Buxtonclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 16, 2025 10:11 pm

I never saw him play, but my dad really rated him.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 16, 2025 11:45 pm

I heard a while ago that Colin hadn’t been very well.

But mention of him allows me to put a link on to the day we took him to Gawthorpe in 2018. Absolute gentleman and it was a privilege to spend a few hours with him and his wife Anne.

https://youtu.be/2jyGa7Qg5Ds?si=0ntnxAL4A2tqzE_F

Buxtonclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 4:57 am

Was it you who posted a pic of all the keepers, that day? Joe, Nick, Tom and Colin?

Frenchclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 10:47 am

I remember Colin playing for the Clarets and I don’t remember any goals being scored against him with his arms in the air. I also remember him playing for England in the World Cup and he was one of the best players there. He was a quiet man for a goalkeeper but was one of the best I have ever seen. Eventually he was replaced by Adam Blacklaw another favourite of mine.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 9:10 am

I took the pic and just dug it out.


018.jpeg

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 9:10 am

I took the pic and just dug it out.


018.jpeg

Goliath wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 11:46 am

Who's the best. Having never seen Mcdonald I'd go Heaton. He was the most rounded.

FCBurnley wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:11 pm

Met Bryan Douglas on a cruise. Once he knew I was from Burnley he made his excuses and left !!! Worked with Colin when he was at Oldham and saw him play. Certainly a great keeper but not sure he would be tall enough for today’s game (see pic )

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:17 pm

He was 6ft 2ins when he played

Frenchclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:27 pm

Yes, I remember him being quite tall and very slim but remarkably agile. If Jimmy Mac said he was the best I would have to agree with him.

Goliath wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 11:46 am

Who's the best. Having never seen Mcdonald I'd go Heaton. He was the most rounded.

CyrilEbokiPoh wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:59 pm

Hart obviously had the best career. For Burnley I would go Heaton just above Pope.

Longford Claret wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 5:06 pm

Colin McDonald is the oldest surviving England International Footballer. The second oldest is not Brian Douglas but former West Ham player Ken Brown, who is 3 months older than Brian.

Woodleyclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 2:42 pm

I'd have Tom Heaton back if we sell Traff

Frenchclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 10:47 am

I remember Colin playing for the Clarets and I don’t remember any goals being scored against him with his arms in the air. I also remember him playing for England in the World Cup and he was one of the best players there. He was a quiet man for a goalkeeper but was one of the best I have ever seen. Eventually he was replaced by Adam Blacklaw another favourite of mine.

Quicknick wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 5:27 pm

Well spotted.

Goliath wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 2:11 pm

He had the easier circumstances. Heaton and Pope had to work there way back up.

CyrilEbokiPoh wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 10:42 pm

Not necessarily, Hart started at Shrewsbury, then multiple lower league loans before working his way up and dislodging one of the premier leagues best Goalkeepers in Prem History in Shay Given. And then stayed at Number one at City for years when they could literally have signed anyone.

Hart had an incredible career (and rise) from Shrewsburys youth team. Heaton started in United academy.

All three were top keepers in their own right. For Burnley I would order them Heaton, Pope and Hart a long way third (although he didnt actually do badly in his half season starting for us. Just the results weren't good!)

Longford Claret wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 6:00 pm

The moral of the story is , don't believe anything told to you by a Blackburn Rovers supporter without first checking up on the facts.
I will inform my friend Mike about his mistake

exilecanada wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 16, 2025 10:43 pm

I was around to see Colin McDonald play, great goalie, had one flaw in his game. Once in awhile when he thought a shot was going wide he'd raise his arms and one or two would sneak in the bottom corner

Goliath wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 17, 2025 11:00 pm

United were one of the best teams in Europe when Heaton came through. City were a bit crap and Hart was probably a bit lucky in terms of timing with Given coming to the end.
They were all very good at there best but I'd still have Hart third. I thought there were huge weaknesses In his game even at his peak.

CyrilEbokiPoh wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 18, 2025 12:54 pm

There is no way City would have kept him as long as they did. They would simply have shipped him out!

If you are saying he came in when they were crap, and then got better - surely he gets credit for that too?

As I say. He was third best for us. But overall the best of the three.

“I’ve been watching his game for a few years now, and Joe Hart is now for me one of the top three goalkeepers in the world," said the legendary Buffon, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006 and a man with 150 appearances between the sticks for his country.