Nick Pope...Where Does He Rank In Burnley's Pantheon of Keepers

[ElectroClaret]

All right, we're likely to lose him after almost six years, and no one can blame him for moving on, particularly
if he wants to further his England aspirations.

To me, he's the best keeper we've had since Alan Stevenson, which is high praise indeed.

Other views?

[chipbutty]

He can only hope to walk in the shadow of Luigi Cennamo...

[IanMcL]

He is better than Stevenson, owing to his size, which gives him advantage.
Better than Heaton and Blacklaw.

Best

[Enola Gay]

Best I’ve seen since 19/12/1986.

[Burnley1989]

Shot stopper, best in the country, and one of the best in the world.

20 years ago he’d have been no1 and raved about… now… just a top goal keeper

[Burnley1989]

All right, we're likely to lose him after almost six years, and no one can blame him for moving on, particularly
if he wants to further his England aspirations.

To me, he's the best keeper we've had since Alan Stevenson, which is high praise indeed.

Other views?

The fact he’s better than Heaton says it all’ very lucky to have those two and Hart

[Milltown1882]

I was born in 89 so you can guess the generation of keepers I’ve grown up watching. The fact we’ve had Hart, Heaton and far beyond the others Pope play for us is a privilege. Best in my generation for the club by a distance.

[MG70]

Not a patch on Joe Neenan.

[Quicknick]

Colin McDonald?

[bfcjg]

Best I have seen in over 50 years watching Burnley.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Right up there with the best.

Probably on a par with Joe Neenan & Roger Hansbury

[CardyTheClaret]

As incredible as Pope has been for us I think Heaton was a touch better. The way he communicated with the back four and his kicking ability.

[Herts Clarets]

My first Burnley keepers were Stevenson and Gerry Peyton. There was a steep decline in keepers after Stevenson and plumbed the depths for over a decade until we signed Marlon Beresford, who raised the bar somewhat. The quality then plateaued for over 2 decades with the like of Crichton, Michopolous, Jensen, Coyne and Grant plus an assortment of bit part players all much of a muchness. We then saw what i would suggest if the steepest increase in keeper quality with the arrival of Tom Heaton, who for me was head and shoulders above anything i had seen previously, recognised with the awarding of 3 England caps. That bar has been raised even higher with the consistent brilliance of our current No 1 Nick Pope, who as rightly described elsewhere is probably the best shot stopper and cross taker in the country and in days gone by when the prime role of a keeper was to keep the ball out of the net, would undoubtedly have won many more England caps than he has.

We have been spoilt this last decade or so and presuming this summer sees the departure of Nick Pope then we are going to have to lower our expectations, as Nick Pope is a once in a lifetime keeper (well in my almost 50 years of watching Burnley). To steal a quote from Brian Clough, I am not saying he is the best keeper I have seen, but he is definitely in the top one.

[Boss Hogg]

He’s excellent but I still think Heaton was better.

[SalisburyClaret]

Very close between Pope and Heaton but they are top of the pile

[Buxtonclaret]

I can't choose between Nick or Tom.
Each shades the other in certain areas, but as a whole, they're each the real deal.
And if Nick does leave, we've Wayne Hennessy.

[HeatonMoorClaret]

Popey and Heats both great all round keepers. Best shot stopper for me was Harry Thompson .

[ClaretPete001]

I might have said Stevenson but he once shouted at me in the Thomson Centre because I made a noise when he was playing table tennis. I felt it was unjust at the time but now I think it was probably richly deserved.

Heaton was good but Pope has been amazing.

[Steve1956]

No1
End of chat.

[SouthLondonexile]

I rate him the best we have ever had - technically, he can do anything. Charlton FC fans thought he was poor.
However for the overall influence on the team I would say Heaton edges it for me.
Alan Stevenson I have as third place. He was really really good.

[Colburn_Claret]

A tough call between Pope and Heaton, both excellent for us.
I've always said the sign of true greatness is consistency, and on that measure they are both true greats.

[gawthorpe_view]

2nd behind Colin Mcdonald.

[Culmclaret]

Hillman (ahem), Dawson, McDonald, Blacklaw, Stevenson, Heaton, Pope…..is the shortlist. Impossible to tell without having seen them all, and of course the relevant attributes have changed over time but I will stick my neck out and say. 1. McDonald . 2. Pope. 3. Heaton

[DAVETHEVICAR]

I have been fortunate to see lots of GREAT Goalkeepers at Burnley.
MacDonald. - Blacklaw - Heaton - Stevenson but imo Nick Pope is the best of the lot.

[ClaretTony]

For me, Stevenson is some way behind Pope and I now feel that he's ahead of Heaton. I never saw McDonald so I can only start from Blacklaw and Pope is right up there alongside Adam for me.

[tiger76]

Incredible to recall we picked Pope up from relegated Charlton for about £1.5-2m I think, and he was part of a Charlton side which shipped loads of goals.

Heaton equally was snapped up on a free from Bristol City after their relegation.

And it's incredibly difficult to split either, both have been fantastic between the sticks.

And considering the goalies we've had to endure in the wilderness years, we should celebrate the fact that we've enjoyed Hart. Heaton and Pope in the last few seasons, Nick will be tough to replace, but Hennessey showed in his Welsh display on Sunday that he'll be a safe pair of hands.

[Stevesball2]

Heaton just gets it for me , Pope will go on to more caps with England.

Loved Peter Mellor as a kid .
Hansbury is the worst keeper I have ever seen in Burnley shirt ,and I watched Andy Farrell play in goal !!!!.

[Foreverly Claret]

I have been fortunate to see lots of GREAT Goalkeepers at Burnley.
MacDonald. - Blacklaw - Heaton - Stevenson but imo Nick Pope is the best of the lot.

Agreed..some great saves come to mind..Blacklaw kept us in it at Hillsborough in the FA Cup 196? ; Heats at Old Trafford but I think Nick shaves it..if his kicking was better he'd be way in front.

[ClaretTony]

Agreed..some great saves come to mind..Blacklaw kept us in it at Hillsborough in the FA Cup 196? ; Heats at Old Trafford but I think Nick shaves it..if his kicking was better he'd be way in front.

Unbelievable at Hillsborough

[Venkys4eva]

Best ive seen since following the clarets but I bet he can't dance as well as chris pearce

[Berne Leigh]

I think overall he is the best I have seen. Although it was close run thing with Tom Heaton, Alan Stevenson and Mark Kendall.

[JohnMac]

If Pope could kick he would be World Class. We have been fortunate having such quality between the sticks and I too srarted with Blacklaw.

I would say the game has changed so much, players are so different as well as the pitches the attitude of the ball and the boots that I favour the modern Keeper.

Nick Pope shades Tom Heaton for me as we never saw the best of Joe Hart.

[clive40golf]

For me it has to be Heaton, that display at utd was world class. Pope then Stevenson, Gerry Payton (that save at anfield) then Peter Mellor. Had some credible other keepers too, looking back over the decades GK has been our most consistent position.

[Top Claret]

Tom Heaton was a good keeper but not tall enough. Pope as the perfect build, good on crosses and a great shot stopper, he edges it for me

[AlargeClaret]

Has to be Heaton ,he’s technically slightly better than Pope , better with feet and distribution and the best hands I’ve ever seen on a goalkeeper . Pope still a very good keeper indeed though. Saw the 3 of them ( with big Joe) train together few times and a fag paper couldn’t separate them on shot stopping , though TH’s hands always just edge it .

[Frenchclaret]

I remember Jimmy Strong as being goalkeeper in the 1950's. He was coming to the end of his career though. Since then I would place Colin McDonald as my first choice but times have changed and so has football so maybe Pope is the best I have seen, followed by Heaton.

[steve1264b]

Colin McDonald had legendary status in our family. Grandad and dad both said he was better than Blacklaw.

Heaton in my view gets a lot of votes because of his relationship with the fans and he changed the season when he replaced Hart.

Pope is the better keeper for me because he commands the box better than Tom.

However, i would sell him for as much as possible. Its a position we can get an adequate replacement for.