So Who's Derby's Greatest Ever Goalkeeper?

[Romanis]

Since it's the break, time for some other topics. Now just who is Derby's best man between the sticks?

Should be a Boulton shoo in right? But don't forget you did have our very great, Peter Shilton too with you. What about Fielding? Mark Poom? Or Scotty Carson?

[Andy_Faber]

Boulton IMO, although his lack of stature might have found him wanting had he not had the majestic McFarland in front of him. As a shot-stopper I'd rate him second to none until Schmeichel took that art to a different level.

On a related subject, and a case o beer from Kaptain Kilgore for anyone that gets this, who played centre half for Derby but goalkeeper for Chelsea? And no, this isn't one from the 17th century, its post-Clough/Taylor

[roger_ramjet]

David Webb for the beer please.

I always rated Les Green as best keeper per inch....

[Salopian0]

Since it's the break, time for some other topics. Now just who is Derby's best man between the sticks?

Should be a Boulton shoo in right? But don't forget you did have our very great, Peter Shilton too with you. What about Fielding? Mark Poom? Or Scotty Carson?

Fancy you forgetting Steve Sutton. Seem to remember he was pretty good and quite consistent

[Romanis]

Fancy you forgetting Steve Sutton. Seem to remember he was pretty good and quite consistent

Yup. But I don't think he would be considered legendary with you guys.
Actually I prefered him over Mark Crossley with us.

[Bloomeram]

Not sure you could say he was the greatest but the first Rams keeper I can remember was Les Green, not a tall keeper but was a great shot stopper.

Jimmy Greaves once hit a shot against Green and the prolific striker turned away with his hands in the air thinking he had scored but Les managed to get a hand to it and saved. Greaves just stood there in disbelief then joined in with the Derby fans by applauding the save.

[Andy_Faber]

David Webb for the beer please.

I always rated Les Green as best keeper per inch....

Correct, a one-game career, Dec 27 1971 v. Ipswich and he kept a clean sheet.

Les was a fantastic shot-stopper but had a habit of jumping for a ball and actually ending up lower than when he started. Left under a bit of a cloud that I never really understood

[MadAmster]

That Les Green save against Spurs!!! It was 2-0 to Derby at the time but the game was very even and Spurs were still very much in the game. He not only got a hand to it, he got both hands on it and held it. Whether that took the stuffing out of Spurs or simply spurred the Rams on, I don't know, but it ended 5-0 in front of the largest crowd ever seen at the BBG.

On the broader topic, most of the fine keepers we have had have been named. The one surprising omission to my mind is Mart Poom.

As others have said, inch for inch, it was little Les Green but the top 3 to me were Poom, Shilts and Boulton. Shilts would win the "overall" title but was past his best (still extremely good though) when he played for Derby. Leicester, Stoke them from down the A52 got the best of him. So, for me it's between Poom and Boulton. An established international or an unsung hero?

I plump for the unsung hero. He played almost twice as many games for us as Poom and he was the only player to play in every game of the 72 and the 75 Championship winning sides.

For those who haven't seen the Les Green save, here is the Youtube video of the highlights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0po81oCwrU

[Andy_Faber]

That Les Green save against Spurs!!! It was 2-0 to Derby at the time but the game was very even and Spurs were still very much in the game. He not only got a hand to it, he got both hands on it and held it. Whether that took the stuffing out of Spurs or simply spurred the Rams on, I don't know, but it ended 5-0 in front of the largest crowd ever seen at the BBG.

On the broader topic, most of the fine keepers we have had have been named. The one surprising omission to my mind is Mart Poom.

As others have said, inch for inch, it was little Les Green but the top 3 to me were Poom, Shilts and Boulton. Shilts would win the "overall" title but was past his best (still extremely good though) when he played for Derby. Leicester, Stoke them from down the A52 got the best of him. So, for me it's between Poom and Boulton. An established international or an unsung hero?

I plump for the unsung hero. He played almost twice as many games for us as Poom and he was the only player to play in every game of the 72 and the 75 Championship winning sides.

For those who haven't seen the Les Green save, here is the Youtube video of the highlights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0po81oCwrU

Were you at that game MA? I stood in the stand at the Normanton End for the only time, looking back it was bloody dangerous how packed it was. I didn't realise footage survived of that game til a few days ago

[MadAmster]

Were you at that game MA? I stood in the stand at the Normanton End for the only time, looking back it was bloody dangerous how packed it was. I didn't realise footage survived of that game til a few days ago

Yes, Andy, I was. In my usual spot in the middle of the Popside up towards the back where the chants used to start. That day I saw most of the Popside to be honest. Surges in the crowd saw me literally swept off my feet and 20 yards forwards and then as many to the left and back, slowly making my way, carried along by the crowd back to my starting position. I was glad I was wearing Doc's that day as, if I had been wearing shoes, I would almost certanly have lost one or both on my involuntray travels.

Greaves' reaction to that save was that of a true sportsman. I don't think we will ever see such a reaction to a save again. Which says a lot about the state of football.

That season was one of several consecutive seasons (69 to 77) where I did every game home and away.