As we enter a New Year I was casting my mind back to previous Clarets teams and thinking of some of the top goalkeepers who have played for Burnley.

My top 3 in reverse order;

3. Tom Heaton - a signing from Bristol City his career finally took off at Burnley under Sean Dyche to the extent that he played 188 games for the Clarets and was awarded 3 full England caps. His all round game and agility was backed up by his organisational and communication skills which helped him to bind the defenders into somewhat of an ‘iron curtain’ whilst playing at Championship level. During his Premier League time saves from Zlatan at OT and Charlie Austin’s header at Southampton are my top memories.

2. Alan Stevenson - I remember him arriving from Chesterfield and he became the stopper for Adamson’s legendary “Team of the Seventies”. He had all the attributes of a top keeper with superb agility, bravery and speed of thought. His shot stopping was excellent and his ball handling and taking crosses out of the air exemplified his judgement. He went on to play 543 times for Burnley and despite losing his place to Gerry Peyton for a while he reclaimed his place as Burnley played in the old second division. He played for England under 23’s where he vied for the keeper’s spot with Phil Parkes of QPR. He was unlucky not to gain a full cap but saw Peter Shilton and Ray Clemence ahead of him in the pecking order. He was one of my idols as a young teen supporter.

1. Nick Pope - maybe not the most elegant and stylish of keepers but I think he was the best at finding different ways to keep the ball out of our net. He is tall with long arms and used his long reach to pull off some brilliant saves. He also made a remarkable number of saves with his feet and legs. After signing from lower division Charlton he had to compete for a first team shirt with the established Heaton. He got his break after an injury to TH during a match against Crystal Palace. After a nervous start he made a couple of match winning saves and his confidence grew. He eventually became first choice number 1 as Burnley plied their trade in the Premier League. He managed 15 clean sheets in the Premier League for 2019/2020 season. He achieved international recognition and kept clean sheets in his first 6 internationals and was part of the World Cup Euro tournament squads of 2020 and 2022. He has been greatly missed by many Clarets supporters after relegation last summer.

Who were your top 3? You don’t need to write as much bumph as me but interested in your views. Could be your favourite keeper as opposed to the best of that makes sense.

I'm old, so:
Adam Blacklaw
Harry Thompson

long gap, then

Tom Heaton

Blacklaw, Heaton, Pope.

Never saw Mcdonald.

Stevenson close.

Pope

Heaton

Beresford

And an honorable mention to Nicky Walker who as a kid I thought he was awesome, could never believe he never really went on to bigger things

Colin McDonald
Adam Blacklaw
Alan Stephenson

Pope
Heaton
Jensen - mainly for the promotion season

Cleveleys_claret wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 02, 2023 10:18 pm

Pope

Heaton

Beresford

And an honorable mention to Nicky Walker who as a kid I thought he was awesome, could never believe he never really went on to bigger things

Walker’s family were a wealthy Scottish Comp,was an excellent goalkeeper,but probably didn’t need the cash.

Steveo
Heats
Popey

Seen them all from the 1950's and we've had some brilliant keepers.

But Colin McDonald was on a different level.

Blacklaw, Stevenson, Heaton.......we've been blessed over the years but McDonald was exceptional.

Carwin261 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 02, 2023 10:20 pm

Walker’s family were a wealthy Scottish Comp,was an excellent goalkeeper,but probably didn’t need the cash.

Yeah knew he was heir to the family fortune but think as I recall just after his loan with is he was called up to the Scotland squad. In the days we didn't have internationals, although not our player still felt invested in his career. Then he just kind of disappeared, think he was from Hearts and never really heard of him again

Carwin261 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 02, 2023 10:20 pm

Walker’s family were a wealthy Scottish Comp,was an excellent goalkeeper,but probably didn’t need the cash.

Just found this link on the web - maybe of interest to some

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/bu ... read-firm/

Carwin261 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 02, 2023 10:20 pm

Walker’s family were a wealthy Scottish Comp,was an excellent goalkeeper,but probably didn’t need the cash.

Walkers Shortbread, biscuit makers - worth millions. Played for Scotland, Rangers, etc.

Pope
Heaton
Beresford

Walker was excellent, had this ability to almost hang in the air when he came to take high crosses.

We've been blessed with some great keepers.

In my time (just missed Macdonald); Blacklaw, Stevenson and Pope

beeholeclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 02, 2023 10:32 pm

Just found this link on the web - maybe of interest to some

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/bu ... read-firm/

That's a great link. Having watched tge very good young Claret, Nicky Walker, in our season of loans, it is hard to understand that I am eating his biscuits! Have visited Aberlour and the wee shop on site and in the village, to purchase the product! They will taste even better now!

Top 3??? Very difficult.

Pope
Heaton
Stevenson

Andy Marriott should get a special award for both good keeping and great song sung by the whole ground!

Royboyclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 02, 2023 10:31 pm

Seen them all from the 1950's and we've had some brilliant keepers.

But Colin McDonald was on a different level.

Blacklaw, Stevenson, Heaton.......we've been blessed over the years but McDonald was exceptional.

I first saw the Clarets in 1967 when Harry Thomson was between the sticks. As you have seen most of the post war keepers could you describe Colin McDonald's main attributes. I know he was England's keeper in the 1958 WC finals in Sweden.

Stevenson
Pope
Heaton

In that order - the three who played regularly at the top level since I've been watching

Gerry Peyton was very good too

So many of our keepers have played for their respective countries

Colin McDonald
Jerry Dawson
Adam Blacklaw

Going off reputation, that is. I'm not old enough to remember any of them.

If by "best ever" we really mean "best since football was invented in 1992", then it's Pope, Heaton, Jensen.

Probably Pope, Heaton and Stevenson in that order in my time as a supporter. Heaton pips Stevenson as, apart from a few matches, I only saw Stevenson play in the 2nd tier.

1 Pope
2 Heaton
3 Beresford (1st stint)

McDonald
Blacklaw / Pope tied

First goalie I saw was George Strong

Joe Neenan
Mark Kendall
Diego Penny

Peter Mellor
Alan Stevenson
Nick Pope

McDonald Heaton and Pope three excellent England keepers and maybe all losing top spot for England due to injury

1. Heaton- for one season he was possibly the best goalkeeper in the prem
2. Pope- possibly the best English keeper in the prem for a season or two
3. Jensen- unstoppable in the promotion campaign

Tom Heaton
Nick Pope
Alan Stevenson
I’ve chosen Heaton because of his overall influence on the rest of the team, as well as his goalkeeping prowess.

Walker
Blacklaw
Heaton
With a special mention for Beresford and Marriot.

McDonald - never saw him play, but my grandad and dad gave him legendary status.

Pope - his command of the box just shades

Heaton.

I grew up on Stevo but his sudden decline just marks him down a little, its a very harse marking scheme.

Pope-Mr consistent who's high catching took so much pressure off us. Has a slight chance of winning the prem this season.

Heaton-superb keeper

Jensen- put in 3 world class performances better than I've seen any keeper. But he also through plenty in for balance.

1st Pope - He really was unbelievable for us. So many games we only got anything out of because of him. Outstanding.

2nd Heaton - A great captain, vocal, excellent in our Dyche promotions and had some fantastic games in the big league too.

3rd Crichton - A bit of a surprise choice even for me this, but when I look at our keepers before Pope/Heaton back to when I started going on in 1992, I think he was probably the most consistent. He was liable to going for a wander off his line but he was generally fine and great in the 99/00 promotion season. The likes of Jensen, Michopoulos, Grant etc were all for too inconsistent to be considered and Beresford tarnished my memories of him with an awful second spell.

A word for Muric, he has the potential to be in this discussion but too soon to be considered. Great with his feet, but some nervous moments with his general goalkeeping. He is young enough to keep improving though.

Relatively Young. So in order of worst to best

1- Pope
Nothing more to say. probably our best keeper ever
2- Heaton
superb goalie in 2015/16, solid leader.
3- Muric
Close between him and Hart. Muric is slightly better. Yes he has had some errors in him. However, hart was a worse goalkeeper.

Keepers I have seen
Pope
Heaton
Stephenson.

Pope easily the best and no surprise he's performing well at Newcastle.

Heaton a strong 2nd, incredible to remember we picked him up on a free from Bristol City.

3rd is much tougher, Jensen was outstanding in the Coyle promotion season, but was totally out of his depth in the Prem.

Bit of a left field choice but I'll nominate Beresford in his 1st spell, he was class at the level we are at, and you always fancied him to pull off penalty saves.

Hart was past his best when we signed him, as for Muric too early too fully judge him yet, however he's young enough to suggest he'll improve with experience.

Heaton
Pope
Pearce

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 03, 2023 3:32 am

Joe Neenan
Mark Kendall
Diego Penny

You've forgotten Luigi Cennamo

jrgbfc wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 03, 2023 4:18 pm

You've forgotten Luigi Cennamo

didn't rate him

No 3 Alan Stevenson great keeper and the first I can remember
No 2 Tom Heaton the safest hands in soccer he could catch thunderbolts
No 1 Nick Pope his overall control of his area and shot stopping pips Tom to being the No1

Top two pick themselves but third was difficult

1 Pope
2 Jensen
3 Beresford (very close with both Heaton and Muric who were unlucky to miss out)

jrgbfc wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 03, 2023 4:18 pm

You've forgotten Luigi Cennamo

And Frank Petter Kval

1. Heaton - technically superb, his catching ability is unsurpassed and as error free as any keeper I’ve ever seen , good feet and top distribution.

2. Pope , looks messy but again technically very good indeed and uses height to perfection , feet stop him being world class .

3.Grant, a far better keeper than ever given credit for , decent feet too.

nb
Stevenson ,good hands and good at crosses but bit of donkey by modern standards.

Stevenson

Heaton

Pope

41 year old

1 Pope. Just edges it but I’ve never seen a keeper win us so many points with remarkable saves.
2 Heaton. Class. Great saves and organiser of defences. No doubt had an influence on Pope too
3 Beresford. Should have been in England squad for penalty shoot outs.

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 03, 2023 3:32 am

Joe Neenan
Mark Kendall
Diego Penny

Please seek help!

AlargeClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 04, 2023 10:46 am

1. Heaton - technically superb, his catching ability is unsurpassed and as error free as any keeper I’ve ever seen , good feet and top distribution.

2. Pope , looks messy but again technically very good indeed and uses height to perfection , feet stop him being world class .

3.Grant, a far better keeper than ever given credit for , decent feet too.

nb
Stevenson ,good hands and good at crosses but bit of donkey by modern standards.

All I can remember Grant for was constantly pushing the ball back to the opposition for them to score tap ins

Heaton
Pope
Beresford (1st stint)

Mention for Walker also

1. Pope
2. Heaton
3. Hart

I go back to the Stevenson/Peyton era and the 3 I have chosen are by some distance the best keepers we have had. All 3 regularly played at the top level and played for England. Never in my life did I think we would have an England keeper, never mind 3 in such a short space of time.

Waiters
Mellor
Finn

1 McDonald
2 Blacklaw
3 Pope or Heaton
I saw all of these and they were all great keepers but McDonald was the best I have ever seen.