tommy would come around seventh or eighth in a pretty strong field. Blimey there were some bad keepers in Matt's list, some of whom could make you appreciate Joe Anyon.

Despite getting quite a few games for Bristol City Richard O'Donnell would always be an understudy to Tommy in my book.

Have to ask Matt - didn't you see Nathan Abbey play for Chesterfield, or did he give you PTSD?

Whoa, and what about Steve Hardwick? A better version of Mark Crossley in my book. We sold him for a decent fee I think .....

I remember Mike Pollitt playing for Wigan and Rotherham.

No never saw Nathan Abbey play for Chesterfield.