Best RFC goalkeeper of all time?

Big Dan · by **Big Dan** » 02 Jun 2007 14:18

my sister used to work in the old players bar,and one evening she gave a lift home to gary westwood.i was sat in the back of the car(i was only 13/14).so my vote goes to him.

Behindu · by **Behindu** » 02 Jun 2007 14:53

Have to agree with mentions for Leighton, Wright and Woods - but they were loan keepers so cannot be considered.

I'd rate Marcus as my number 1 largely because he's done it against the top strikers in the country / Europe / the world. Death and Shaka were excellent keepers but at a lower level.
I doubt Steve Death would even find a club these days due to his lack of height - would be a shame as I really can't recall it being a handicap for him.
Marcus and Shaka both did some things really well and also had their weaknesses and frankly if either wins I won;t be too upset.
On balance though, Marcus gets my vote for performing in the highest division and doing a pretty good job of it and also going one better than Shaka and keeping enough shots out to see us escape the Championship.

Cripple Creek · by **Cripple Creek** » 02 Jun 2007 23:17

For me it is between Shaka and Death. My brother tells me Tommy Wright was superb but I was living abroad when he played so can't really comment. For sentimental reasons I would like to go for Steve but my brain tells me Shaka.

TBM · by **TBM** » 03 Jun 2007 00:53

Andy Bernal did quite well against Ipswich i think it was

LUX · by **LUX** » 03 Jun 2007 10:09

Steve Death. Legend.

and dead.

Archie's penalty · by **Archie's penalty** » 03 Jun 2007 15:23

It's gotta be Shaka - despite the fact he only played in Division one for us. He made a huge amount to saves in the season we came second in division one. (I also think my decision was coloured by the career he went on to have after leaving the royals).

Ian Royal · by **Ian Royal** » 03 Jun 2007 15:31

Whilst we all have our favourite, mainly from Shaka, Marcus and Death. Those three have all contributed so fantastically to our club I don't think anyone can complain no matter which one wins.

Though this is obviously one of the positions with a good chance of a non current player winning. I had hoped Death would win so we'd have one or two players from before the last 15 years in the team. Sadly this doesn't look very likely anymore.

bassavage · by **bassavage** » 03 Jun 2007 15:37

Ian Royal Whilst we all have our favourite, mainly from Shaka, Marcus and Death. Those three have all contributed so fantastically to our club I don't think anyone can complain no matter which one wins.

Though this is obviously one of the positions with a good chance of a non current player winning. I had hoped Death would win so we'd have one or two players from before the last 15 years in the team. Sadly this doesn't look very likely anymore.

Robin Friday has a good chance of getting in the Greatest XI surely?

Ian Royal · by **Ian Royal** » 03 Jun 2007 16:04

bassavage
Ian Royal Whilst we all have our favourite, mainly from Shaka, Marcus and Death. Those three have all contributed so fantastically to our club I don't think anyone can complain no matter which one wins.

Though this is obviously one of the positions with a good chance of a non current player winning. I had hoped Death would win so we'd have one or two players from before the last 15 years in the team. Sadly this doesn't look very likely anymore.

Robin Friday has a good chance of getting in the Greatest XI surely?

I'd say so, but It's not going to be a guarunteed position, and that makes only 1 unless you can think of another. Hold on, I meant to put "two" not "one or two". Sorry.

Royalee · by **Royalee** » 03 Jun 2007 19:07

Has to be Shaka from the keepers I've seen, although Death was before my time.

Uke · by **Uke** » 03 Jun 2007 19:31

TBM Andy Bernal did quite well against Ipswich i think it was

He was never as good as Clever Trevor!

Fat Freddie · by **Fat Freddie** » 03 Jun 2007 21:53

Anyone who saw Steve Death play woudl make him an automatic choice in this poll. He is a legend. I won't repeat the items others have said but my best memory of him was him storming off and refusing to give kods (including me) his autograph at a club kids day as he had had a bad training session (and probably wanted to go to pub!)

Marcys is a great (not good) shot blocker but only an OK keeper (he always scares me on crosses). Shaka is a better and more dominating version of Marcus and has to be 2nd but bearign in mind Death was @ 5'8" he was better than either of these at coming for corsses, comanding his area and his defence as well as stopping shots. That record stands for a lot more than people think!

reading_lad · by **reading_lad** » 03 Jun 2007 23:02

scottish legend scott howie

Y21_Royal · by **Y21_Royal** » 04 Jun 2007 00:37

My vote goes to Shaka.

I ruled out Death just on the basis that I never saw him, leaving it between Shaka and Marcus. It might be harsh on Marcus but I think Shaka had a better all round game.

If any of the three win then I'll be pleased but I agree with IanRoyal that it'd be nice to see a non-current player be included in a best Reading XI such for history's sake but you couldn't really begrudge Marcus.

Old Biscuitman · by **Old Biscuitman** » 04 Jun 2007 11:43

Johnny Mapson. Signed from Sunderland, I think in the 50's, and still a legend there - and up there they don't say "legend" lightly. Or perhaps Jock McBride, who was his predecessor.

SpaceCruiser · by **SpaceCruiser** » 04 Jun 2007 11:59

Voting is now closed! Shaka is the winner, beating Steve Death by 30 votes......

Team looking like this so far.....

1. Neil "Shaka" Hislop
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

fallen angel · by **fallen angel** » 04 Jun 2007 16:15

No mention of Pratt then

willz_royal · by **willz_royal** » 04 Jun 2007 17:28

ill ask my grandad (supporter since 1946-7) about steve death

he normally just says, "very scruffy, hair all over the place"

LOVE YA GRANDAD!

Vision · by **Vision** » 05 Jun 2007 09:36

Unfortunately this is going to be a major flaw in this poll.

People quite understandably can't vote for someone they haven't seen , so considering during Death's time we avearged crowds of only around 3000 . Players from that era are always going to struggle.

It's a shame but to all intents and purposes it will exclude players like that who gave great service to the club for many years , not to mention broke records which still stand today.

As good as Shaka was/Marcus is, if Steve Death isn't the keeper in a Greatest Alltime Reading 11 then it's not a poll thats worth much in my opinion.

Hoop Blah · by **Hoop Blah** » 05 Jun 2007 09:55

Vision Unfortunately this is going to be a major flaw in this poll.

People quite understandably can't vote for someone they haven't seen , so considering during Death's time we avearged crowds of only around 3000 . Players from that era are always going to struggle.

It's a shame but to all intents and purposes it will exclude players like that who gave great service to the club for many years , not to mention broke records which still stand today.

As good as Shaka was/Marcus is, if Steve Death isn't the keeper in a Greatest Alltime Reading 11 then it's not a poll thats worth much in my opinion.

Very true, but I guess thats the same with any opinion on the game.

The fact that Deathy has got so many votes either speaks volumns about his legend or that a very high percentage of posters who saw him play rated him the best.

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