Last night’s goalkeeping debacle put me in my mind of goalies who have played for us over the years. When I first started supporting Chelsea in ‘55 our goalie was Bill Robertson who I don’t remember much about, but he was succeeded by Reg Matthews (why are there no more Reg’s, by the way? Great name for a footballer- “on me ‘ead, Reg!”). Reg Matthews found fame when we was capped by England whilst playing for Coventry in the old Third Division .. I’m sure he was the one for whom the phrase ‘goalkeepers are crazy’ was coined. Either that or he was a bit like the deaf stuntman in the Fast Show! Maybe he thought ‘don’t get beat’ was, in fact, ‘dive at his feet!’ As that’s what he always did … I think in his first match for us he actually got knocked unconscious diving at someone’s feet. With a few interruptions he was really the main man until the great Peter Bonetti came along … Peter was very agile and brave but was not big and muscular and probably wouldn’t have made it today.

Other goalies I remember were Petar Borata who was one of only two signings made by Danny Blanchflower when he was manager … apart from not being very good, Petar was unusual being a foreign goalie at a time when English goalies were rightly considered the best in the world … maybe he was signed by our current SD’s! There was an amateur called Mike Pinner who played a couple of games when, for some reason, we didn’t have a goalie, and then, of course, there was Alex Stepney. Now I’m not sure if Alex ever actually played for us and, in fact, his whole signing was a bit of a mystery. Bonetti was riding high at the time, playing for England and was our undisputed no 1, but before the start of the season we signed Stepney from Millwall, I think - he was also an international. He went on to sign for Man U with whom he had a very successful career but we never really understood why we signed him.

We ended up with the glory days of Cudicini, Cech and Courtois, and now we have …. Don’t get me started on that!

Can anyone remember any others?

I had no idea Alex Stepney played for us! Apparently he played one competitive game for us in 1966 (against Southampton).

We signed him for £50k from Millwall just before the World Cup, then sold him to Man Utd for £55k three months later. Man Utd of course went on to win the title that season, then the European Cup the year after. According to Wiki, Tommy Doc's plan was to play Bonetti and Stepney in alternating games.

As I wouldn't be born for another quarter of a century or so, my memories are a little more recent, however looking back at the man below feels a bit like a fever dream. I have a distinct memory of him putting in a heroic performance in a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa, which of course never actually happened.

2 hours ago, OnePeterOsgood said:

Last night’s goalkeeping debacle put me in my mind of goalies who have played for us over the years. When I first started supporting Chelsea in ‘55 our goalie was Bill Robertson who I don’t remember much about, but he was succeeded by Reg Matthews (why are there no more Reg’s, by the way? Great name for a footballer- “on me ‘ead, Reg!”). Reg Matthews found fame when we was capped by England whilst playing for Coventry in the old Third Division .. I’m sure he was the one for whom the phrase ‘goalkeepers are crazy’ was coined. Either that or he was a bit like the deaf stuntman in the Fast Show! Maybe he thought ‘don’t get beat’ was, in fact, ‘dive at his feet!’ As that’s what he always did … I think in his first match for us he actually got knocked unconscious diving at someone’s feet. With a few interruptions he was really the main man until the great Peter Bonetti came along … Peter was very agile and brave but was not big and muscular and probably wouldn’t have made it today.

Other goalies I remember were Petar Borata who was one of only two signings made by Danny Blanchflower when he was manager … apart from not being very good, Petar was unusual being a foreign goalie at a time when English goalies were rightly considered the best in the world … maybe he was signed by our current SD’s! There was an amateur called Mike Pinner who played a couple of games when, for some reason, we didn’t have a goalie, and then, of course, there was Alex Stepney. Now I’m not sure if Alex ever actually played for us and, in fact, his whole signing was a bit of a mystery. Bonetti was riding high at the time, playing for England and was our undisputed no 1, but before the start of the season we signed Stepney from Millwall, I think - he was also an international. He went on to sign for Man U with whom he had a very successful career but we never really understood why we signed him.

We ended up with the glory days of Cudicini, Cech and Courtois, and now we have …. Don’t get me started on that!

Can anyone remember any others?

During the great John Neal era we had Eddie Niedzwiecki, who was decent.

Of course there was Ed De-Goey (pornstar!) and Dave Beasant (and that dreadful game v Norwich where he made the sort of errors Sanchez and Jorgensen would be proud of).

We were so spoilt having Cech and then Courtois. Two of the best keepers to play the game. We HAVE to get another keeper for next season. Don't know if we have anything in the pipeline and how good Penders is, but I would take Pickford or Henderson to wear the No.1 jersey come August. Both would be huge upgrades on what we currently have.

John Phillips in the 70s . Remember a nightmare against Leeds at home, think we conceded 5 but I'm not sure . Had the misfortune to follow Bonetti.

Also Mendy, for a while he was terrific.

There's been a few that come to mind, Roger Freestone ?

Dave Beasant v Norwich!

https://youtu.be/FliZT-uVyms?si=vcvY7JF-bwDozPjO

Edited March 12Mar 12 by The Rising Sun
Information

24 minutes ago, The Rising Sun said:

John Phillips in the 70s . Remember a nightmare against Leeds at home, think we conceded 5 but I'm not sure . Had the misfortune to follow Bonetti.

Also Mendy, for a while he was terrific.

There's been a few that come to mind, Roger Freestone ?

I remember Tommy Hughes’s conceding 5 against Leeds at home and 5 at Goodison. He didn’t play many times for us but always seemed concede a few. Typical Scottish keeper.

Saw Home grown Phillips with Bonetti, after so long with Peter the position changed so much

Borota Bob Iles, Steve Francis

Eddie was outstanding and would have stayed for many years but for injury

This brought Les Fridge, Tony Godden, Kevin Hitchcock.

Shout out to Perry Digweed who saved a volley with his face from 6 yds!!

We then had Roger Freestone Dave Beasant and then Dimitri Kharine going into the prem era.

Side note too young to see Dave Webb in goal. I’ve seen Tommy Langley, David Speedie, John Coady and John Terry play emergency keeper. Any others I’ve missed?

50 minutes ago, Richard P said:

Saw Home grown Phillips with Bonetti, after so long with Peter the position changed so much

Borota Bob Iles, Steve Francis

Eddie was outstanding and would have stayed for many years but for injury

This brought Les Fridge, Tony Godden, Kevin Hitchcock.

Shout out to Perry Digweed who saved a volley with his face from 6 yds!!

We then had Roger Freestone Dave Beasant and then Dimitri Kharine going into the prem era.

36 minutes ago, Richard P said:

Side note too young to see Dave Webb in goal. I’ve seen Tommy Langley, David Speedie, John Coady and John Terry play emergency keeper. Any others I’ve missed?

Agree, Eddie was outstanding. A shame that his career was cut short by injury. I remember when Speedie replaced him goal. I think it was against QPR and one of their players - can't remember who - lobbed him for a goal and Speedie stretched up his arms in the vain hope of trying to make a save.

I'd forgotten about John Coady going in goal. Les Fridge only played one game for us when we lost 5-1 at home to Watford. In 1986?

I remember Godden playing a blinder against Man Utd at Old Trafford. Think he saved a penalty.

As for Freestone because his surname sounded like Flintstone as in Fred Flintstone we would shout out yabba, yabba, yabba dabba do when he took goalkicks.

1 hour ago, The Rising Sun said:

Dave Beasant v Norwich!

https://youtu.be/FliZT-uVyms?si=vcvY7JF-bwDozPjO

Think that was the first time I ever heard a Chelsea player boo'd (other than the racist ones). Did he ever play another game for us after that - I can't remember? Think I might still take Beasant over our current keepers though!

11 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Think that was the first time I ever heard a Chelsea player boo'd (other than the racist ones). Did he ever play another game for us after that - I can't remember? Think I might still take Beasant over our current keepers though!

Can't remember if it was his last game for us but I remember he was out injured for a while after dropping a jar of salad cream on his foot.

Francis blew it in the 2nd half against the Spuds in the cup in 82. We were well in it in the first half - that free kick is my best memory of Fillery, then Francis screwed it up.

Steve Sherwood. Early 1970s. Played 16 times for us in the early 1970s.

He went to Watford and played for them over200 times and was in goal for them in the 1984 FA Cup Final against Everton.

He actually scored a goal, for Watford against Coventry in 1984.

David Webb played an entire game in goal for us against Ipswich.

This occurred when Peter Bonetti and John Phillips were both injured and reserve goalkeeper Steve Sherwood ( who would have made his debut) was delayed in traffic!

Monday 27th December 1971. David Webb kept a clean sheet as we won 2-0. Steve Kember and Chris Garland scoring for us.

Watched by a crowd of 43,896, who were all very probably amazed when the Chelsea team was announced with David Web starting in goal!

On the following Saturday, we played away to Derby. Steve Sherwood made his debut for us, with David Webb back at No 6 and unfortunately scoring an own goal, for the only goal of the game!

20 hours ago, Boyne said:

Agree, Eddie was outstanding. A shame that his career was cut short by injury. I remember when Speedie replaced him goal. I think it was against QPR and one of their players - can't remember who - lobbed him for a goal and Speedie stretched up his arms in the vain hope of trying to make a save.

I'd forgotten about John Coady going in goal. Les Fridge only played one game for us when we lost 5-1 at home to Watford. In 1986?

I remember Godden playing a blinder against Man Utd at Old Trafford. Think he saved a penalty.

As for Freestone because his surname sounded like Flintstone as in Fred Flintstone we would shout out yabba, yabba, yabba dabba do when he took goalkicks.

David kerslake for Q P R! I was in the shed that night and Speedo was just too short!!

20 hours ago, Nibs said:

Think that was the first time I ever heard a Chelsea player boo'd (other than the racist ones). Did he ever play another game for us after that - I can't remember? Think I might still take Beasant over our current keepers though!

After the game in Sept he didn’t play until the following March. We used Hitchcock, Kharine, Perry Digweed (Loan) before Beasant came back to play Arsenal in a 1-0 home win

Found out by pure fluke that Gerry Peyton played a half for the injured Dimitri Kharine at home to Sheff Wed It was his debut and his last game!

56 minutes ago, Richard P said:

David kerslake for Q P R! I was in the shed that night and Speedo was just too short!!

Cheers. I was in the Shed as well that night. I think he lobbed the ball from about 30 yards out and Speedie trying his best to get to the ball but it wasn't to be.

The Dutch pornstar was at the time highly thought of. I remember when Carlo came in and replaced Ed I was kind of disappointed TBH.

ETA what a horrible shirt.

Edited March 13Mar 13 by Scott

This is a superb thread and every post is excellent.

6 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

This is a superb thread and every post is excellent.

No one gets the hump and starts name calling in the Vintage section!! The team was good and bad. Nice just to join forces to remember the old days

14 hours ago, Richard P said:

Found out by pure fluke that Gerry Peyton played a half for the injured Dimitri Kharine at home to Sheff Wed It was his debut and his last game!

Great shout! 😀

14 hours ago, Richard P said:

Found out by pure fluke that Gerry Peyton played a half for the injured Dimitri Kharine at home to Sheff Wed It was his debut and his last game!

One who gets forgotten and not surprising as he wasn't with us that long was Frode Grodas. Don't remember a huge amount about him other than he was the keeper when we ended our long trophy drought when we won the FA Cup against Boro in 97 - up to that point, one of the happiest days of my life as a Chelsea supporter and was revenge for them relegating us in 88.

Edited March 14Mar 14 by Nibs

William Foulkes. Our first goalkeeper.