Much has been made of Julian Speroni’s stint with Palace. And quite rightly too. He fully justified his recent testimonial as a superb goalkeeper for the club for over a decade, being the supporters’ player of the season on four separate occasions. For the fans he has become a veritable cult hero.
But how Speroni does he compare to others who have graced the green (and various other coloured) jersey for the Palace?
My support of Palace does not go back as far as the much admired Bill Glazier (played for Palace between 1961-64, 106 appearances), but there have certainly been some notables I’ve seen since who distinguished themselves in the all-important position between the posts, allowing a comparison with Speroni.
This enterprise however raises the question of how we might compare: duration with the club, loyalty, international honours, overall footballing career, shot stopped, penalty saved, crosses caught, blunders committed, character, popularity (may be someone has kept a detailed record of goals conceded per game and perhaps they can enlighten us. Additionally, we have to ask ourselves if we are prejudiced by how well the outfield players in front of prized keeper constituted a successful team and kept the goal tally against respectfully low
Here I am going to contrast Julian Speroni (Rah! Rag! Rah!) with a handful of those I would judge (and it is only a personal opinion) the most notable ‘keepers who have played for Palace over the years: John Jackson, George Wood, John Burridge and Nigel Martin. First of all, a very brief appraisal of Speroni’s career at Palace who bought him from Dundee – for whom he had previously played for three seasons in the Scottish Premier League – for £750,000 (compared to Nigel Martyn who cost Palace £1 million in 2004 – the first ‘keeper to command this price tag).
Palace were promoted to the English Premier League in 2004 and sought a capable ‘keeper. Speroni, who had made an appearance for the Argentinian U20 side in 1998, came highly recommended. It was inauspicious start for the ‘keeper. On his home debut for Palace, against Everton, he failed to clear a back pass, and conceded a penalty after bringing down an opposition player (Palace losing 3-1). He put in some less than impressive performances before he lost his place Gábor Király (104 appearances). For the next three seasons he was a merely a stand in for the Hungarian international.
After Király departed in 2007 to Burnley, Speroni returned and proved his class and was in the side which reached the Championship play-offs, earning a new three-year contract at the end of the season. In the 2009–10 season, when Palace fell into administration, he became the first player to gain Palace’s Player of the Year award for three consecutive years. In 2014 he signed a new contract with the club for 12 months with a further year option which he accepted. As we all know Speroni was ever-present in the 2014-15 season as Palace gained their highest position and point tally in the Premier League. As is often said, all good teams have accomplished ‘keepers and Speroni certainly proved his worth. His greatest accolade, apart from four Player of the Year Award, was his 347th appearance for the club against Arsenal which broke John Jackson’s record as the team’s goalkeeper with the most appearan
ces in 2015.
And on the subject of Jackson we can commence an overview of rivals of the best Palace ‘keepers, here in chronological order…..
John Jackson
Jackson came through Palace’s junior ranks (and earlier those of Leyton Orient, during which time he achieved England youth team honours) and was initially understudy to Bill Glazier. When Glazier left for Coventry in 1964, Jackson vied successfully for the goalkeeping position after a period of competition with Tony Millington. He then went on to make 222 consecutive appearances and was ever present in the 1968/9 season which saw Palace reach the top flight (the then First Division) for the first time. After Palace were relegated in 1973, Jackson departed to Leyton Orient (with several other Palace players) where he stayed for six years.
After leaving Orient he enjoyed a spell playing in the USA before he joined Millwall for two years, then a year at Ipswich before finally ending his career with Hereford United. His nickname, reflecting the Palace supporters’ respect for his safe pair hands, was “Stonewall”, after the general of the Confederacy in the American Civil War (at least the story goes). In 1971 Jackson represented the Football League against the Scottish League (those were the days!). At the height of his career with Palace his name was occasionally touted for an England call up but alas never transpired at a time when the national side could boast an array of excellent ‘keepers. Jackson was a competent and seemingly a confident between the posts. Older Palace supporters may recall that he was usually the last player to come out onto the pitch before the kick off, and this was nothing to do with some superstitious quirk. In my interview with Palace players who played alongside him, several provided an anecdote of interest. It was not unusual for one player to ask another “Where’s Jako?” Jackson was reported to be mustering the courage to enter the fray. If he was nervous before a game, he never showed it on the pitch with his superb goal keeping abilities.
John Burridge
John Burridge (1978-80, 88 appearances) was something of a journeyman, plying his trade with no less than 29 different clubs (which is still a record I believe) in a goalkeeping career that stretched over nearly 30 years. He played 771 league games in the English and Scottish leagues, and several more at non-league level. After serving for his local club Workington he moved to Blackpool in 1971, then to Aston Villa in 1975 with whom he won a League Cup Final medal. Burridge was signed by manager Terry Venables in 1977 at a time when Palace were trying to claw their way out of the then Third Division after sliding from the top rung. He was sold to QPR, and then Wolves whom he helped gain promotion to the highest level, albeit for a season. Spells at Newcastle, Sheffield United and Southampton followed before moving North to Hiberian where he was part of the Scottish League Cup winning side. After re-signed for Newcastle, this time by Kevin Keegan, Burridge played for lower league teams both sides of the border (although this period included appearances for Manchester City) – being the oldest player to that time in the Premier League at the grand old age of 43.
Neither did Burridge’s long engagement with soccer end there. He became a goalkeeping coach in the United Arab Emirates and a regular guest for a number of sports channels. Nicknamed ‘Budgie’ (not to be confused with striker ‘Budgie’ Johnny Byrnes, 1956-62 & 1997-68), he was a colourful character popular with the fans, and part of Terry Venables’ successful side for which he will be remembered. Given his journeying, Burridge cannot be regarded as a largely one-team career man like Speroni. He was only with the Palace for two and a half seasons. His service to the game cannot be doubted, nor his goal keeper expertise
George Wood
George Wood kicked of his career at East Stirling, achieving the rarity of a ‘keeper scoring from his own penalty area in 1971. He moved to Blackpool in 1972 as cover for our very own John Burridge. He then spent four years jostling for the ‘keeper jersey with Burridge, eventually establishing himself in 1975–76. He was signed by Everton in 1977, then Arsenal, seemingly the successor to Pat Jennings, with whom he shared the first-team goalkeeper’s spot, making 61 appearances, but was unable command a regular first team place. He joined Palace as first choice keeper for the next four-and-a-half seasons, making 192 league appearances (1983-87), and winning the Player of The Year award in 1986. He moved on to Cardiff City in 1988, and ended his league career with a loan spell at his old club Blackpool and a single season at Hereford United. He then had stints at non-league Merthyr Tydfil and Inter Cardiff (a side he later managed).
Wood’s international career was only fleeting (earning four caps for Scotland), with Alan Rough and then later Jim Leighton keeping him out of the side. He was the backup goalkeeper at the 1982 World Cup. Although in many ways frustrated in his career, he served Palace well between. Wood’s time with Palace had not however ended with this playing days. He was the goalkeeper coach at Hartlepool United, Cardiff City, Swindon Town and Blackpool. In 2012 he joined Palace in the same capacity.
Nigel Martyn
Having started his career with Bristol Rovers Nigel Martyn moved to Palace where he appeared in the Cup Final team of 1990 against Manchester United and that which won the Full Members Cup (1990-91), as well as being the ‘keeper during Palace’s best ever place in the First Division (now the Premier League, third place). He remained at Palace for seven seasons, appearing 349 times, remaining loyal to the club even after relegation. Martyn then left to spend six seasons at Leeds United setting, in 1996, another record fee for a goalkeeper (£2.25m). It was at Palace that he first gained international recognition with a call up to the full England side, going on to win 23 England caps – spending the peak of his career as second-choice goalkeeper behind David Seaman. His form for Leeds was outstanding throughout 1999/2000 UEFA Cup campaign – Leeds reaching the semi-finals. He was transferred to Everton and was one of the club’s best performers during the 2004-05 season when they achieved their best Premier League finish of fourth place. He was a popular figure not only with the Palace fans, but those of Everton and Leeds where he was named officially as the latter’s greatest ever goalkeeper, beating off competition from the likes of Gary Sprake and John Lukic, and the only player outside of the Don Revie era.
So, after much thought and deliberation, who gets the accolade? WELL, IT’S Nigel Martin with Speroni second, followed in the order of honour by Jackson, Wood and Burridge respectively. You might disagree with my short-list. Fair enough. Others can make their case.
And I’m not finished yet. I can’t resist the temptation. Who was Palace’s best right back, post-1970? Centre forward? Sure, to celebrate Crystal Palace’s centenary in 2005, the club asked Palace fans to vote for a “Centenary XI” from a shortlist of ten players per position, listed by the club (Nigel Martyn was chosen as goalkeeper). But that was a decade ago. Watch this space.
