Ray Clemence dies!

[kettering_baggie]

Former England goalkeeper Ray Clemence has died, aged 72. Suffered for a long time with cancer, apparently. Always seemed like a good bloke and a rather good ‘keeper. RIP

[mickd1961]

My favourite goalkeeper of all time.

First match i ever watched was the 1971 FA Cup Final of Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool.

I can still see him laying flat on his back after Charlie George scored the winner.......for me still one of THE iconic Cup winning goals.

For me he was a better and more agile keeper than the over rated Shilton.

Watching this again reminds me of why I fell in love with the game.

Free flowing and skilful and not a tattoo or piercing in site.

https://youtu.be/b6nO8hCbqG4

[WBA1955]

Ray was a top keeper.
We don't produce keepers of his class anymore.
Swipe me even the likes of Scott Carson can get a game for England these days.

[mickd1961]

Ray was a top keeper.
We don't produce keepers of his class anymore.
Swipe me even the likes of Scott Carson can get a game for England these days.

Clemence wasn’t exactly chuffed when this happened Des.

Watch between minutes 3 and 4 of this clip which I’m sure you saw in the flesh as I myself did 40 years ago.

Early in the build up also take note of Martyn Bennett’s superb challenge to win the ball.

A player of real class and the sort of defender we sadly lack these days......what a player that boy was in his pomp before injury crippled him.

The clip.....

https://youtu.be/8j8h8KdJn6A

[wbaliquidator]

I would rate him as the best. Shilton was excellent as well, a very good stopper but clemence had that bit more in my opinion. He probably was the best ever when faced with a one on one as he was so brave, but it was his ability at corners that I believe put him above shilton. He would just come and collect anything that was less than 3 ½ yds from goal, and catch it too!
Another reminder that I’m getting nearer to the front of the queue for the grim reaper.

[Bombers right foot]

Top keeper, streets ahead of Shilton, for agility he was top drawer, the only goalkeepers that I saw who came close to him agility wise were Banks, Jennings, Grobbelaar and Tony Godden

[Baggiemadguern]

Great keeper in my view and a really nice chap I recall, having been his opposite number in a friendly v Tottenham in 1984,(if memory serves me right). I read he loved playing outfield in training and I recall he played out of goal for the second half of that friendly game.

Rip Fella, you were one of the greats.

[stripes39]

When you realise he never played in a World Cup finals, its hard to fathom with some of the players around in the 70's how we managed to miss both the West Germany and Argentina competitions on the bounce. Such a shame that the stuffed shirts at The FA didn't want Cloughie instead opting for Revie.

I always thought that Clemence was a far more natural keeper than Shilton with natural agility few have ever matched whereas Shilton was a 'made' keeper who focused on getting everything out of what he'd been given much in the way Geoff Boycott did with cricket.

For me, the stand outs of the last 50 years would be Banks, Clemence, Shilton, Jennings and Southall. Its quite depressing when you look at what we have now.

[WBA1955]

Tony Godden would have been one of the best if he had the ability to command his area, but he was a bit like Johnstone in that area.
Banks and Clemence were the two best England keepers in my time.

[stripes39]

Tony Godden would have been one of the best if he had the ability to command his area, but he was a bit like Johnstone in that area.
Banks and Clemence were the two best England keepers in my time.

Tony Godden was a great reflex keeper and overall pretty good. To add to your comment about failing to command the area, I think he also seemed to have lapses in concentration. That roll-out of the ball when Kenny Dalglish scored at The BRE being one example.