Colin Heys posed an interesting question recently. He remembers the days before substitute goalkeepers were allowed in the English game and has fond memories of outfield players David Speedie and Bobby McDonald donning the 'keeper's jersey after injuries to City custodians. He wondered how many City outfield players have had to step into the goalkeeper's role.
I only have records for the post-war period and since 1945 there have been nine occasions, the most recent being in 2005 when manager Micky Adams failed to name a goalkeeper on the sub's bench against Stoke City at Highfield Road and Stephen Hughes had to go between the posts after Ian Bennett was sent off three minutes into the second half. Hughes pulled off several good saves to earn City a point in a 0-0 draw.
In the 1950s City defender Roy Kirk went in goal three times after injuries to Reg Matthews (twice) and Peter Taylor. At Newport in 1956 Matthews was injured early in the game and Kirk took over and although he saved a penalty City lost 4-2. In 1958 City goalkeeper Jim Sanders broke a leg in the 71st minute with City leading 6-0. Kirk took over and although he let a late goal in City won 7-1.
1950s defender and stand-in 'keeper Roy Kirk
Six years later it was the turn of Bill Glazier to suffer a broken leg, at Manchester City's Maine Road. Glazier had been signed for a world record fee for a goalkeeper just six months previously and his form had been so good that he had won three England under 23 caps and was tipped to be in Alf Ramsey's World Cup squad the following year. Bill's broken leg wrecked the chances of being understudy to Gordon Banks. At Maine Road with 41 minutes gone City were 1-0 down and Ronnie Rees pulled on the green jersey. Four minutes later Ken Hale pulled the Sky Blues level and Rees kept the Man City forwards out in a 1-1 draw.
Up to 1965 when substitutes were first allowed all the instances resulted in City playing with 10 men after the removal of the goalies but after that point an injured goalkeeper could be replaced by an outfield player. Maine Road was the venue again in 1975 when City goalie Bryan King was forced to leave the field after 69 minutes with the Sky Blues 3-0 down. Substitute John Craven came on and took the goalie's jersey and although City pulled two goals back Craven let in a 90th minute fourth goal.
The following season City were playing West Ham in a relegation four-pointer at Highfield Road. After 60 minutes, with the score 0-0, Sky Blues keeper Jim Blyth had to leave the field with an injury. Substitute Alan Green came on and left-back Bobby McDonald took over in goal. Fifteen minutes later Mick Ferguson fired City ahead but three minutes from time 'Pop' Robson equalised.
The next occurrence was in 1989 at Millwall when Steve Ogrizovic suffered a shoulder injury in the first minute. Oggy struggled on until the break by which time City, who had gone into the game as First Division leaders, were 3-0 down. Oggy didn't appear after half-time and David Speedie, not the tallest of players, went in goal and kept the home side at bay until the 89th minute when he was beaten by a screamer from Ian Dawes.
The full list of outfield players who have gone into goal is as follows:
Season Opponents Goalkeeper Replacement score
1952-53 Brighton (a) Reg Matthews Roy Kirk 1-1
1952-53 Bristol R (a) Peter Taylor George Lowrie 2-5
1955-56 Newport (a) Reg Matthews Roy Kirk 2-4
1958-59 Aldershot (h) Jim Sanders Roy Kirk 7-1
1964-65 Man City (a) Bill Glazier Ronnie Rees 1-1
1975-76 Man City (a) Bryan King John Craven 2-4
1976-77 West Ham (h) Jim Blyth Bobby McDonald 1-1
1989-90 Millwall (a) Steve Ogrizovic David Speedie 1-4
2004-05 Stoke (h) Ian Bennett Stephen Hughes 0-0
Goalkeeper substitutes were first allowed in 1992 and the need for outfield players to go into goal has virtually diminished since although happened with Stephen Hughes. However in that time there have been nineteen occasions where City have used their substitute 'keeper either through injury or red cards and I'll cover those in more detail next week.
If you have a question about the history or statistics of Coventry City please drop me an email at clarriebourton@gmail.com and follow me on Twitter @clarriebourton
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